A Day for Shooting and Club-Swinging : Loyola High’s Ken Tanigawa Leads Assault on the Southern Section Golf Title Today

At 7:30 this morning, an assault force of 120, armed with clubs and white projectiles, will attack a non-military target in Palm Desert.

Objective: To capture the Southern Section individual golf championship.

Although the natives are expected to offer little resistence, the narrow fairways and treacherous sand traps at Desert Falls Country Club are expected to produce heavy casualties. Indeed, optimistic estimates indicate that only 22 members of the strike force will survive, moving on to Bakersfield for the Southern California Golf Assn.-CIF championship June 3.

Among the foot soldiers will be Loyola’s Ken Tanigawa, a shrewd, calculating senior, who has been wielding a club since the age of 7.

“Kenny is a young 17 physically,” said Loyola Coach Bill Sanchez. “But what sets him apart is that not a day goes by when he doesn’t have a club in his hand, he’s always played golf. He works at it. He’s been playing competitively for almost 10 years.”

Somewhat surprisingly, Tanigawa does not have a war-like nature. In fact, Sanchez believes Tanigawa’s ability to maintain his composure is his ultimate virtue. That, and a knack for turning certain disaster into mere calamity.

“His mental approach is excellent,” Sanchez says of Tanigawa, who was the school’s No. 1 marksman as a freshman. “You never know if he makes birdie or bogey. And when he hits a bad shot, he’s able to file it away and keep a positive approach. What sets winners apart from just another player or a survivor is shaking off the bad holes and being able to get out of trouble.”

Tanigawa, an almost cherub-like 6-0 and 185-pounds, would just as soon avoid a perilous journey into the underbrush or steer clear of a water hazard, but nonetheless is always prepared for the worst.

“I don’t know if it’s because I’m always in trouble that I’ve learned how to get up and down,” said Tanigawa, with a laugh. “But when you play so many rounds you learn how to make the shots you have to make.”

Mastering the fundamental shots has been a gradual process for Tanigawa, who admits to have already played several thousand rounds of golf, many of them at Bel-Air Country Club, where his father, Tak, is a member and his guru, Eddie Merrins, is the head professional.

“There is no sudden click and everything falls into place,” Tanigawa said. “I try to play every day. It’s a gradual thing. You play for six months and you might notice the scores have come down. You strive for consistency and try to avoid bad habits. My swing is very simple and so when I get in a slump, it’s not hard to correct a flaw.”

Merrins, the head coach at UCLA, has been watching Tanigawa swing for nearly eight years. He was impressed enough to give him a scholarship.

“Technically speaking his swing is excellent,” Merrins said. “He has worked extremely hard since he was a young boy. He is at the stage now where we can truly begin to measure his growth potential, whether he will ultimately move on to the tour. The next five years will be a gauge.

“He has the ability to hit the shots and make the adjustments. He has the confidence that comes with that. His short game is excellent and he is already long off the tee. It will come down to a question of how much he wants to succeed.

“His composure is good; in fact, he’s too phlegmatic. I’d like to see him raise his enthusiasm a little.”

Tanigawa, who later this summer will represent California in a national tournament in Colorado, shouldn’t have any problem with motivation this morning since his friend and, at the same time, arch-rival, sophomore Bob May of Los Altos, will be out trying to knock down a few birds as well.

Last June, Tanigawa beat May by one stroke in the Doug Sanders tournament in Houston. Later, May returned the favor, edging Tanigawa on the 19th hole in a match-play tournament. May also bested his elder in qualifying for the L.A. Open.

But in a recent triangular match, Tanigawa evened the score.

“I shot a 35 and Bob had a 41,” Tanigawa said. “We’re friends, but we definitely have a little rivalry going. He’s got great talent, and his desire is amazing. He hates to lose, he’s a winner.”

The reigning Southern Section champion, Scott Smith of San Bernardino, has moved on to the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Last year, Tanigawa played conservatively, shooting a 76, to finish in a tie for 10th. This time, he’s shooting for the top.

“I want to win, there’s no question about that,” he said. “But I also want to make sure I qualify. If I reach the next round and play well there, then we move on to Pebble Beach for the State final. That’s my dream for now, to play at Pebble Beach.”

And after that?

“Someday, I’d like to play on the tour,” he said. “But first I want to settle into the college experience, make the transition and play well. I’ve just got to keep working hard. Something can always go wrong in a golf swing. Even to the pros. You’ve got to work to stay in the groove.”