Athlete of the Week: Broncos’ Sugimoto ‘can’t wait to start playing college golf’

Steve Sugimoto, who recalls having a set of plastic golf clubs when he could barely walk, is on the verge of playing golf in college.

Although the Rancho Bernardo High senior quit playing golf at age 11 for about four years before realizing baseball was not his calling, he returned to the golf course. He has already signed a national letter of intent to play next year at San Diego State.

The Broncos, led by senior Zihao Jin, who also signed with San Diego State, and Sugimoto, are off to a 6-0 start in the Palomar League with a pair of matches against both Poway and Mt. Carmel to close out league play.

Then comes the league tournament and CIF San Diego Section Championships. And then Sugimoto will become an Aztec.

“I can’t wait to start playing college golf,’’ Sugimoto said. “College will be a lot more competitive than high school, a lot more pressure. Everyone on a college team is a very good player.

“I used to watch my brother Eric, who is six years older, play matches, so I was on putting greens all the time. I was hooked on the sport.’’

Sugimoto’s family has embraced golf. So did Steve. He estimated he’s averaging even-par nine-hole rounds this season for the Broncos. Despite all the frustrations that go with the sport, he has persevered to the brink of his goal.

“When I’m on, golf is the best game in the world,’’ the 5-foot-4 Sugimoto said. “When you’re off, you feel like you never want to play golf ever again. When I was a lot younger, I threw clubs and got mad, but I learned it doesn’t do you any good. It takes a lot of bad rounds to figure out the right way to play golf. I put in my share of bad rounds.’’

Along the way, he learned that tough lesson that punishes moodiness and outbursts on the course. It also rewards consistent, controlled play.

“No matter how his round is going,’’ Broncos coach Rich Deem said, “you can’t tell if he’s playing well or lousy.

“Having two guys headed to Division I colleges like Steve and Zihao is a benefit to the other players. It’s nice to have a player or two who knows how to play, someone the younger guys can watch.

“Those guys are always working on their games. They never take a day off.’’

When Sugimoto does find some free time, he usually spends it on his golf game. He even grabs a club and checks out his swing in the mirror in the house. He also will hit the bowling alley for a round with his friends.

“You can’t do it in golf, so I like to trash-talk a little on the alley,’’ Sugimoto said. “Bowling is kind of like putting. I’ve been hooked on bowling ever since I was really young.’’

Sugimoto, like most other golfers, admired Tiger Woods for a long time until his career waned. Now he likes Japanese-born Hideki Matsuyama as well as Adam Scott’s golf swing.

“Scott’s swing is beautiful,’’ Sugimoto said. “I’d love to have my swing look just like his. There’s no extra or wasted movement in it.’’

That would come in handy in college.

Monahan is a freelance writer.