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Intense league rivalries. Impact transfers. Highly-ranked players to watch.

Orange County’s girls golf season is offering those plots, and more, as it begins to take shape.

Here are the top storylines to follow:

Impact transfers: Two of the county’s top players, including the reigning O.C. player of the year and state champion, are at new schools,

Junior Leigh Chien is now at Santa Margarita after claiming the CIF State title for University last season.

The Register’s 2021 player of the year is expected to debut with the Eagles on Sept. 22 against Trinity League rival Orange Lutheran at Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club, Santa Margarita coach Jill Hegna said.

Chien, who committed to Stanford in July, is observing the CIF-Southern Section’s sitout period for transfers. She is ranked fourth in the nation by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA).

Kelsey Kim has transferred to Sunny Hills after starring for La Habra last fall. Kim, who won the CIF Northern regional title last season, also is observing the section’s sitout period, Lancers coach Scott Enrico said. …

Kim is committed to Santa Clara.

Top freshmen: Veteran Los Alamitos coach John Haygood believes he has one of his most talented teams. The Griffins are led by freshmen Ashley Han and Lauren Shin and three returning players.

Han entered Thursday with four rounds under par while Shin had three, Haygood said.

Santa Margarita features its own freshmen duo in Veronica Man and Angelina Tao.

Top league rivals: The league races in the Freeway, Surf and Trinity will be among the most competitive in the county.

The arrival of Kim at Sunny Hills gives the Lancers a shot to knock off perennial SoCal power Troy in the Freeway League.

Sunny Hills returns juniors Yurang Li, the two-time reigning league champion, and Lauren Lee. Li is ranked 33rd in the nation by the AJGA.

Troy and new coach Allen Ulibarri are trying to reload with sophomore Alison Soewito, senior Tessa Lapradez and junior Victoria Ditching among others. The Warriors finished a county-best fourth at state last season.

Orange Lutheran and Santa Margarita could be the top teams in the Trinity League.

The Lancers (8-0) posted an impressive 1-over-par 181 earlier this week against Edison at Black Gold Golf Club in Yorba Linda. Junior Jayne Sung carded a 3-under-par 33 for medalist honors while sisters Alexia and Mason Egdahl also shot under-par.

Santa Margarita (4-0) set a team course record at Coto de Caza’s South course with a 2-under-par 178 against Huntington Beach on Thursday. Angela Liu tied the course record with a 4-under-par 32.

“I will never count out Mater Dei,” Lancers coach Dustin Boburka added about the Trinity race. …

In the Surf League, Los Alamitos will duel with Edison, Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach in one of the strongest leagues in the county. Edison is led by junior Chloe Lam, the Register’s player of the year as a freshman.

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NOTES

Jerry Cowgill retired as the girls coach at Troy after 19 seasons. He guided the Warriors to six section titles, three SoCal crowns, a state title and one national championship. …

Chutimon Rujiranan of Anaheim Discovery Christian will again play as an individual, starting with the San Clemente-hosted Rainbow Sandals tournament on Sept. 19. …

The Walnut tournament on Oct. 3 is another top event. …

State qualifier Bridget Chantharath is back to lead Northwood. The Timberwolves (4-0) shot a 2-over-par 182 on Thursday for a school record. Chantharath, a sophomore, forms a strong trio with Jia An, and Zoe Yan. …

First-team All-County selection Katherine Gerbing is back for her junior season at Cypress. …

The SCGA-SoCal regional is Nov. 10 at Brookside Golf Club in Pasadena. The CIF State final Nov. 16 at San Gabriel Country Club in San Gabriel.

Please send girls golf news to Dan Albano at [email protected] or @ocvarsityguy on Twitter