It was an 18th birthday Diego San Pedro will never forget.
The Grade 12 Steveston-London Secondary student spent his big day dialled in at the B.C. AAA Secondary Schools Golf Championships in Abbotsford.
Playing the renowned Ledgeview Golf Course — home to current PGA Tour regulars Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor — San Pedro shot a sizzling 7-under 63 on Tuesday. He backed it up with a solid 67 Wednesday to take individual medalist honours by four shots over AJ Ewart.
San Pedro’s first round included a blistering 9-hole stretch that he played in 6-under. He also hit all 18 greens in regulation. He had not played Ledgeview prior to Monday’s practice round.
“It’s not a long course but you have to be accurate off the tee and good on the greens,” said San Pedro. “I felt really good with my driver and putter.
“My first birdie didn’t come until the fifth hole but I knew I was playing well and just had to be patient. Funny enough, I missed a birdie putt on 18 for a 62 but I guess shooting 7-under on June 7 was meant to be.”
San Pedro took a three shot lead over Ewart into Wednesday’s final round and admitted he felt nervous, knowing the position he was in after ninth and fourth place finishes respectively the last two years.
“I just wanted to go in with the same game plan,” he continued. “That’s where you can get into trouble when you start playing cautiously.”
The putts weren’t falling at the same rate as a day earlier and, at one point, Ewart had pulled within a shot of him. That’s when San Pedro elevated his game and finished with a flourish with birdies on the par 3 17th and the par-5 18th.
Remarkably, he finished the championships with just one bogey in 36 holes.
“I just love the back nine and the last three holes really fit my eye,” he added. “I heard he was within one shot of me and it was ‘game on’ at that point.
“It’s just an awesome way to end my high school golf career.”
San Pedro’s spectacular performance also helped the Sharks finish third overall in the team standings — five spots better than a year ago. The team also includes Grade 11s Nicholas Miu, Toby Lau and Grade 10s — Top Lau and Parker Shaw. Miu finished tied for 11th with rounds of 72-78.
Earlier, Steveston-London captured their fourth consecutive Richmond championship.
“Diego is such a fantastic young man,” said Steveston-London coach Scott Clements. “He is very humbled and deserving. There have been many excellent players to play for (us) over the past 15 years and Diego is the best.
“Winning the ‘AAA’ high school championship is no small feat and has been won by a number of successful PGA Tour pros. Diego’s performance at Ledgeview proves he has the game to follow in their footsteps.”
San Pedro will head to Corvallis in August for the next chapter in his career at Oregon State. He made a verbal commitment to the Pac-12 school during his Grade 11 year and officially signed last fall.
“I’m looking forward to living in a small town after growing up in Richmond and Vancouver,” he said. “I can’t wait.”
