Get to know Chino Hills area youth golfer Mason Lorenzana
CHINO HILLS, Calif. — Mason Lorenzana is a young man of few words, but when he speaks, he’s swift and straightforward. At 10 years old, he’s got goals… and game.
How did you get into golf?
Mason Lorenzana: My friend and neighbor, Jaiden Patel, invited me to the driving range. I did good for a beginner and wanted to do it again.
How long have you been playing now?
Lorenzana: Almost two years.
What do you love about this sport?
Lorenzana: The nice people I get to meet and play with – and having fun.
What’s the best advice you were given?
Lorenzana: Coach Kramer told me not to worry about a bad shot and to come back better.
Do you have a motto?
Lorenzana: Stay calm. My dad tells me to stay calm because if I go too fast, I’ll get frustrated and miss a shot.
Mason is in the fifth grade at Wickman Elementary. He’s played a variety of sports in just a short time: baseball, flag football, golf, lacrosse and soccer. He’s retired from most of those sports and is currently concentrating on golf and lacrosse. Mason possesses natural leadership in both school and sports. He’s been observed helping his teammates in their positions and encouraging them in their roles.
The young golfer hopes to win a scholarship for college but isn’t quite sure which college. “If I could play pro, I would,” says Mason about his future, “but I definitely want to play for the Chino Hills High School team.”
He just got into lacrosse which he describes as a combination of basketball and hockey. “Mason loves team sports and wanted to find something he could do alongside golf,” says his mom, Melony Lorenzana. “Covid ended soccer and baseball. His dad, James, and I always wanted him to play golf, but there wasn’t time.” She said getting outside and playing with his dad and friend Jaiden made it a lot of fun.
Mason plays in golf tournaments determined by age group which currently consists of nine holes. He will play 18 holes when he turns 13. He’s been a member of the Fast Forward Golf Academy since January 2021 under the guidance of PGA certified instructors, coaches Vinnie Bertagna and Andrew Kramer.
“My goal is to level up by getting six over par in six tournaments and to score under 35,” says Mason. Like many young athletes, frustration can be discouraging. “When I don’t do well, I get frustrated. I try to come back strong by taking a deep breath and focusing on what I need to do.”
And so far, it’s paying off.
In late July, Mason and his partner Jaiden won the FFGA Invitational. His farthest drive is 155 yards. His personal best is 38 on nine holes. He hits best with his pitching wedge and boasts a strong short game.
“I get nervous when driving because it’s the first shot, and I’ll blow it,” says Mason, “my short game not only makes up for it, but I can catch the bigger kids who outdrove me.”
His commitment to his newfound sport begins with weekly lessons at the FFGA followed by private lessons with coach Bertagna and hitting the driving range at least twice a week. He enters 1-2 SCPGA tournaments per month and is a member of the Junior PGA.
Bertagna met Mason through his student (and Mason’s buddy), Jaiden. “Mason’s biggest accomplishments in golf so far have come during his tournament rounds,” says Bertagna. “Mason is always a standout during our team events. He’s a great teammate and his focus and energy have always put him near the top of the leaderboard.”
Mason’s strengths, according to Bertagna, are his abilities to keep the ball in play and striking it straightforward off the tee; he’s also a fantastic chipper and putter which is crucial during tournaments.
Kramer met Mason through the FFGA at Los Serranos Country Club. “My proudest coaching moment of Mason was watching him make a ridiculous 40 ft breaking birdie putt in a PGA junior league match after giving him the read,” says Kramer. “The keys to his success are his positive attitude and his willingness to learn and listen to get better.”
In his off-time, Mason loves to golf with Papa Story, who he has sometimes beaten. He recently enjoyed a foursome “with the guys” and had tons of fun.
Like many young athletes, Mason has many other interests outside of golf. He’s a bit of a war history buff and loves learning about World War II. His favorite movie is Midway, and his favorite book is “What Was Pearl Harbor” by Patricia Brennan Demuth.
Mason enjoys video games like Roblox, which he sometimes plays with his older sister, Keira. He also has a sister, Zoey, who is older than him but younger than Keira. “Zoey is funny, and she makes me food.” Mason’s favorite food, by the way, is fettuccini alfredo, but he has never met a pizza he didn’t like.
Like his mom, Mason’s favorite school subject is math. He says he gets good grades and is interested in coding. “Coding is creating a function and telling the computer what to do,” says Mason who might consider a career in computers. He’s a member of Code Ninjas in Chino Hills and has achieved his “yellow belt” so far.
Although very competitive, Mason is never one to shy away from a good chuckle. He is good at making his family and friends laugh but at the end of the day, he’s a serious competitor and student. At the age of 5 he asked his coach what it took to be the best player on the team. At the age of 10, his mindset remains the same.
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