Knapp one step away from state finals

Ryan Knapp never forgets his first set of clubs.

No high-tech alloy. Try plastic.

He was 2. His father Bob Knapp and grandfather Gordon Bowley introduced the toddler to golf in Palm Springs.

“They got me like these little Snoopy clubs,” Ryan said. “I just kind of took a liking to it.”

Knapp has definitely outgrown the Snoopy clubs.

Now, he’s a lanky 6-foot-3 junior at Estancia High, with a big-time swing and a big-time set of clubs.

Two days before Knapp teed off today at the CIF Southern California Golf Assn. Tournament at the SCGA Golf Course in Murrieta, he looked back to what it took to reach this monumental point.

One-hundred and twenty-four golfers, some of the best in the country, are vying for six guaranteed spots into the state tournament. Knapp is one of them, the lone golfer from the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

Most golfers will thank their high school coaches, their golf professionals for qualifying. Don’t get Knapp wrong, he’s glad to have Estancia Coach Art Perry and Costa Mesa Country Club Assistant Golf Pro John Ortega, too.

But Knapp’s more grateful for the support from his dad and grandpa. The times on the course haven’t always been high for Knapp.

Golf can frustrate anyone.

“There was a time where I was thinking about just like, ‘Forget it! I’ll just play in recreation leagues, just play for fun,’ ” Knapp said.

Golf was no longer like swinging on the swings. His game began bending like those Snoopy clubs. Knapp, trying to figure out the problem, looked at himself.

He kept growing. His game didn’t.

Five-foot-nine as a freshman. Six-foot-one as a sophomore. Something had to change. The swing was way off.

Bob and Bowley stepped in, offering words of encouragement. The two told Knapp, “Everyone goes through these times.”

Knapp figured he was the lone golfer in a rut.

“I started growing a lot, so my swing, it wasn’t there,” he said. “There were times like I just shank the ball.”

In order to hit the fairways, the tools were there for Knapp to adjust.

Perry saw Knapp excel as a seventh- and eighth-grader before the growth spurt hampered him the first couple of years at Estancia.

Through hard work, Knapp found his stroke again. Perry said Knapp can thank his family. Perry can as well.

Knapp is Estancia’s first golfer to qualify for this event since 1990, when Austin Maki accomplished the feat en route to claiming state.

Knapp advanced after being one of six golfers out of 11 to survive a two-hole, sudden-death playoff at the CIF Southern Section individual championships after shooting a four-over-par 75 at Mission Lakes Country Club.

“They’ve done everything they can to make him become a better player,” said Perry, who’s been the head coach at Estancia since 1988. “They travel all over the country, playing in all the [American Junior Golf Assn.] tournaments he can get into. That’s where the best competition is.

“They’ve given him private lessons, got him the right equipment. They’ve gone to sports psychologists. Things like that make sure he’s got everything that’s afforded to a golfer.”

Golf is expensive. Knapp is fully aware of that.

But he has no reason to fret over the bills, including the practice round in Murrieta last Sunday to prepare for today.

“I don’t know,” Knapp said of how much it cost to play. “My dad paid for it. I just show up and play.”

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at [email protected].