Upper St. Clair girls golf coach living American dream after immigrating from Philippines

By: Charles Curti

Wednesday, September 14, 2022 | 7:01 PM

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Subsequent

Tuesday’s climate within the Pittsburgh space introduced the primary nip of fall to the air. However with the temperature nonetheless hovering round 70 levels at mid-afternoon, few people had been prepared to contemplate the prospect of sporting further layers of clothes.

Higher St. Clair ladies golf coach Mercedes Epondulan was one of many few. Even after practically 20 years in Western Pennsylvania, she nonetheless isn’t used to the coolness.

“That is chilly for me,” she stated with amusing.

For somebody who spent the primary 12 years of her life dwelling within the sultry local weather of the Philippines, it’s straightforward to see how mid-September in Pittsburgh may appear brisk.

Epondulan, 29 and in her first season with the Panthers, resides the quintessential American dream: Half of a giant Filipino household who got here to the US seeking alternative, she has discovered her area of interest in golf. She performed at Allderdice then at Cal (Pa.), and now, along with teaching at Higher St. Clair, she is working as a PGA apprentice at Valley Brook Nation Membership with a watch towards being a instructing skilled.

“Simply being right here, being a coach, who would have thought that I might be a coach?” Epondulan stated. “It’s simply surreal to be teaching a sport that I hated.”

The journey started along with her sister, Elpidia, the eldest of Epondulan’s eight older siblings. The household lengthy had talked about coming to the US, and Elpidia was the primary to make the leap.

She had met a pen pal — that’s the old-school pen-and-paper equal of assembly somebody on-line — from the Pittsburgh space, so she put down roots right here. Elpidia labored a number of jobs till she had sufficient cash to convey her mom over.

The remainder of the household adopted — their father and a brother remained within the Philippines — together with the “child,” 12-year-old Mercedes.

As may be anticipated, the transition was troublesome initially. Epondulan had grown up on one of many Philippines’ small islands the place it was largely mountains and ocean, and everybody knew nearly everybody else.

Then there was the language barrier. Epondulan, although she knew some English, spoke primarily Bisaya, a dialect of the Philippines’ principal language, Tagalog.

“Anytime any individual would discuss to me or ask me a query,” she stated, “I must pause to translate it into at the very least two totally different languages after which perceive it after which translate it again.”

Because the household started to assimilate into their American environment, the youngsters had been inspired to become involved in an exercise. Epondulan’s brother-in-law, David, launched her and her sister, Mary, to golf via the First Tee of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Youth Golf Basis. (Mary Epondulan additionally performed a 12 months of golf at Cal.)

At first, Epondulan was unimpressed. She discovered it boring standing over slightly, white ball for hours. On prime of it, everybody spoke too shortly for her to grasp a lot of the conversations. Her household, nonetheless, insisted she keep it up, and he or she wound up falling in love with the sport. Maybe simply as importantly, Epondulan fell in love with the environment across the First Tee.

“The First Tee was various. It nonetheless is,” she stated. “The folks and coaches had been useful, and so they knew English wasn’t my first language. … They had been very variety to my sister and me. I used to be making buddies, and now it felt like I belonged someplace.”

She started pursuing the sport in earnest, taking part in nicely sufficient at Allderdice to get a shot at Cal (Pa.). She performed for the Vulcans from 2013-17, posting a scoring common of 85.5 in 11 matches throughout her senior season.

The job at Higher St. Clair fell into her lap. Mike Papson, head skilled at Valley Brook, advised Epondulan that USC was in search of a ladies golf coach, and the prospect intrigued her.

“I stated, ‘How lengthy do I’ve? How lengthy earlier than I have to inform you?’ ” she stated. “He stated, ‘Tomorrow.’ I had lower than 24 hours to let him know.”

The Panthers have been aggressive in Epondulan’s first season. After Tuesday’s tri-match win over Bethel Park and Elizabeth Ahead, the Panthers stood at 5-7-1 general.

Regardless of Epondulan’s hasty introduction to the workforce, the gamers imagine the transfer has labored.

“She’s such a pleasant coach, and we’ve all been capable of adapt actually properly to her,” stated senior captain Anna McElligott.

Added fellow senior captain Natalie Zunic: “She has taught me numerous new issues with my golf sport. She’s a very good instructor, and, personally, I believe she’s a very good coach.”

As soon as the highschool season ends, Epondulan, now an American citizen, will return her focus to her apprenticeship. There are three ranges aspiring execs should move — the third degree has two tiers — and Epondulan is engaged on Degree 2. Her main duties at Valley Brook are giving classes to juniors and newcomers, however, ultimately, she desires to have the ability to train gamers of all ranges.

She additionally has a particular need to assist the First Tee.

“I’m very glad and lucky to get this chance, and, hopefully, down the highway, I wish to give again,” she stated. “And never simply to Valley Brook however to the First Tee. Golf is a really costly sport, and there’s not numerous younger ladies, so I simply wish to train and provides again.”

Maybe in the future, golf will allow her to make an impression on somebody identical to her, a youngster who’s in search of their very own model of the American dream. Nevertheless it’s clear she already has impressed her gamers at Higher St. Clair.

“She has numerous braveness to do this, go away her nation and all of that,” Zunic stated. “I assumed it was fairly cool of her and took numerous bravery.”

Added McElligott: “It’s an incredible story, and I believe it exhibits all of us that something is feasible if in case you have sufficient braveness to dream about it.”

Tags: Higher St. Clair