Is CPS Golf Doomed? Hopes And Expectations From The Captains

By Arnav J '27

With the 2026 season starting, the CPS varsity golf team enters the year with high expectations, strong leadership, but one major challenge: availability. 

According to senior captain Jonathan Woo, one of the defining twists of this season has already become injuries. Two key players, captain Chris Chang and Rishi Junaid, are both sidelined with wrist injuries sustained outside of golf. Chris notes that this “means our first few matches may be a struggle, even against teams we would normally beat by wide margins.” Not only does this potentially hurt the team's chances of winning the league, but the timing is especially difficult for Chris, who has been first-team all-league for 3 years in a row. Thus, although team matches haven’t started yet, everyone on the team knows one thing: early results heavily depend on how well the rest of the roster can step up while the lineup is shorthanded. Despite these setbacks, the team captains all strongly express confidence in the team's ability to secure the league title. 

Will Chang, a 2-time league MVP (see William Chang: Inside the Journey of a Cougar Athlete for more info), believes that this season might be CPS’s greatest chance yet to win the league, noting that “with all our guys healthy, I think we're the best team in the league.” Additionally, most competitive matches begin later in the season, giving Chris and Rishi more time to get back to their normal game. Moreover, Chris pointed out that the team consists of a strong core roster, namely all three captains—Will, Chris, and Jonathan, as well as junior golfer Kenny. He notes that “[the team has] all steadily improved throughout our time here at CPS, and collectively boast a ton of high school match experience.” Years of team experience have created strong team chemistry, an important quality for the mental side of golf. 

Another development is the growth of the golf program. With 14 golfers on the team, the largest turnout in recent years, Chris believes that “more players equals more depth.” Indeed, with more golfers competing to play in games, the captains expect greater internal competition, making players more motivated to play better, especially on the backend of the lineup. 

In terms of league competition, all captains agree that one opponent clearly stands out: Athenian. Being the only team to have beaten CPS last year, most of their roster returns, making them the primary obstacle in College Prep’s path to the league title. Thus, the fight for league will be a good one. Will asserts that tee-shot accuracy should be the primary focus of the team, choosing lower risk shots like irons to “understand where it is on the course…saving a lot of strokes.” 

For all of the seniors, specifically Jonathon Woo, this season carries added significance. As his final year of competitive golf, he “wants this last year to be successful” and to end on a high note. One phrase has come to define this ambitious mindset: “Availability is the best ability.” Jonathan Woo has lived by this mantra—attending nearly every practice—and is eager to pass that same commitment on to the younger players by mentoring them on and off the course. 

Together, seniors Jonathon, Chris, and Will form the foundation of the team’s leadership. Their shared experience, enthusiasm, and commitment set a standard for the rest of the roster. As the season unfolds, the team hopes to match the dedication shown by its captains—and, in doing so, make this season one to remember.