Ryan McConnell is heading north.

The St. Joseph High School senior on Tuesday signed a letter of intent to play golf for Sacramento State University next year.

Surrounded by present and former golf coaches, McConnell signed his letter at Rancho Maria Golf Course while his father, John, took pictures of the event.

"I narrowed my choices down to Sacramento State, UNLV and Fresno State," Ryan McConnell said. "Of those three, I liked the coach (Rene Modine) and the setting best at Sac State."

McConnell gets a full scholarship to play golf for Sacramento State, where golf is serious business.

Not all the golfers on the squad will make the university's traveling team.

"There's a bunch of people on the team," McConnell said. "You have to play a lot of rounds, and the best get to go on the road. You have to earn your spot (on the six-man traveling squad), but I think I can earn it."

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As for Modine, McConnell said, "The Sac State golf coach has helped several former collegiate golfers go on to play on the professional tour and become golf professionals."

McConnell said he'd like to give the PGA tour a shot. He'll study recreation and business in college to learn how to design and market golf courses.

McConnell chose Rancho Maria for the signing ceremony because it's where he took his first swings with a golf club at the age of ten.

While he also loves to play tennis, McConnell concentrated on golf.

"The golf and tennis seasons run at the same time. I just wanted to focus on golf," he said.

When McConnell took up the game there was no junior golf program in the Santa Maria area. So McConnell began his playing career in junior events in San Luis Obispo.

At about the same time, PGA golf professional Raul Quezada decided to begin a junior program at Rancho Maria.

While Quezada has since moved on to the Sunset Ridge Golf Center, the junior program has blossomed at several local courses including both Rancho Maria and Sunset Ridge.

More than 100 young boys and girls are now regulars on the local junior circuit.

McConnell has been named the local Player of the Year for three straight years.

With additional coaching from Rancho Maria's golf pro Mike O'Keefe, McConnell took his clubs on the road and qualified for both the State Boys Championship and the Junior World Tournament.

McConnell recently finished second in the California Junior Tour Spring Championship at Landmark Golf Club in Palm Springs. His 5-over-par 149 was one shot off the pace. Pete Vilairatana from Highland took that Junior title with a 4-over 148.

McConnell's high school coach, Eddie Murray, said, "These athletic scholarships are hard to get, but Ryan has worked hard to earn it and I know Ryan is going to be a great asset to the Sacramento State Hornets golf team."

McConnell is the anchor of a strong St. Joseph squad. The Knights are currently undefeated and in first place in the Los Padres League.

On Monday, McConnell fired a 2-over-par 74 at Nipomo's Black Lake Country Club to lead the Knights to a 402-426 victory over the Nipomo Titans.

Going to Sacramento State will be "a nice new start. It's a nice town with nice people," McConnell said right after signing his letter of intent. "But we still have to finish our season (at St. Joseph's), and we want to finish it undefeated."

April 21, 2004