Iwaoka keeps Payton rolling

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:28PM

Payton senior Kelsey Iwaoka has demonstrated great promise at two pursuits: art and golf.

Iwaoka started painting as a young child and has developed her own perspective and sensibility while working on landscape and nature backgrounds.

And she was a portrait of toughness and perseverance Saturday, defending her city title by shooting a 41 in extremely difficult conditions of bone-chilling cold, gale winds and side-shifting rain at Jackson Park.

Winning is pretty much a constant. In her four years in the Grizzlies' program, Iwaoka never has experienced defeat in dual-meet competition; Payton is 25-0 during her career. Behind Iwaoka, the Grizzlies captured their fourth consecutive city title.

‘‘It's a great thrill, and I'm proud of myself,'' she said.

Iwaoka started playing golf when she was 9. He mother, Carol, is the associate commissioner of the Big Ten Conference.

‘‘Originally, I just started playing with my mom so we'd have something fun to do together,'' Iwaoka said. ‘‘I got to high school and tried out for the team, and I found out I was actually a pretty good player.''

Iwaoka demonstrated a natural talent from the start. She finished third in the city championship as a freshman and sophomore.

Because she has an unorthodox approach to the game, she is able to master it on her own terms. Her favorite club is a 60-degree wedge, what she calls her ‘‘wild wedge.''

‘‘Golf intrigues me because it is so mental,'' she said. ‘‘I'm kind of a laid-back person. If I don't play well, I tend not to get distracted or frustrated by the game mentally, but it does push me to want to do better.''

On Wednesday at Cog Hill No. 3 in Lemont, Iwaoka shot an 82 to advance to next week's sectionals. She qualified for the state finals as a sophomore, but she struggled last year.

Her immediate future is very much up in the air. She intends to go to a liberal-arts school with a strong art background but is uncertain about pursuing competitive golf after high school.

‘‘Golf teaches you patience,'' Iwaoka said. ‘‘You learn to look at all the different angles.''

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