Hard work pays off

Duane Hewlett likes the golf game of Sergio Garcia, and it’s no coincidence.

Garcia likes to go big on his shots. So does Hewlett, No. 1 golfer for the Laguna Beach boys’ golf team.

The short game? Well, that’s another story for both the Spaniard and Hewlett.

“He hits it a long way,” Hewlett said. “He’s not the best putter, but he’s one of the best ball-strikers. It just shows you that you can get it done either way.”

But Hewlett has definitely improved his putting. It’s helped him emerge as a force for the Breakers, who hope to defend their Orange Coast League title of a year ago.

Last year, he was the team’s third or fourth-best golfer, but Hewlett has continued to work hard. He put in the time in the off-season, playing in International Junior Golf Tour tournaments, and Coach Scott Finn had to notice it.

“He’s one of the most committed guys I’ve ever coached,” said Finn, in his sixth season as boys’ head coach. “He works harder than anyone on our team and it shows in his scores. On top of that, he’s a great leader. He spurs the other guys on to try to get the most out of their game.”

The Breakers are a smart team, also in the classroom. Their collective 3.667 grade-point average was tops in the CIF Southern Section, among schools with an enrollment less than 1,500. They were honored at Wednesday’s Angels baseball game against Detroit.

Hewlett’s GPA is 3.3, he said, and he added that four of the team members have averages over 4.3.

“I’m proud of that,” he said. “It shows our team can balance academics and athletics. It shows we’re able to handle our responsibilities.”

Handling responsibilities is really no problem on the golf course, either. Hewlett’s four-under-par round of 32, on March 30 against Ocean View, proves that.

Hewlett went birdie, par, birdie, eagle on the first four holes at Mile Square Golf Club, helping the match medalist to the lowest round since Finn became coach of the Breakers.

“[I’ve been] a lot more consistent than I was last year,” he said. “Last year, I used to swing almost as hard as I could on almost every shot. I kind of toned it back this year, but definitely my short game is the most improved.”

His leadership has also helped Laguna Beach this season. He started to emerge near the end of last season and finished third individually at the Orange Coast League finals, behind Laguna Beach graduate Bret McGaughey and Estancia’s Ryan Knapp.

McGaughey and Hewlett advanced to the CIF Southern Section Southern Regional. This year, Hewlett said he wants to advance a step further, to the CIF Southern Section individual final championship.

But the team game is also important. Laguna Beach lost to Estancia by a single stroke, 201-202, on March 24. It was a tough moment for Laguna Beach, made up of mostly upperclassmen, also including senior Skylar Perkins and juniors Charles Hewlett (Duane’s younger brother) and Mike Cannon.

To defend their Orange Coast League title, the Breakers now need to beat the Eagles in the rematch Wednesday at their home course, Aliso Viejo Golf Club, then win a playoff at the league finals that begin May 4.

“Our whole team’s very confident,” Hewlett said. “We can definitely do it, as long as our No. 3 and 4 guys shoot a pretty decent score.”

Hewlett moved to Laguna Beach from Fort Washington, Penn., when his dad changed jobs before his sophomore year.

After he graduates, he plans to continue in the IJGT post-graduate program for a year, where he will play tournaments and hopefully end up at a Division I college program eventually.

Hewlett said the University of Florida, one of the top-ranked programs in the nation, is probably his first choice.

“I’m still trying to find where I want to go,” he said. “I haven’t decided whether I like the East Coast or the West Coast better.”

Maybe he’s just at home on any golf course. That’s what he’s proved to Orange Coast League foes this season.

“He’s just continued to improve as the season’s gone on,” Finn said.