3621 W MacArthur Blvd Suite 107 Santa Ana, CA 92704
Toll Free – (844)-500-1351 Local – (714)-604-1416 Fax – (714)-907-1115

All-County boys golf team: Cypress’ Daniel Heo is the OC player of the year

Rent Computer Hardware You Need, When You Need It

Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

The Register’s All-County boys golf teams for 2022.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Daniel Heo, Cypress, Sr.

Daniel Heo didn’t arrive at the CIF/SCGA SoCal Championships with visions of hoisting the first-place trophy. It was a feat that he even made it to Brookside Golf Club in Pasadena for his 8 a.m. tee time.

The night before the May 26 tournament, he graduated from Cypress High and attended grad night at Disneyland, which extended its hours for the occasion. He returned home around 4 a.m., slept for about an hour before scrambling his way to the biggest tournament of his season.

“I was barely opening my eyes (on the first hole),” Heo said. “I didn’t really have much expectations for myself.”

Heo ended up delivering one of his best performances. The Cal-bound senior birded four of five holes and posted an eagle on the back nine and won the title in a one-hole playoff with 2019 state champion and Arizona State-bound Luke Potter of Escondido’s Classical Academy.

For his efforts, Heo is The Register’s boys golfer of the year.

“Amazing,” Cypress coach Mike Lujan said of Heo, who carded a 5-under-par 67 to win the SoCal title. “(He) walked and carried his bag for 18 holes and shot a 5-under.”

Heo’s torrid stretch started with a birdie on the par-4 10th hole. He also birded the 12th, 13th and 14th before an eagle on the par-5 15th dropped him to 6-under. He bogeyed his final hole before winning the playoff by making par.

“It was definitely a different feeling,” Heo said of his sizzling play. “I didn’t focus on the score and just focused on each shot, and I think that helped a lot.”

“It was definitely one of the best wins of my career,” he added.

Heo also called Cypress’ season one of his best.

He reached the CIF State Championships for the first time, and he tied for 15th with a 1-over 72 at San Gabriel Country Club.

He also helped the Centurions capture the Empire League title and finish second in the CIF-SS Division 3 team finals.

Cypress advanced to the SCGA qualifying tournament and tied with Servite for fifth, one shot behind Edison, which grabbed the fourth and final spot for the CIF/SCGA SoCal finals.

Heo said the emergence of sophomore Ryan Slevcove and play of junior Nathan Yoo were key factors in the team’s success.

Heo has been on his own rise in the sport. The native of Seoul, South Korea, started playing in the sixth grade after being encouraged by his father Jibaek and mother Suyeon.

He said his father has helped him with the mental side of the game while his mother has supported him at tournaments and lessons.

Heo also credits Lujan, assistant coach Susan Metry and private coaches James Oh and Andrew Reno for shaping his game.

He especially enjoyed Metry’s reaction to his eagle at the SoCal regionals. “I could hear her scream,” he said.

It was that type of season for Daniel Heo.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Scott Enrico, Sunny Hills

The strength of Sunny Hills’ boys golf team was its consistency, even in the toughest tournaments.

The Lancers placed third at the CIF State and CIF/SCGA SoCal championships, and tied for second at the SCGA qualifying tournament.

That’s three top-three performances in the biggest tournaments of the postseason.

Sunny Hills’ Scott Enrico is the Orange County boys golf coach of the year for 2022 after leading the Lancers to a third-place finish at the CIF State Championships. (Photo courtesy of Sunny Hills golf)

Leading the way was Scott Enrico, The Register’s boys golf coach of the year for the first time.

“Scott is a very good coach and a calming force,” Sunny Hills athletic director Paul Jones said of Enrico, who also guided the Sunny Hills girls to the CIF-SS Division 3 team title in the fall. “He is intentional about making sure (the boys and girls) are practicing but also prepares them for the big competitions.”

“He was able to get our teams to peak at the right times, play well together and be prepared for the big moments,” Jones added.

Sunny Hills’ third-place finish at CIF State was the highest among Orange County schools. The Lancers also produced the county’s highest-placing individual in junior Eric Lee, who shot a 4-under 67 to take second by one shot at San Gabriel Country Club.

Sunny Hills also placed fourth in Division 1 and defended its title in the Freeway League.

 

FIRST TEAM

Youseong Choi, Anaheim Discovery Christian, Jr.

The San Diego commit won the CIF-SS individual title with a 4-under-par 68 at River Ridge Golf Club in Oxnard.

Timothy Jung, Edison, Sr.

The Pacific-bound Jung captured the prestigious Champions’ Invitational in April at Indian Wells Golf Resort, won the Surf League title and helped the Chargers capture the CIF/SCGA SoCal title.

Eric Lee, Sunny Hills, Jr.

The Cal-committed Lee tied for second at the CIF State finals by carding a 4-under-par 67 at San Gabriel Country Club.

Troy Tarvin, Edison, Sr.

Tarvin shot an even-par 71 to tie for ninth — second among county golfers — at the CIF State finals and tied for second at the 114-player Villa Park tournament.

Nathan Tseng, Troy, Sr.

The Freeway League champion and UC San Diego commit placed third at CIF-SS individuals and tied for fifth at the CIF/SCGA SoCal finals en route to qualifying for state.

Related Articles

High School Sports |


Sunny Hills boys golf takes third place at CIF State championships

High School Sports |


‘Balanced’ Edison boys golf claims CIF/SCGA SoCal regional championship

High School Sports |


Edison golf boys overcomes disqualification to reach CIF/SCGA SoCal final

High School Sports |


Corona del Mar boys golf awarded CIF-SS Division 1 title after Palm Desert forfeits

High School Sports |


Santa Margarita boys and girls swimming teams aim for strong finish at state meet

SECOND TEAM

Jack Cantlay, Servite, Sr.

Chanachon Chokprajakchat, Anaheim Discovery Christian, Sr.

Ben Crinella, Edison, Jr.

Nick Davis, Dana Hills, Fr.

Patrick Hong, Sunny Hills, Sr.

Jeffrey Kwak, Sunny Hills, Jr.

Diesel Roman, Marina, So.

Ryan Voois, Tesoro, Sr.

Generated by Feedzy