By Shayan Abbasi & Stephanie Pham
Freshman Evan Phi and junior Kylie Phi make their mark on Fountain Valley High School’s (FVHS) varsity golf team. The Phi siblings are two emerging stars in FVHS’ sports division, showing remarkable talent both on and off the course.
The Phis’ have consistently shown impressive performance levels in golf tournaments, with Kylie competing in Southern California Tournaments for the past three years. Evan has also been on an upward trajectory, placing high in several golf tournaments and earning recognition as a rising star on the boys’ varsity golf team.
Their technique and precision on the course are unmatched, and they consistently deliver impressive results. Kylie scored high points for her team and placed first place in many tournaments, including the Toyota Tour Cup Qualifier, the David L. Baker Summer Championship and the Upland Hills Summer Championship. In turn, Evan Phi’s golf expertise has led to wins against Estancia High School and El Dorado High School.
Kylie Phi, a gifted golfer with a natural swing and a strong passion for the game, started her freshman year on the girls’ varsity team, however, this was not her first time on the field. She started playing at the age of nine, and continued for eight years and counting. She first fell in love with the sport after discovering how much she could grow from the experience.
“I enjoy the individual aspects of golf and how you can’t blame anyone for your faults except yourself, you can only grow from your own mistakes,” Kylie said. “I realized that although golf in itself is fun, it gave me an opportunity to develop self-discipline, personal drive and self-confidence.”
On the other hand, golf prowess comes naturally to freshman phenomenon Evan Phi. Following his older sister’s footsteps, he begins his high school journey on the varsity golf team. First starting golf at six years old, Evan quickly progressed his skills and earned a spot on the varsity team this year.
“When I first started golf, it was supposed to be my naptime, but I managed to whine my way out into going with my sister to the golf range,” Evan said. “When we got to the range, I picked up a golf club, and I immediately went to the mat where I just slammed golf balls after golf balls, but not after missing a majority of them. “
Evan cites his father as a major reason why he plays golf. Since starting golf, Evan consistently progressed to new heights as a top-shower in varsity matches.
“Honestly, my dad is one of the major reasons why I enjoy and play golf,” Evan said. “Every year for Father’s Day, or just any holiday, my dad would take me out and I would just laugh and cry while playing golf.”
When asked how joining the girls’ varsity golf team as a freshman impacted her journey through high school, Kylie felt that she learned to break out of her shell through golf. Especially coming out of a global pandemic, it was hard to transition back to a natural school environment.
“If I didn’t join varsity so early, I wouldn’t have improved as much as I did. Joining as a freshman allowed me the opportunity to experience CIF tournaments and work with girls I can look up to,” Kylie said. “Being so young, I looked to the juniors and seniors on the team for guidance through the sport and high school, and they really helped me grow as both a golfer and a person.”
Kylie has high aspirations for her brother and his high school journey. Golf is a sport that requires great dedication and she is proud of what her brother is accomplishing through his role on the team.
“I hope my brother can use golf as a bridge into the world of high school like I did. Being a young athlete can be stressful and I hope that he doesn’t focus on anything except himself and is able to keep his mind organized during tournaments,” Kylie said.
Reflecting on his experiences as a freshman in a varsity sport and his sister’s hopes for his future, Evan noted the team’s welcoming in helping him transition into a new environment. This season, he is focused on the team having fun and doing the best they can in matches.
“It doesn’t really push me, but rather, I just want my team to appreciate and just overall have fun when we play our matches,” Evan said. “Being a freshman on varsity, you have to prove your worth being there.”
Both of these high school golf players are exceptional examples of the talent and perseverance that can be found in young athletes. Their motivation and dedicated work ethics is an indication of future successes. The Phi siblings are sure to make their mark in the world of golf, and we look forward to seeing all that they achieve in the years to come, on and off the field.
