By Dan Albano | dalbano@scng.com | Orange County Register

UPDATED: June 10, 2022 at 12:53 PM PDT

The Register’s All-County boys golf teams for 2022.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Daniel Heo, Cypress, Sr.

Daniel Heo didn’t arrive at the CIF/SCGA SoCal Championships with visions of hoisting the first-place trophy. It was a feat that he even made it to Brookside Golf Club in Pasadena for his 8 a.m. tee time.

The night before the May 26 tournament, he graduated from Cypress High and attended grad night at Disneyland, which extended its hours for the occasion. He returned home around 4 a.m., slept for about an hour before scrambling his way to the biggest tournament of his season.

“I was barely opening my eyes (on the first hole),” Heo said. “I didn’t really have much expectations for myself.”

Heo ended up delivering one of his best performances. The Cal-bound senior birded four of five holes and posted an eagle on the back nine and won the title in a one-hole playoff with 2019 state champion and Arizona State-bound Luke Potter of Escondido’s Classical Academy.

For his efforts, Heo is The Register’s boys golfer of the year.

“Amazing,” Cypress coach Mike Lujan said of Heo, who carded a 5-under-par 67 to win the SoCal title. “(He) walked and carried his bag for 18 holes and shot a 5-under.”

Heo’s torrid stretch started with a birdie on the par-4 10th hole. He also birded the 12th, 13th and 14th before an eagle on the par-5 15th dropped him to 6-under. He bogeyed his final hole before winning the playoff by making par.

“It was definitely a different feeling,” Heo said of his sizzling play. “I didn’t focus on the score and just focused on each shot, and I think that helped a lot.”

“It was definitely one of the best wins of my career,” he added.

Heo also called Cypress’ season one of his best.

He reached the CIF State Championships for the first time, and he tied for 15th with a 1-over 72 at San Gabriel Country Club.

He also helped the Centurions capture the Empire League title and finish second in the CIF-SS Division 3 team finals.

Cypress advanced to the SCGA qualifying tournament and tied with Servite for fifth, one shot behind Edison, which grabbed the fourth and final spot for the CIF/SCGA SoCal finals.

Heo said the emergence of sophomore Ryan Slevcove and play of junior Nathan Yoo were key factors in the team’s success.

Heo has been on his own rise in the sport. The native of Seoul, South Korea, started playing in the sixth grade after being encouraged by his father Jibaek and mother Suyeon.

He said his father has helped him with the mental side of the game while his mother has supported him at tournaments and lessons.

Heo also credits Lujan, assistant coach Susan Metry and private coaches James Oh and Andrew Reno for shaping his game.

He especially enjoyed Metry’s reaction to his eagle at the SoCal regionals. “I could hear her scream,” he said.

It was that type of season for Daniel Heo.