Su return pleasant surprise

Bryce Alderton

One look out the window of his Corona del Mar High classroom at

Corona del Mar High caught Mike Starkweather off guard.

Starkweather, CdM’s boys golf coach the past eight seasons,

thought he would never see David Su again.

Not after what happened.

But he won’t complain about being wrong.

Su, a sophomore making his return to CdM, will represent the Sea

Kings when he tees up at 7 a.m. in today’s CIF Southern regional

individual championship at Seacliff Country Club in Huntington Beach.

Su, 17, born in Maryland before spending a majority of his life in

Taiwan, will vie with the 81-player field for one of 24 berths into

the CIF individual championship May 23 at Canyon Country Club in Palm

Springs.

Heading into this season, the question didn’t hinge on whether Su

could get this far, but rather what school he would represent.

It was only February that Starkweather saw Su peering into the

classroom after the sophomore had re-enrolled at CdM after spending

this past fall and the spring of 2004 at Woodbridge in Irvine.

Since moving to Southern California from Taiwan two years ago, Su

has spent time in both Newport Beach and Irvine, attending to family

needs that have arisen.

In 2003, Su claimed the junior division championship at the Irvine

city championships and enrolled that fall at CdM.

But at the time, Su and his parents moved in with his ailing

grandparents in Irvine, according to Starkweather.

“They moved in trying to help out, not knowing it would be an

issue,” Starkweather said.

Living in one school’s attendance boundaries and attending school

at another is a violation of CIF rules.

Su planned to golf at CdM, but instead lost a year of eligibility

-- per CIF rule -- and practiced with the Warriors.

At the time, Starkweather was unaware Su lived in Irvine.

“He was trying out and actually made the team, but all of a

sudden, [Woodbridge Coach Tracy Roberts] said he was living with his

grandparents in [Irvine],” Starkweather said.

Starkweather said communication problems, combined with adjusting

to a different culture, contributed to the confusion.

“Sometimes people don’t know how CIF works,” Starkweather said.

“His mom [Stephanie] and dad [Robert] were embarrassed. We parted

ways last year.”

This year, Su is back living with his grandparents, Michael and

Grace Chang, in Newport Beach. Su said his parents, as well as

12-year-old sister Tiffany, currently live in Taiwan, and visit

Newport Beach often.

David Su said his parents and sister plan on permanently living in

Newport Beach once Tiffany reaches high school.

David Su credited CdM administrators, specifically Assistant

Principal Lee Gaeta, for informing CIF officials of his family

situation and helping to secure enrollment at CdM.

His eligibility restored, Su could focus on his golf game.

He earned medalist honors five times this season and enters today

with a 38 average for nine holes, Starkweather said.

“He sets the bar for the team,” Starkweather said. “At first, he

was very quiet and then he became more of a vocal leader. A few

times, he dropped the hammer, saying, ‘Come on guys, you can score

better than that.’ ”

The Sea Kings seemed to respond, concluding Pacific Coast League

play with a 193-203 victory over Tesoro that was the Titans’ first

league loss. Su fired a 1-under 34 at Newport Beach Country Club that

day.

CdM then finished seventh among 21 teams in the CIF Southern

Section South Coast divisional.

Su works on his game at Oak Creek Golf Club in Irvine with Alan

Ochiai, named one of the best teachers in the state by Golf Digest

magazine in 2000. The two started working together two years ago.

Su played tennis before his father introduced him to golf five

years ago.

“Living in Taiwan, there weren’t a lot of tennis courts, so my dad

brought me to golf,” Su said. “Now I am addicted.”

Su said every round, even on the same course, provides new

challenges.

The surprises keep him going.

Su’s main focus rests with the short game. He stands 5-foot-11 and

doesn’t consider himself a long hitter.

“He is happy with a 270-yard drive down the middle versus a

300-yard drive into the rough,” Starkweather said.

Su tries to keep an even keel no matter the shot.

“If I hit a good shot, it is over and if I hit a bad shot it is

over,” Su said. “When a shot is done, it’s done.”

Su hopes his run isn’t done after today.

“My goal is the CIF state individual,” he said. “There are two

more stages to go.”