Golf has become my favorite sport to play, and I hope one day to make it my career.  However, I'm a stat freak, and baseball is king when it comes to that.  As far as pure passion is concerned, I'm probably a bigger fan of football than any other sport (love my Chargers!!), but for all intents and purposes, golf is my overall favorite, top-to-bottom, when it comes to playing, watching, and admiring the history. 

I still played competitive baseball even after I was out of high school, in a summer league coached by the father of one of my high school baseball teammates.  It was fun, loose, and carefree, how baseball is supposed to be.

My fondest collective baseball memories are of the All-Star teams I made during Little League and Pony League.  I was a pretty good pitcher, and although our teams didn't advance, it was exciting knowing that I was one of the best of my league, and got to show up and face the best from the other leagues.

My proudest individual baseball moment, however, was in high school, my sophomore year.  I threw a complete game 1-hit shutout against Kearney High school (could have easily been a no-hitter, as the only hit allowed was because the shortstop double-clutched his throw to first, allowing the runner to beat the throw [and I allowed just one walk too, so it was even that much closer to a perfect game!])...that was the highlight of my baseball career in high school.

I played every position, but was best at P, 2B, RF, and LF.  I really liked catching, but when I was 13-14 I had some knee problems and didn't get to play that position as much as I would have liked.

I first realized I could play competitive golf when I was 16. I'd played a few rounds of golf a year for about 4 years until I made the commitment to focus all my energy on golf.  And it came naturally.

The golf swing is very similar to a baseball swing, in terms of establishing power through the contact zone.  Each swing incorporates basic fundamentals, such as maintaining balance, using your legs as a power force, and having quick hands through impact.  I knew that golf, like baseball, would take work, but the harder I worked, the better I'd become.  Distance off the tee came naturally, but I had to work around the greens.

It's been great playing for Dr. Johnson.  The travel, the competition, everything is as I wanted it to be.  I've made some great friends on the golf team too.

The only thing I wish is that we had a Fall competition season.  That way Dominguez Hills might have better pull when it comes to getting freshmen recruits and building and establishing a good recruiting base like the better teams in our conference (Monterey Bay, Sonoma State, etc.).

Before Payne Stewart died tragically, he was my favorite golfer. I liked the story of his personal turnaround, becoming a God-loving family man, and his unique dress and style. 

I've always like Phil Mickelson, too, not only because he's a San Diego native, but because he's personable on the course. He's always cool to the fans, he's an outgoing family man, and he conducts himself with integrity ON the course.

Mickey Mantle had always been my idol when it came to baseball.  We share the same birthday, and stories of his power-hitting days with the Yankees are, in my mind, as legendary as they come. 

Tony Gwynn was always one of my favorites, too, as well as Jim Thome and his classic power.

For now, I'm just working on balancing school work with all the missed class time due to golf.  I'll be done with my Senior Communications Thesis at the end of this semester, and I'll be graduating in the Fall.

I plan to play full time as an amateur on the Golden State Tour all summer, as well as in as many USGA and SCGA qualifiers and City Amateur Championships as I can. 

I do plan to turn pro, eventually, though no earlier than Fall/Winter 2011.

I play video games, occasionally, and I love watching all kinds of movies. I enjoy going to downtown San Diego on the weekends I have off.  I love the beach, but don't get to go as often as I'd like since when you want your career to be playing golf on tour, most free time is spent on the course.

I also work at a golf course, Cottonwood Golf Club, in El Cajon.

Honestly, I think San Diego will probably finish 4th in the division, 3rd at best. The Rockies and Dodgers are pretty deep. I think we'll finish .500, though. We've got great speed, good defense, and mediocre pitching. 

San Diego needs Chris Young back AND healthy AND at the top of his game like '07 and '08, and Adrian Gonzalez and Chase Headley just need to keep doing what they did during their 8-game win streak: HIT, HIT, HIT!!

Also Kyle Blanks needs to turn it around and regain those flashes of power brilliance he had at the end of '09.

Qualifying for anything in serious golf competition was always a distant, relatively unattainable goal for me since I started.  I was a mediocre high school golfer (compared to the better golfers in San Diego, who'd all been playing since they were 8, 9, 10 years old) and I didn't break 80 until I'd graduated high school.

But a year of hard work allowed me to join the Cuyamaca Men's Golf team and play competitive collegiate golf.  Every month I'd look back and see what I improved on and needed to continue to improve on, and it just slowly developed over time. 

When I transferred to Dominguez Hills, I got a real taste at NCAA golf.  I set high goals for myself this year, and so far, I've either met or exceeded every single one of them.

Making the NCAA D-II Men's Golf West Regionals is a dream come true!