Rancho Bernardo’s Isa Iorio was destined to play golf.
No other sport had a chance. Not with her father, Richard, being a teaching pro; her mother, Natasha, a former college player; and her brother Nicholas, an ex-Broncos standout who is now at Soka University in Orange County.
“I’ve been playing golf since I was six years old,” said Iorio, a 17-year-old senior. “I started playing Junior Golf and I loved it. My whole family plays — it helps me bond with my family.”
Mind you, whenever Iorio has a few extra minutes at home or needs a break from studying (she has a 4.1 GPA), she can simply step outside in her back yard where she can polish her short game on a synthetic grass putting green. All 18 holes.
“Sometimes the family has a putting contest,” said Isa with a chuckle. “I try to play golf every day. Our (school) home course is The Heights, a par 72 with narrow fairways. It’s a little hilly. It’s the kind of course that can challenge you mentally. You have to be smart about playing it, consider course management, because it can test you.
“It’s my favorite course, so sometimes it seems easy. I also like playing Torrey Pines North.
“I think the thing I like about golf is you can get out in the fresh air, smell the grass, and just have fun. On weekends and vacation, the family looks for a course to play together.”
This year, though, is special.
Iorio didn’t really take golf seriously until she entered Rancho Bernardo High and even as a ninth-grader, she thought if things fell into place, the Broncos just might be in position to win the section title for the first time since finishing second in 2015.
She and Madison Saysanasongkhan, another freshman, hit it off immediately, and combined with current juniors Kayla Geng and Madelyn Reyes, the potential grew.
Two highly-ranked freshmen, Sophia Roxas and Amanda Peng, jumped on board this year and as a result, Rancho Bernardo and Torrey Pines have battled back and forth for the No. 1 team ranking in the section.
Saysanasongkhan captured the Longhorn Open last week, shooting a 4-under 68 to lead the Broncos past Torrey Pines, 284-287, over The Links at Lakehouse.
The big rematch comes on Sept. 24.
“I look forward to that,” said Iorio. “They have an A and a B team that are good, but I think this can be our year.”
In the latest section rankings, Saysanasongkhan is No. 3, Peng No. 7 and Iorio No. 8.
Iorio is one of the team captains and coach Alex Moreno says she fits the role perfectly.
“When we beat Del Norte by two strokes (189-191) earlier this season, Isa spoke to the freshmen on how to get through a big match,” Moreno said. “She voiced positive thoughts and explained that if they missed a shot, to quickly put it behind them and move on. She was a mentor and it was perfect.”
Iorio, who is hoping to play next at San Diego State or Cal State San Marcos, said when she was a freshman, one of the seniors, Linnea Yamamoto, took her under wing and made what can be a harrowing experience for a 9th-grader, much easier.
This year is a chance for Iorio to play it forward and she loves it.
“Being the captain, you get to let the freshmen know about the course and how to handle the pressure,” she said. “Plus, you get to choose the uniform and make it fun.”
As for Iorio who is the only one in her family not to have shot a hole in one and whose best round was a 3-under par, she is really looking forward to not only facing Torrey Pines later this month but in the section championships, Southern California Regionals and, hopefully, the state championships.
“I was second in the Palomar League last year, by one stroke, but Maddy (Saysanasongkhan) won, so that was OK. I’ve played in the SoCal Regionals and I really believe as a team we can make it to the state championships.”
