Four years ago, when Dan Ito took over the Kentwood golf program, there was a thought that there wouldn’t be enough golfers to carry out a varsity roster.
But at a practice held on the Kentwood soccer field, two young freshmen came up and let Ito know that the program would not only survive, but thrive.
“When I took over the team, the prospects for the team were kinda iffy at that time from a numbers perspective. We didn’t have enough players and we didn’t have very good players coming up. But in our first practice, we had these limited flight balls and up comes Kallie and Zoie, my would-be co-captains. I dropped to me knees and thanked my lucky stars and looked in the sky and said ‘Thank you,’” Ito said.
“They were my saving grace. They have been my co-captains for three years.”
Since that fateful day, Kentwood has won the all-city match three years in a row, and finished third in 2024 and second in 2025 at the 4A State Championships. Just last season alone, the Conks won the NPSL tournament, the district tournament and went undefeated in league play before coming up just short in the state tournament.
This year could be Kentwood’s year to make a run for the state tournament. Last season on day one at Eagle’s Pride Golf Course (DuPont), the Conks were a stroke back of the team lead, but pressure and a second day with a bit of trouble put them behind the eight ball.
This year they are hoping to learn from that experience.
“The second day they faulted a little bit. There is pressure there with people watching and all of that. What Coach Ann and I are trying to get them to understand is how to handle pressure, how to put a bad shot behind you,” Ito said.
Avery Peterson has been the number one for Kentwood the past two years. She placed third in state last year, Kentwood’s best finish in 2025. She routinely shoots under par and has the chance to do something special for this year’s Kentwood team, and she’s the only junior on varsity.
She continues to find ways to improve as she dominates the links day in and day out.
“She has been playing a lot of competitive golf this summer and has the kind of mindset that she wants to play the best she can be. All these girls have that mindset, but she especially has it. She takes her time and practices diligently,” Ito said.
Kentwood was playing its first match of the season against Mount Rainier on Sept. 9 at Meridian Valley Golf Course and defeated the Rams, 102-20.
A big focus for Ito and his girls this season is the mental aspect of golf. Up to this point, physically the girls have all the tools to be successful. But for Ito, if they make a bad shot, it’s about how they can recover from that. Those are things that separate a good golfer from a great one.
“They can handle adversity better, they are able to understand golf is a game of misses and they have to adjust,” Ito said.
Ito took the program over from Ann Johnson, who remains on staff as an assistant, but wanted more free time. The two coaches are also putting a big emphasis on the short game and the finer details.
“We still have to work on something, like the short game. Coach Ann and I have been working with them on chipping, pitching and putting. One of the reasons I have our JV team out here is because you can hit down the middle of the fairway, but if you can’t score around the green, that’s what matters,” Ito said.
It’s been an impressive run for the Conks, and this year six golfers are graduating, signaling the end of their dominance in the green polos. But their impact on the program is immeasurable.
Kallie Phon, Zoie Pathammavong-Sakda, Isabelle Nguyen and Alia Jones are all seniors contributing on varsity and making the Kentwood program what it is today.
“We try to get them to understand we are a team, not just individuals. There are no cliques or things like that. We are a team and I want to stress that,” Ito said.
Kentwood will look to continue their play on the golf course on Sept. 11 at Glenn Acres against the Kennedy Lancers.
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Cora Nguyen takes a tee shot at Meridian Valley for Kentwood.
Junior Avery Peterson lines up a putt at Meridian Valley. Photos by Ben Ray / The Reporter
Isabelle Nguyen tees off on the par three at Meridian Valley. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Zoie Pathammavong-Sakda tees off at Meridian Valley Country Club. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Alia Jones hits her tee shot for Kentwood. Ben Ray / The Reporter
