Late-Season Error Was a Rude Awakening : Golf: Christensen has emerged as No. 1 player and helped Trabuco Hills gain share of top ranking in coaches poll.

Mark Christensen, the best golfer at Trabuco Hills High, ended last season with his worst mistake.

It was an innocent error--he incorrectly handled a lost-ball situation--but in golf, the rules don’t allow for noble intentions, so Christensen was disqualified from the Southern Section Southern Regional.

Christensen had played poorly--he shot 13-over-par 85--so his disqualification only bumped Trabuco Hills from a fourth-place tie to a fifth-place tie. The top three teams advance to the Southern Section championships.

“It would have been worse if it kept us from going on,” Christensen said. “It was still a slap in the face, but it taught me something. Being in such a big tournament, it was definitely an awakening.”

It also has provided motivation for his final season of high school golf. Even before his season-ending troubles last season, Christensen hadn’t been happy with his performance. He finished in the No. 1 position for the third consecutive season but teammates Zachary Allen and Jason Brown were named the most valuable players by virtue of their superior performances in key matches.

“I definitely want to redeem myself,” Christensen said.

Christensen is taking strong steps toward redemption this season. He had a good summer--winning two local junior tournaments and tying for first in two others--which has fueled his confidence. He is again the Mustangs’ No. 1 player and says he’s playing better because he is being pushed by a strong team.

Seven Trabuco Hills players are averaging better than 42 strokes per nine-hole match. Christensen is averaging about 37.4; Mark Mignone 38.5, Allen 39, Brown 40, Justin Grandy 40, Justin Harrison 41.5 and Roger Micone 41.5.

Besides Christensen, three other players have been medalists for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs (9-2) tied El Toro for the top ranking in the Southern California PGA-Orange County coaches poll and have only lost to El Toro (391-397, Wednesday) and Palm Desert, both of which are considered contenders for the Southern Section championship.

Christensen believes his team’s depth has pushed him to become a better player and relieved the pressure. He no longer feels he must shoot a great round for the team to win a match.

For instance, Tuesday, when Trabuco Hills defeated three-time defending Southern Section champion Estancia, 203-221, at Estancia’s home course, Mesa Verde Country Club, Christensen’s 41 was only third-best on his team.

But third isn’t the position Christensen covets. He’s worked hard to sustain his No. 1 spot and he’s done it without a country club membership, unlike many other high school standouts.

During the high school season, Christensen is able to play on some of the best courses in Orange County. Trabuco Hills’ main home course is at Coto de Caza. But in the off-season, he must scramble a bit more. He works at Dove Canyon, a club that recently opened a few miles from his home, so he is able to get in some practice time there. But he must go elsewhere to hit on a driving range.

“I just go wherever I can to practice without having to pay too much,” Christensen said.

But Christensen doesn’t believe he is at a disadvantage.

“I definitely think it can be an advantage because it helps you stay hungry,” he said. “It keeps you wanting to play. Having access to a country club course all the time might make you complacent.”

At 13, Christensen turned to golf when he started to lose interest in baseball. He was always one of the best athletes on his baseball teams, playing pitcher and shortstop, but his mind was straying.

“I was always looking forward to practice or the game (being) over so I could go play golf,” he said.

His father, Glen, who played baseball at Santa Monica College, a few seasons of semi-professional ball and coached Mark’s baseball teams, said he had no problem with the switch.

“He was almost apologizing for not continuing with baseball, but it didn’t bother me,” Glen Christensen said. “I tried to make available all sports to him--soccer, football, baseball--and he picked this one, the one he liked best, and wanted to dedicate himself to it. I think that’s great.”

Christensen would like to continue playing golf in college and thus far only UC Irvine golf Coach Steve Ainslie has expressed interest. Christensen has a 4.4 grade-point average and has been accepted to Irvine, UCLA, UC Davis and UC San Diego.