Seniors have been on varsity, traveling to state every year since they were freshmen
Elyssa Abdullah (left) and Toral Bhatt have been varsity golf teammates - and friends - since their freshman year. "Without golf, I don't know if I would have ever met Elyssa, so I'm really grateful we were able to meet each other." Bhatt said. "We probably wouldn't have crossed paths otherwise." Varsity coach Nick Latorre said the two are a pleasure to have in the program.
Elyssa Abdullah tees off on the second hole at Ruth Lake Country Club during a recent competition. She and fellow senior Toral Bhatt were sophomores on the Hinsdale Central team that won the 2022 state title.
Toral Bhatt, also teeing off at the second hole, said she has enjoyed her four years on Central's team. "It definitely was a new learning experience how the team dynamic was and how tournaments work and things like that."
If Hinsdale Central seniors Elyssa Abdullah and Toral Bhatt make it to the IHSA girls golf meet next month in Decatur, it will be their fourth appearance at the tournament.
The two competed in their first state meet as freshmen varsity team members, with Hinsdale's Abdullah placing fourth that year and Oak Brook's Bhatt tying for 60th. Abdullah's best finish was second place her sophomore year, while Bhatt improved to 15th last year.
Varsity girls golf head coach Nick Latorre said he feels lucky to have had the two girls in the program.
"They're both obviously lead high school golfers," he said. "They are both tremendous teammates. They both work really hard at their game, and they really both developed into really great leaders.
"It's rare to have two players come in freshman year and play to the level they've played at so consistently," he added. "They've really just kind of kept the tradition of Caroline Owens and Selina Zeng and Jessica Lee and some of the other players that we've had come through over the years."
Latorre noted that it's rare to be able to coach athletes all four years of their high school careers, as most are on varsity for only two years.
"You don't develop that relationship in two years that you do in four," he said.
The Hinsdalean talked to Abdullah and Bhatt Monday about their experiences as varsity golfers and state competitors. Below are excerpts of that conversation.
Question: How did you get into golf?
Elyssa Abdullah: I first got started through my older sister, Isabella. She's eight years older than me. I've always really looked up to her and sort of had a competitive spirit, wanting to beat her.
Toral Bhatt: I started playing probably around 4 or 5 with my grandparents. I remember we used to hit balls in my backyard. They would take me here (Oak Brook Golf Course) to practice and I would putt around.
Q: What has it been like being on varsity all four years?
EA: It's been really fun. Even when I was younger, I've always had a lot of fun and a lot of learning experiences playing with older girls, and now I'm the older girl, so it's an interesting experience. It showed me how to be a leader and to set a good example for the younger girls.
TB: When I started, a lot of the older girls were very nice to me. They showed me around. I was the baby of the team then, Elyssa and I were. Those girls took good care of us. As the years went on, I had to step into that role at tournaments, at practice.
Q: Are you more confident as a senior?
EA: I was very confident starting out as a freshman. It has improved over the years and grown. That's kind of what my strength was when I was younger. I never really got intimidated by other girls.
TB: I definitely feel a lot more confident. Starting out my freshman year and sophomore year, before tournaments I was always super nervous. Now I definitely feel more relaxed before tournaments because I'm more used to it.
Q: What do you admire most about your friend?
EA: There's a lot. She's just a very mature person. She's always been mature and a warm, welcoming person, especially to the younger girls on the team. She's almost the mother of the team, we joke. She's always there and she always knows what to do in every situation.
TB: I really like her work ethic. She's always practicing, always committed and she's really confident, because she doesn't take a practice swing when she plays. She just goes out and hits. She's committed to her shot. I really admire that about her, her confidence.
Q: Has your friendship helped your game?
EA: We're playing usually one and two in matches during the week. We're always paired up with one another. It's having the comfort of always having one another to talk to no matter who we're playing.
TB: With the whole team and Elyssa, playing as a team is definitely a different experience. Having your team behind you, having your friends behind you, is really motivating to play your best golf because you're showing up for yourself and you're showing up for your team, too.
Q: What are some of your best memories from high school golf?
EA: I would say one of my best memories are at state. We're all in the hotel room, crowded in one hotel room, eating and talking. Obviously we're together a lot as a team, but it's very intimate when we're in the hotel, and it's so fun because we're all very motivated to win as a team and very supporting and encouraging of one another. Some very funny stories have been told that we all haven't known. That's probably what I look forward to every year.
TB: Every time we go to state, we leave really early in the morning. It's like 5 in the morning. We're not really awake. The JV team decorates our bus. That two- to three-hour drive to Decatur is a really great experience because the team is together, and we're all getting ready to play our best.
Q: Do you have a favorite course you've played?
EA: The Santa Maria in Panama. I played a tournament in Panama over spring break, and I really loved that golf course.
TB: For high school we played at Conway Farms. We didn't get the opportunity to play there this year. It was too hot. They had to cancel the tournament. It's a really nice private course.
Q: Do you have a dream course you want to play?
EA: For sure Augusta. I want to be able to qualify for the Augusta National Women's Amateur later on, maybe in college.
TB: I don't think so. There are a lot of good golf courses out there.
Q: What else are you involved in at Central?
EA: I'm in Investment Club. I've been doing yearbook for the past two years. I'm in the National Honor Society.
TB: I'm a part of Solstice, which is an art and literary magazine. I'm the head director. I'm also part of FCCLA, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America . My freshman and sophomore year I played soccer for the high school, too.
Q: What are your plans for college?
EA: I'm committed to University of Wisconsin-Madison for golf. I'm undecided what I want to major in, but I have a couple of fields of interest.
TB: I would like to play golf in college so I could have more of that team experience. I really like being part of a team. We'll see.
Q: What is your goal for your senior season?
EA: Honestly just to keep improving, just to do the best I've done out of my four years here. I don't really have a set number for myself. As long as I'm improving and just working hard, I would be pretty content with how I've been playing. And overall, having fun, because I've put a lot of pressure on myself with golf and school. This year I just want to enjoy it and take it one step at a time.
TB: I want to show up and play the best golf that I can. I also want to focus on spending time with my team. It's my last year with my team. I want to have fun with them throughout the season.
