VIKING CHRONICLES — Growing up, sophomore Abigail Chen would eagerly watch her older sister play golf until she realized that she, too, fell in love with the sport. During those early years, Chen often found herself practicing golf during her free time.

“My sister has always been my role model; she’d always help correct my moves and give me encouragement,” Chen said.

It was only until freshman year when Chen began taking golf seriously and joined Lynbrook’s golf team. As a member of varsity girls golf, Chen reflects that it has been difficult dealing with failure and overcoming her mental block during games.

“I’d get upset after hitting a bad shot, and that one shot would bring down my confidence for the rest of the game,” Chen said.

It hasn’t always been an easy journey for Chen; she reveals that some days are especially challenging when she feels her performance is constantly subpar. On those days, she remembers her sister’s affirmative words: just get up and keep moving; don’t let one missed shot drag you down. 

Instead of sulking over a minor setback, Chen realizes that it is more important to keep pushing onward. Overall, Chen loves the challenging aspect of golf and reveals that it teaches her how to manage her stress and concentrate on her goals amid outside pressures. 

“Golf is really just a huge mental game — you always have to keep your spirits up,” Chen said. “Playing with teammates and even opponents is a fun opportunity; I’m glad that I can experience it.”