Gael golfer Johnny Pinjuv comes out of nowhere to take individual title

Gael golfer Johnny Pinjuv comes out of nowhere to take individual title

Johnny Pinjuv wasn't even the best golfer on his own team this season, albeit two-time defending state champion Bishop Gorman, but the sophomore came through when it mattered most.

Pinjuv, normally the fifth starter for the Gaels, didn't medal during the regular season but he recently stormed out of the pack to capture the individual state golf championship at the Red Hawk Golf Club in Sparks. Pinjuv fired rounds of 71 and 77 to win the title by two strokes over Galena's Matt Kinsinger, Mojave's Jeremy Meeter and Basic's Dustin Borum.

"It was one of my goals, definitely, but I almost didn't think it was possible," said Pinjuv, who placed 19th in the state as a freshman. "We were hoping to win the team (title), but I don't think anyone in the world was expecting me to win the individual (title) -- except for me.

"Winning the individual title was just surreal. It was just unbelievable. It was crazy."

Pinjuv, who shot a 77 at Boulder Creek to tie for eighth place in the Sunset Region, fired four birdies with three bogeys en route to his 1-under par 71 for the first-round lead. He was 2-under par after 28 holes before playing the last eight holes 6-over par.

"I just wanted to have a good, solid round. Coach told me not to play against the other players, to just do my best," he said. "I could've been a lot lower, but the adrenaline got to me on the back nine. It was a little nerves. I couldn't putt. I three-putted three times."

Pinjuv, who was so pumped he hit his tee shot on the 18th hole 340 yards, said he knew he had a good shot to win the tournament down the stretch.

"People were winking at me and stuff," he said. "(Defending state champion) Matt Edwards was really nice. He patted me on the back and said 'there's nothing like winning a state championship.'"

Gaels head coach George DeFrancesco said Pinjuv was a steady player all season.

"He's gotten a lot more consistent. He hit a lot more greens this year, so his iron play was better and his short game and putting really improved a lot," he said. "Probably because he didn't play basketball, he had more time to work on his game, which he obviously did. He's probably the best athlete on the team, all the way around."

Pinjuv's first love was basketball, but after playing for Bishop Gorman's freshman team last season, the 6-footer decided to focus on his golf game this year.

"I thought I had a lot better chance to play golf in college, so I had to start focusing on it," he said. "I think that had a lot to do with (my success). I had a lot more time to change my swing and my putting improved a little bit.

"I started taking some lessons and I changed my swing a lot before the season. It didn't come around until after spring break. I worked real hard during the season. I didn't play well during the season, but I came through in the end."

Pinjuv's average actually went up a stroke from last year, from 39 to 40, but his focus narrowed during a trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C., over spring break, when he led the Gaels to the title of the prestigious 110-team Palmetto High School Championships.

Pinjuv shot rounds of 73, 77 and 73 to lay claim to the low total on the team.

"When we went to Myrtle Beach, I was still playing bad, but I told myself on the first tee 'I'm going to play good,' and it's been working out well since then," he said. "I had confidence going into the state tournament. I didn't let anything get in my head, and it worked. I told myself I'm going to do it."

Pinjuv, who has a 4.02 grade-point average and is a member of the all-state academic team, plans to continue to work on his short game in hopes of eventually earning a college scholarship.

"That's the plan," he said. "I can hit drives just as good as anybody else, but sometimes I struggle with the short game.

"My driver was amazing at state. I could work it whichever way I wanted and it wouldn't give me trouble. I could've putted better. I had a lot of birdie opportunities I missed."

Pinjuv and fellow sophomore Garrett Logan, who tied for fifth in the state, will be the only two returning starters for Bishop Gorman next year.

"I know we're going to try to get really, really good and hopefully get the team back to state, but it will be a tough road," Pinjuv said.

The Gaels finished this season with a 14-1 overall record, the lone loss to Palo Verde by three strokes, and topped the Panthers at both the region (385-388) and state tournaments (761-780).

Robert Massi won the individual region title, with a par-72, to give the Gaels a sweep of the individual and team titles.

"It's been like a dream season for us," said DeFrancesco, who is retiring after 16 years as head coach.


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