Johansen’s Pena repeats the hard way

Holing the putt when it absolutely must be holed might be golf’s most demanding test.

Johansen High School’s Daniel Pena defined his season by accomplishing this feat. Twice.

That’s why he is The Bee’s selection for the second consecutive time as Golfer of the Year.

“I felt a lot more pressure this year,” he said. “People knew me and expected certain things from me. It’s hard not just to reach their expectations but to also reach mine. It was more than just about playing the game.”

Pena did not repeat as the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters champion and did not match the eye-catching 66 he shot as a sophomore at The Reserve at Spanos Park.

Conditions were virtually ideal that day but, one year later, the wind bent flagsticks and heightened anxiety. Pena straddled the line between NorCal qualifier and a premature end to his season.

He stared down an 8-foot slider for birdie at the 18th for a round of 1-under-par 71. He sensed the putt’s importance – if he makes it, he advances, or he joins a thankless five-way playoff for one spot. Down it went, and Pena fist-pumped a quick celebration.

A week later at NorCals at Salinas’ Corral de Tierra – he tied for 58th at NorCals last year after a humbling 81 – he found himself in a more difficult fix.

Pena rallied by going 2 under over the last eight holes, but he botched the 18th by bunkering his tee shot. Eventually, he looked at a discouraging 30-footer for a par. Again, Pena believed it had to drop.

“I saw the putt and had a gut feeling about it,” he said.

Just as at Masters, Pena drained it for a 73 and his first berth in the CIF State Championships. He made it on the number.

“I did it in the most difficult way I could,” he admitted.

The crisis portion of Pena’s season had passed. He journeyed to Poppy Hills near Pebble Beach and, though he hoped for much better, didn’t stress much about his 79 and tie for 36th.

“I’m glad I qualified this year,” he said. “Next year would have been more pressure.”

Pena reeled in his trademark length off the tee this season and sought more control and consistency. The plan worked. He cheated the wind with a lower trajectory when needed.

Johansen, an overall young team under first-year coach Aaron Ard, was led by Pena from the start. He displayed his improvement at Rancho del Rey in Atwater, the scene of the Section Division I South tournament, with an efficient 68 for the medalist honor.

“I was super aggressive last year,” he said. “This year, I tried to play the course in my mind and tried for more strategy. Even my bad rounds weren’t as bad as last year.”

With one season left, Pena aims to further refine his game. There’s always room to improve, and the Johansen star understands golf’s demanding learning curve. A full schedule of competition this summer will help.

“If I sharpen up everything, I’ll take a step forward,” he said.

This story was originally published June 15, 2015 at 7:09 PM with the headline "Johansen’s Pena repeats the hard way."