Collins gears up for yet another city tournament

Sean Collins has had great success as the men’s golf coach at Orange Coast College. From 2010-2014, the Pirates won five straight Orange Empire Conference championships, a noteworthy feat since the OEC is considered the toughest in the state.

In 2013, the Pirates finished second in the state, and in 2010, they finished fifth in California.

Some might think Collins has the knowledge and experience to go on to coach at an NCAA Division I program, also because he has sent several of his golfers on to the next level.

But there are many reasons he has stayed at OCC. The most important reason, he says, is his family. He’s also stayed because he loves the City of Costa Mesa, and he thoroughly enjoys his role as the tournament director of the Costa Mesa City Championship.

The two-day tournament, in its 43rd year, begins Saturday at Costa Mesa Country Club, where Collins has worked since 1993. He was hired at OCC in 2005.

He said he couldn’t remember how many years he has been tournament director, but it’s been long enough that the event usually runs smoothly because of his experience and his staff’s experience.

The tournament is also liked by many — this year over 300 entrants are expected — because Collins runs the event from a player’s perspective, he said.

“When I first took it over, some guys didn’t think a simple thing like starting on time was happening,” Collins said. “It was an hour behind. People were frustrated because it didn’t start on time and because of slow play. You don’t want to be frustrated like that when you’re playing.”

Collins says he has built enough respect now that most players will pick up the pace as soon as they see him during a round.

Collins also has great knowledge of the courses. He holds the course record at Mesa Linda, a 12-under 58.

Collins grew up in Lakewood, and began playing golf at age 8. He also excelled in baseball. He was a left-handed pitcher at Bellflower High. He grew up playing golf with a friend named Pearl Sinn, who went on to play on the LPGA and is now Pearl Sinn-Bonnani, the women’s golf coach at Cal State Fullerton.

“I don’t remember her beating me much back then,” Collins said with a smile.

He said much of his coaching success at OCC comes from the fact that he actually cares, and he shows that emotion by motivating his players, or as he says, “kicking them in the butt.”

He can also relate to them. He played community college golf at Long Beach City, where he earned a scholarship to compete at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

But he doesn’t really like to talk about himself. He’ll talk about the Pirates. They finished third in the conference this past year, when Collins endured the loss of his mother, who died in Arkansas. He traveled a lot over the past couple years to take care of those family matters, he said.

This upcoming men’s golf season he said he expects the Pirates to bounce back and be a force in the conference.

The Costa Mesa City Championship, also known as the Will Jordan Classic, will continue, most likely with little problems.

The tournament features four flights, the Championship Flight being known as one of those most competitive city amateur events in the state.

Among the tournament’s alumni are past champions Mark O’Meara and Scott Simpson, both of whom won major championships in their pro careers. Simpson won the Costa Mesa City Championship in 1974. O’Meara won in 1979.

Last year, Marc Reyes, an OCC golfer, won the tournament nicknamed, “The City.”

There will be more OCC golfers in this event and Pirates’ alumni, including David Pelekoudas, who now plays for Pepperdine.

Jason Bittick, The City champion in 2011 and 2009, returns to compete in the event that will begin on Mesa Linda on Saturday and end on Los Lagos on Sunday.

“You got some guys who can really play golf,” Collins said. “It’s a rare tournament in regards to you’re not just a number and they’re putting you on a sheet, and ‘this is your [tee] time.’ You get to play with people you know and if you’re not we try to aim to please and put you where you want, if it’s possible. I don’t make everyone happy, but I try.”

The Knapp brothers, Ryan and Jake, will not be competing in the tournament. Ryan Knapp, an Estancia High alum who played at OCC and UC Irvine, is a professional and is working on becoming a teaching pro.

Jake Knapp, also an Estancia alum who will be a senior at UCLA, just finished play in the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship in Eugene, Ore., where he finished tied for 12th. The event ended Friday.

Jake Knapp is amid a busy schedule. He’s set to play in the highly competitive Western Amateur Championship in Sugar Grove, Ill. He leaves Sunday for the event that starts on Monday.

Then, he competes in the U.S. Amateur at Olympia Fields Country Club, also in Illinois, Aug. 17-23.