UC Irvine’s Ainslie Named Coach for Goodwill Golf Tournament

UC Irvine golf Coach Steve Ainslie was named head coach of the U.S. team that will compete in the third Japan/USA Student Goodwill golf tournament Aug. 8-9.

It’s the second year in a row Ainslie will lead the U.S. squad, consisting of 20 men and three women. Three Irvine players--Darren Humphrey, the Anteaters’ top finisher (24th) in Big West tournament in May, and Jesse Lanham and Kevin Yamauchi, who both finished 29th in the tournament--will be competing.

“Last year, I had no idea what I was getting into,” Ainslie said. “Last year, they had their best amateurs in the country on their teams and beat us pretty badly. But it was a great experience and I’m glad they’ve asked us to come back. The operative word is ‘goodwill’; we do keep score, but they put as much emphasis on sportsmanship as they do good golf.

“This time, however, we will take better players.”

The 36-hole tournament will be played at the Tsu Country Club in Tsu City, Japan.

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Santa Margarita Athletic Director Rich Schaaf and his wife, Cindy, who has headed the girls’ physical education department and coached cross-country and track at the school, are leaving for Big Bear High this fall, Santa Margarita Principal Merritt Hemenway announced Friday.

The Schaafs wanted to spend more time with their two children, Coty, 5, and Carly, 2. Rich will teach science and assist in coaching football and basketball. Cindy will be a part-time physical education teacher.

Both had been at Santa Margarita since the school opened in 1987.

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Kristin Farmer, La Quinta girls’ cross-country coach the past two years, will take over the program at Huntington Beach High, Athletic Director Dave Van Hoorebeke said Friday.

Farmer, who graduated from La Quinta as Kristin Harkins in 1987, still holds the Garden Grove League record in the 800-meter and mile races. She will serve as an assistant coach on the Oiler girls’ track and field team.

Farmer is also Orange County’s all-time leader in goals scored (136) and assists (90) in soccer.