Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week: Bryce Sheridan - Mesa’s Tiger

Tony Altobelli

In a sport which takes some people a lifetime to conquer, Costa

Mesa High’s Bryce Sheridan, has made rapid advancements in the game of

golf in just a few short years.

“I started playing golf on a consistent basis starting around the

eighth grade,” Sheridan said. “Currently, I’m a scratch golfer (no

handicap) and I’d like to continue to get even better.”

Sheridan, the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week, showed off a few tricks

of his trade last week during Pacific Coast League competition.

Against University on April 11 at the Costa Mesa Golf & Country Club’s

Mesa Linda Course, Sheridan started his round with a double bogey, but

managed to get those two strokes back in a hurry.

On the fourth hole, a 347-yard, par 4, Sheridan eyed his second shot

from approximately 80 yards out. He sent a three-quarter wedge shot

toward the green and a couple of bounces later, the ball was in the hole

for an eagle, evening his round.

“I asked the guy I was playing the round with if that went in and he

said it did,” Sheridan said. “I was so excited. That just pumped me up

the rest of the round.”

From there, Sheridan birdied three of the final five holes and

finished with a nine-hole score of 3-under-par 32, leading all golfers.

Two days later, Sheridan again medaled for the Mustangs, shooting a

3-over 39 at the Oak Creek Golf Course against Northwood.

“I think the key for me is just hitting straight shots off the tee and

hitting the shots you need throughout the round to post a low score,”

Sheridan said. “I take lessons once a week from local pro Andy Crinella

to fine tune certain areas of my game. I’m trying to make my swing as

perfect as possible.”

With an average of 290 yards off the tee, Sheridan, who has medaled in

nearly every match this season, is trying to pattern his golf game to a

pair of top-quality professionals.

“I want to play with the poise of Phil Mickelson and the results of

Tiger Woods,” Sheridan said. “Phil is a very mellow golfer out there, but

Tiger’s scoring is tough to beat.”

For the average golfer out there, Sheridan has these few lessons.

“Most golfers I see out there are overswinging,” he said. “I tell people

out there so keep the head down and bend more at the knees. That helps me

out there.”

During his brief playing career, Sheridan has been fortunate enough to

play at top-quality Southern California golf courses, such as Strawberry

Farms and Coto de Caza, but he still has hopes of playing on the jewel

course of the west, Pebble Beach.

It just looks like an awesome course to play,” Sheridan said.

“Hopefully, someday, I’ll get there.”

When he’s not on the golf course, Sheridan can be found tending the

goal for the Mustangs’ boys soccer team, or on the mound for Mesa’s

baseball team.

“I also like hanging out with my girlfriend and bodyboarding,” the

ever-busy Sheridan said.