Golf : Martin Excels in Greener Pastures After Swim Career Takes a Plunge

Lee Martin, the head golf pro at Saticoy Country Club in Camarillo, knew long ago that his daughter, Stephanie, was interested in both golf and academics. He knew this when she was about 9 years old, the day she strolled through the living room with a golf club in one hand and a textbook in the other, took a fine, one-handed swing with the golf club and accidentally launched the book through a screen door.

Eight years later, Stephanie Martin has become one of the finest junior golfers in Southern California--and an A student. She has a handicap of 2 and was the No. 1 player on the Rio Mesa High golf team last year as a junior, competing against boys.

“She’s pretty self-motivated,” Lee Martin said. “I gave her a golf club when she was 6 or 7 and she’d have it with her all the time. She really started getting involved in my junior golf programs when she was 9, and even then she could really hit the heck out of a golf ball.”

Martin also became interested in swimming, however, and for several years Bermuda grass took a back seat to chlorine as her favorite scent. But when her swimming coach, former Olympian Sandy Nielsen, left the program, Martin’s interest waned. And golf became her main pursuit.

“Now she’s a recreational swimmer and is much more focused on golf,” her father said. “I think that’s great, but I’m just her teacher. I don’t push her too hard. She wants to play golf in college and she’s had several schools interested already. We’ve even talked about playing professionally someday, but I want her to get an education first and foremost. I want her to enjoy playing golf and enjoy the places that golf can take her.

“A lot of parents put so much pressure on kids at a young age that they just stop competing. I don’t think there’s any chance of that with Stephanie. She loves golf too much.”

Martin is one of the early entrants in Wood Ranch Golf Club’s first junior invitational tournament, scheduled for Aug. 29-30. Bobby Heath, director of golf at Wood Ranch, said the field, which will be limited to 250, is filling quickly. There will be competition in four age groups, from 11-and-under to the 16-17 division.

Information: 805-527-9663.

City champion: Dave Fernandes of Woodland Hills, who came within three strokes of winning the Los Angeles City Golf Championship last month, captured the Oxnard City Championship during the weekend, coming from four shots off the lead in the final round to score a three-stroke victory.

Fernandes, who finished in a tie for third place in the L.A. championship, opened with a 1-over-par 73 in the Oxnard championship at the River Ridge Golf Club. He trailed Frank Boyd of Chatsworth by four strokes. But in Sunday’s final round, Fernandes shot 1-under 71 for a 36-hole total of 144 as Boyd staggered to a 78 and a 147 total. James Jordan of Encino, who also led Fernandes after the first round, carded 77 on Sunday and finished at 148.

Also at 148 was Jim Bracken of Van Nuys, the golf coach at Cal State Northridge. Mike Godinez of Agoura Hills finished at 150.

Golden golf: Terry Roberts of Woodland Hills shot 1-under-par 71 on Sunday to finish second in a Golden State Tour event at Vista Valley Country Club. He finished three strokes behind winner Guy Hertfelder of Rancho Santa Fe and earned $550.

Jeff Short of Van Nuys shot 73 and earned $180.

Winner’s circle: Member Chic Ludwig and his guest, Paul Kenagy of the Oakmont Country Club, took low-net honors last weekend in the member-guest tournament at the Chevy Chase Country Club.

Lew Zettell and his guest, Don Crowell of North Ranch, took low-gross honors.