Consistency, Hard Work Help Estancia’s Calvert Excel : Golf: Extra hours on the driving range paid off for The Times’ player of the year.

As summer approaches, Ken Calvert, top player on the Estancia High School golf team, rarely approaches golf courses.

“It’s hard this time of year,” he said. “The coaches and my mom have a hard time getting me to go out and hit golf balls. But I think I’m going to start cooperating.”

Earlier in the season, Calvert, The Times’ Orange County athlete of the year in golf, wasn’t so reluctant. Extra hours spent at the driving range helped him maintain the top spot at Estancia and lead the Eagles to their second consecutive Southern Section team title.

“He’s just a determined guy,” said Art Perry, who co-coaches the Estancia team with his brother, Chuck. “He didn’t want to be No. 2. Even though he acts real easygoing and casual, he’s got a real competitive spirit about him.”

Not only was Calvert Estancia’s most consistent player--he was the medalist in 13 of Estancia’s 17 matches--he came through for the Eagles (17-1) in the postseason.

In the Southern Section southern regional May 7 at El Niguel Country Club, from which three teams qualified for the Southern Section team championships, Calvert shot four-over-par 76, tying Chris Tidland of Valencia and Gene Choi of Laguna Hills for medalist honors, and helped Estancia finish second to Dana Hills.

In the Southern Section team championships May 14 at Canyon Country Club in Palm Springs, he shot two-under 70--a stroke behind medalist Charlie Wi of Westlake--as the Eagles won their second consecutive team title, finishing 18 strokes ahead of runner-up Dana Hills.

Calvert faltered at the Southern Section individual championships at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage May 21, shooting 10-over 80 and missing the 22-player cut for the state tournament. Calvert will be competing in the state tournament Monday at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, but only in the team competition. He prefers it that way.

“I’m a better team player,” Calvert said. “I don’t want to let the other guys down. That’s how I feel when I’m out there playing for the team.”

Competition within Estancia’s team has helped Calvert stay among the top golfers in the county. Perry says Calvert was a medalist in about 85% of Estancia’s matches the past three years despite the presence of fellow senior Austin Maki, who was named player of the year by California Golf Digest after finishing second in the U.S. Junior Amateur tournament last summer.

“Our intra-school matches are sometimes more competitive than the matches we play with other schools because we have so many competitive players,” Perry said.

Calvert’s ability on the golf course has earned him a scholarship offer from Cal State Long Beach, but he hasn’t decided whether he will accept it or attend Orange Coast College.

He is certain of one thing: he’s ready for another summer without golf. Calvert spends his summers working on a Newport Beach sports fishing boat and doesn’t play in youth golf tournaments. Until the state tournament Monday, however, his mind will be on golf.

“Hopefully, I will do well and all that stuff, but I kind of can’t wait until it’s over,” he said.

ALL-COUNTY GOLF TEAM

FIRST TEAM

Ken Calvert Estancia Sr. Gene Choi Laguna Hills Sr. Austin Maki Estancia Sr. Scott Richardson Dana Hills Soph. Richard Son Sunny Hills Jr. Chris Tidland Valencia Sr. SECOND TEAM Dan Buchner Dana Hills Soph. Steve Dana Corona del Mar Sr. Albert Oh Sunny Hills Jr. Jim Spurlock Garden Grove Jr. Kengo Takahashi Valencia Sr. Jason VanderSteen Servite Sr.

Honorable mention: Blake Alban, Marina; Scott Auerbach, Irvine; Jason Boyd, San Clemente; Dan Dalton, Marina; Mark Christensen, Trabuco Hills; Pete Gimino, Esperanza; Grant Gallaghan, Huntington Beach; Steve Greenfield, Canyon; Tom Haren, Dana Hills; Paul Hinkle, Estancia; David Jacobson, University; Gregg Lee, Capistrano Valley; Jon Reinke, Western; Andy Rothman, Estancia; Erik Wolf, El Dorado; Jim Zakhar, El Toro.

Player of the year: Ken Calvert, Estancia

Ken Calvert: Tied for medalist honors at Southern Section southern regional

Gene Choi: Tied Calvert and Tidland at southern regional; ninth at Southern Section team championships

Austin Maki: Third in Southern Section team championships; will attend Arizona on scholarship

Scott Richardson: Fifth at Southern Section team championships, helping Dana Hills to second place

Richard Son: Top Orange County finisher at the Southern Section individuals, finishing fourth

Chris Tidland: Tied Calvert and Choi at the southern regional; will attend Oklahoma State on scholarship