By Natalie Miller '23
The silence that filled the 18th hole before the scores were announced at the Girls Golf CIF State Tournament, eventually turned into celebration. For Emily Song ‘27 and Donina Zhou ‘27, however, the moment represented more than a championship and a trip to nationals. It was proof that the culture passed down by generations of Eagle golfers continues to produce champions both on and off of the course.
“That’s when it became real, we were going to Nationals,” said Emily Song, a junior on Santa Margarita’s girls varsity Golf team.
The 2025 season added another chapter to an already dominant era for Santa Margarita girls golf. The Lady Eagles claimed CIF State, CIF SCGA Regional Team, CIF Southern Section, and Trinity League Championships, securing their seventh consecutive league title and fourth straight CIF SCGA Regional Team Championship.
Song attributes the Eagle’s continued success to one thing: Culture. Despite all of the trophies, players point to their culture at the foundation of their success.
“It’s our team chemistry, it sets us apart,” added Song’s teammate, and best friend, Zhou ‘27.
Passing the Torch
Zhou and Song are set to be team captains together next season. To their coach, Jill Hegna, it comes as no surprise that the girls are up to the task. “They have really stepped up this season,” said Hegna. “They have done their homework on how to best support their teammates.”
According to Song and Zhou, the culture of support and leadership already existed when they first joined the team their freshman year. At the time Leigh Chien ‘24, now a collegiate golfer at Stanford University, taught the girls by example on how to be great leaders.
“Her support motivated me to improve my game, because now I'm not just playing for myself, I'm playing for my team,” Zhou commented. And that mindset is what Song and Zhou hope to pass on as the team veterans now.
That tradition of leadership has helped sustain one of the nation’s premier girls golf programs. Under Hegna, the Eagles have become a consistent championship contender, with veteran players mentoring younger teammates year after year.
Going into her 21st year with girls golf, and her 15th season as varsity head coach, Hegna is no stranger to Trinity League, or CIF championships.
“The talent of our team right now is unbelievable,” she said with a smile.
“Golf is a very individualistic, competitive sport, but I feel like playing on this team has really fostered a supportive environment” said Zhou, “We truly do want the best for each other.”
Building a Culture
Hegna has put a strong emphasis on team bonding off of the course, especially with how many individual tournaments the girls play on top of the team ones.
“As their coach, my role is to also help them navigate the high school experience,” she said. “It comes down to four things: academics, socials, faith and then golf.”
She makes it known that school comes first and her door is always open. She emphasizes the importance of attending school dances, football games and team bonding events, alongside their busy practice schedules.
“It is all a part of building the culture as well, I want them to always stay positive,” Hegna said.
That emphasis on connection and positivity has become one of the defining characteristics of the program.
“Coach Hegna has full confidence in us, she always reminds us to be in the moment with each other,” said Zhou. “When one girl isn’t having their best day on the course, we all feel it and then build each other up.”
Faith at the Center
The team also draws on their faith and Santa Margarita's charism of Caritas Christi, the love of Christ, as a constant guide while they play.
“We always want to make sure our composure on the course is representative of what we stand for at SM,” said Song.
Before each round, the Eagles gather for prayer, a tradition that has become an important part of their preparation and team culture.
“Our time for prayer before every round has become essential in grounding us,” said Zhou, “It reminds us that we are playing for each other and something larger than ourselves.”
All of the skills that both Song and Zhou have gained with Eagles’ golf have given them the confidence to play golf collegiately, with Song committed to Yale, and Zhou to Princeton in the Fall of 2027.
But first, they have one more season here at Santa Margarita, and the upcoming High School Golf National Invitational in Pinehurst, North Carolina in July.
For a program that has collected league titles and championships, the trophies tell only part of the story.
The foundation of Santa Margarita girls golf has always been the relationships built along the way. And as one generation of Eagles passes the torch to the next, that culture remains the program's greatest victory.
Girls Golf History
Trinity/Serra/Sea View League Champions:
1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Undefeated Championship Seasons:
2003, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025
CIF Championship Finalists:
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
CIF-SS Division 1 Team Champions:
2023, 2025
CIF State Team Champions:
2025 - Poppy Hills GC
2023 - Poppy Hills GC
2022 - San Gabriel CC
CIF/SCGA SoCal Regional Team Champions:
2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
PGA National High School Championship:
2024 - Frisco, Texas
Follow the Lady Eagles at the PGA High School Golf National Invitational in Pinehurst, North Carolina, July 11-13.
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