Diamond Bar golfers sign with Pepperdine, UC Irvine

Two Brahma golfers, Sahith Theegala and Jefferson Kao, who have signed national letters of intent. Shown with Coach Ty Watkins and Principal Catherine Real.

Two Brahma golfers, Sahith Theegala and Jefferson Kao, who have signed national letters of intent. Shown with Coach Ty Watkins and Principal Catherine Real.

Two Diamond Bar High School varsity boys golfers have signed national college letters of intent. Seniors Sahith Theegala will attend Pepperdine University and Jefferson Kao will attend University of California, Irvine in the fall.

“It’s exciting and kind of unbelievable,” Kao said about the receiving the athletic scholarship. Kao and Jefferson have been varsity players since their freshman year.

“Entering the Brahma team, we already knew all the players. It was like a big family because we played completive junior golf,” Kao explained. “Our goal was to help each other improve, improve as a team, and to play our best.”

He first picked up the clubs at six years old – and they were the plastic ones.  Kao, age 17, is excited about his decision to play at UC Irvine.“I’m happy with the team, I already feel like it’s a family.”

Theegala said he only needed to look at a few colleges before making his decision. “It feels awesome,” Theegala said after the signing day. “Pepperdine met all my requirements and the coaches are amazing,” the 16-year-old said. He’ll be 17 in a week.

Theegala agreed that the long-term golf relationships helped the Brahma team. “We all knew each other coming here and kind of fed off each other.  And when the golf season starts we have so much fun. It goes by too fast!”

“The Diamond Bar Golf Program has had some great success over the past few years, mostly due to the great accomplishments of Sahith Theegala and Jefferson Kao,” praised Coach Ty Watkins.

The DBHS Boys Golf Team were named 2012 League Champions, CIF Champions, 2013 League Champions, CIF Champions, and 2014 League Champions, CIF Runner-ups.

The Varsity Boys Golf team has been riding on the coat tails of these two extraordinary young men, we are hoping to make one more run at a CIF title, and maybe even a run at a CIF State championship, like the Diamond Bar Girls team.  Our team is incredibly excited for Sahith and Jefferson, and we know the Pepperdine community of Malibu and the Irvine community will benefit because these two wonderful men.”