The biggest adjustment for golfer Hashilla Rivai of Thornton Academy, a student from Jakarta, Indonesia, was getting accustomed to Maine’s chilly falls. Her golf game didn’t waver. She was on par and sometimes under it.
Rivai, in her first year at the Saco school, opened eyes with her sterling play this season.
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She won the state schoolgirl championship with a 2-under 70 on Natanis GC’s Arrowhead course. She had four birdies and two bogeys.
Soon after her arrival, she become Thornton’s No. 1 player. Rivai had a 35.2 stroke average and an overall record of 10-0 in team matches. She won 191/2 out of a possible 20 points in matches. She shot a 69 in a practice round before the state tournament.
Rivai is the Maine Sunday Telegram’s Player of the Year for girls’ golf.
“Hashilla has a great approach to her game,” said Thornton Coach Jeff Camire.
“She brought a strong mental game to complement her physical talents. I feel her teammates learned a lot by just watching her play. Hashilla plays one shot at a time and doesn’t dwell on bad shots. She focuses on the next shot.”
In the team championship the week before the individual championship, Rivai shot a 74 to pace the Golden Trojans to a third-place finish in Class A. With the entire team returning for next year, Thornton will be in good position to win it all in 2015.
Rivai said she plans on returning for her senior year, chilly weather and all.
“It was really a good experience this season,” she said.
“I had never been on a team before and that really meant something. You want to help the team win. I played some amazing courses. I didn’t really like the cold and the wind. You had to consider where the ball was going. The team states were really cold. The individuals were a bit warmer. I was thankful for that.”
Even after the state tournaments, Rivai said she continued to play at Biddeford-Saco Country Club, Thornton’s home course. The last time she played was two weeks ago.
“I guess if I want to play this winter it will be indoor golf,” she said.
Rivai said she will visit cousins in Los Angeles over the Christmas vacation break, but wasn’t sure if she would bring her golf clubs. Her cousins don’t play golf.
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