It’s no secret more boys play the game of golf than girls.  But for a pair of sisters in Central Florida they are looking to level the playing field, even if it means teeing off with the boys. Spectrum Sports 360 reporter Despina Barton shows us how the Chao sisters are changing the landscape of golf at the high school level:

When Sammy and Kaitlin Chao roll up to a golf tournament they instantly make an impression.

“It’s usually the same quizzical looks from other boys,” The Masters Academy Golf Coach Maurice Chao explained. “They are talking to themselves wondering why there are two girls playing in a boys match?”

“I think they put us down because they don’t think we are as good as them because we are girls and they don’t think we can beat them,” Sammy Chao said.

Those undermining snickers go away quickly, when the boys figure out the two 5’0 golfers can play.

“They are still thinking ‘why are the little girls playing with the big boys.’ Until they hit their tee shot then its equal—then it’s just golf,” Coach Chao added.

This is normal for the Chao sisters, who play for the Master’s Academy boys golf team. Seventh grader Sammy and tenth grader Kaitlin are embracing the opportunity, while right now there is no girls’ team at the school.

“I feel really good when I actually play with the boys compared to the girls,” Kaitlin explained. “Because for me honestly when I play with the boys I feel like more determined, need to work harder because I need to show them that girls are as good as boys.”

And yes they hit from the same tees as their counterparts, there is just more strategy when it comes to being competitive with often stronger and bigger opponents, especially when it comes to distance.

“Where they make up for it is their grit and determination and their short game. So there is an adage in golf ‘you drive for show, and putt for dough. So when they play they are the epitome of drive for show and putt for dough.”

That’s why they spend so much time on the practice green, alongside their father who first introduced them to the game as toddlers and—now also serves as the Eagles Head Golf Coach.

So far there is a lot of proof of success on the course. Kaitlin reached the state championship last year placing 23^rd and Sammy working her way to the 1^st alternate spot for the drive, chip and putt national tournament the past two years.

Every week too, they post some of the best scores on the team.

“They are in the top four,” Maurice said. “We are counting on them to help the team with their scores.”

For these young golfers they are hoping to close the gender gap.

“I don’t find it intimidating because the boys are bigger than us it’s just that girl are just as good as boys,” Sammy Chao said.

The two tiny but mighty athletes are determined to lay the framework to make the game more accessible for girls.

 “A lot of girls just think that golf is more of a boys sport instead of a girls sport but I think my sister and I are showing and being great examples, golf is just a sport anyone can play it,” Kaitlin added.

Both girls have a 4.0 GPA at The Master’s Academy in Oviedo and Kaitlin dreams of playing college golf at Rollins.