High school girls golf begins at Herndon High, continues at South Lakes

by Reston Letter Staff

Juniors Addison Kiser and Fiona Gallardo are part of the inaugural girls golf team at Herndon High. Photo by Reid Kiser

This summer Herndon High School added its first girls Virginia High School League (VHSL) golf team. A total of nine girls from freshman to seniors represent the Hornets. Some have competitive golf backgrounds, while others had never played the sport. Reid Kiser, golfer and father of HHS junior Addison Kiser, led the effort to establish the girls team and create more opportunities within an already strong coed golf program.

VHSL does not have boys-only golf teams; teams are coed. The VHSL coed teams are

90% boys and there can be a perceived and true barrier for girls trying out for the golf

team. “I had a fire lit when I was told this had been tried before but they couldn’t get

the numbers,” Kiser said. “I was hoping to have four girls and we ended up with nine.” The team plays at Herndon Centennial and Hidden Creek Country Club.

Across town, South Lakes has had a dedicated girls golf team for at least 10 years. Olivia Dunheimer coached the for many of those years, with assistance from Kevin Anderson, who

coached the coed team. Today, Anderson coaches both teams. He provided structure and additional training for the girls team and he brings decades of experience as a PGA member since 1982. This year, there are six girls on the South Lakes team. The South Lakes team plays at Reston National Golf Club in the heart of Reston.

Because of the small number of girls who play the game, there is no NVHS girls golf district, and coaches often set up the matches informally. The main goal for the female athletes is to improve their game, try to make regionals, and move on to states. Now that Herndon has a girls golf team, the athletes and coaches are looking forward to coordinating a little friendly competition.