Golf:

At least as it relates to golf, Jake Knapp now thinks in reality.

Before last summer, the 15-year-old Estancia High sophomore expected to make every 30- or 40-foot putt. If he didn’t, his temper would surface and he would get mad.

So he took two weeks off, and, with a group of encouragers, started the road to relaxation and reality.

“I wasn’t being honest with myself,” said Knapp, who claimed this year’s inaugural Toyota Tour Cup Series boys’ division championship by one shot with a one-over-par finish (72-73 – 145) Feb. 20-21 at Carlton Oaks Country Club in Santee, Calif. But with words from his father, Bob, and a headcover as a reminder from coach John Ortega, director of instruction at Costa Mesa Country Club, Knapp started on a path he can appreciate.

“My dad is calm and says, ‘There’s always next time,’ ” said Knapp, whose older brother Ryan also played at Estancia and is on the Orange Coast College men’s golf team. “I’m now having fun and enjoying [golf].”

Knapp calls the victory, his first on the Toyota Tour Cup, his best win to date. He also claimed the boys’ 14-15 division title by two strokes at last year’s Costa Mesa Championship with a four-under 66 on Costa Mesa CC’s Mesa Linda course.

At Carlton Oaks, Knapp was paired with Jay Hwang of San Diego, ranked 31st nationally by Junior Golf Scoreboard Rankings, one day.

Knapp entered the second round tied for fourth place and was in the second-to-last group for the final round. Conditions for the second round weren’t ideal for scoring with hard rain on two holes and wind, Knapp said.

But he had forethought before the second round. He wrote different situations and what he would do in each of those. One of those came on the 545-yard par-five ninth hole.

“If I was over par, I would go for it [on No. 9],” Knapp said. “I went bogey-bogey on [holes] 7 and 8, so I [went for the green]. I two-putted for birdie.”

Knapp totaled three birdies in the final round, including two in the final five holes. He tallied eight birdies for the two-day event on a tour governed by the Southern California PGA Junior Tour. UCLA’s head and assistant coaches, Derek Freeman and Ryan Ressa, respectively, followed Knapp’s group at times.

Knapp collected 300 points for the Toyota Tour Cup win, which earns him two exemptions into American Junior Golf Assn. (AJGA) events, said Rob Keller, SCPGA’s junior golf director. Knapp is eligible for remaining Toyota Tour Cup events this year. In 10 prior Toyota Tour Cup series events, Knapp’s best finish was a tie for 18th, Keller said.

Chances are a golf club is close to Knapp, who started playing at age 3 or 4. He decided to concentrate solely on golf — he was a guard for Estancia’s frosh-soph boys’ basketball team for the 2008-09 season.

He weakened his grip, which resulted in shorter, but straighter shots. Knapp uses a “two-knuckle” grip, in which he can see two of his left-hand knuckles compared to four in his prior grip. He has worked with both Tom Sargent, Mesa Verde Country Club’s head pro, and Ortega.

Ortega, who has worked with Knapp for more than three years, credits Knapp’s calmer demeanor to experience. He said Knapp always had a natural swing. Now he’s learning to hone it.

“It’s like a public speaker, the more you do it, the more assured you are,” Ortega said.

Knapp has straightened and heightened his ball flight and received a boost from physical growth. Knapp stands 5 feet, 9 inches, and, as Ortega said, is stronger, and taller.

“Both he and [Ryan] play a lot of golf,” Ortega said.

Knapp led Estancia to a victory over Golden West League foe Orange last week with a five-under 30, which featured four birdies and an eagle, on the Mesa Linda course at Costa Mesa CC. He’s been the medalist in each of the Eagles’ eight matches.

The headcover represents the nickname of a professional golfer who will remain anonymous. All Knapp has to do is look at the headcover and he is reminded to keep calm.

Bob Knapp has noticed the change and growth in Jake.

“The biggest thing is he’s enjoying the walk when he’s out [on the course],” Bob Knapp said. “He doesn’t get down if he has a bad hole.

“My role was carrying [Jake’s] golf bag when he was little. Now [Jake is] out-driving me by 50 yards.”

BRYCE ALDERTON’S golf column appears Wednesdays or Thursdays. He may be reached by e-mail at [email protected].