El Dorado’s Daphny Chen began the school year as a two-sport athlete, competing in both golf and tennis simultaneously. Midway through the season, she decided to focus all of her attention on golf.
The lone senior for the Lady Wildcats will lead her team onto the Paragould Country Club course Tuesday for the 5A State Golf Tournament.
Chen, who played doubles on the tennis team with her sister, sophomore Avelyn Chen, said playing two sports at once became too much.
“It was decently difficult playing golf and tennis at the same time because you couldn’t focus on each individual sport. I decided to focus on golf because I’m determined,” said Daphny Chen. “Before I’ve just explored and experimented between the two sports but since it’s my senior year I felt the need to focus on only one. The decision was definitely difficult since I really enjoyed playing both sports.”
Chen owns a 3.98 grade point average and also participates in the orchestra as a violinist. Her plate would be considered full even without playing a sport.
“Orchestra is a period where I can relax, calm down and really enjoy playing music,” she said. “Orchestra, to me, is my second family where everyone is intrigued in and by music. I feel like we’re all united by music.”
Chen posted a 96.1 scoring average in seven 18-hole matches this season. Her best round was 88 and she shot 94 at last week’s conference tournament.
“This year I feel prepared and also upset because there were some scores that weren’t ideal,” she said. “But overall, I felt like my swings are progressing. My goal at state is to have fun, since it’s my last year playing high school golf, but also push and challenge myself to shoot a better score.”
It will also be a bit bittersweet as it will be her final time competing with her sister Avelyn.
“Yes it would be my final time playing with my sister but I would cherish the moment even though it’s mournful.”