ATHLETE OF THE MONTH Golf athlete Eric Sun shares his athletic journey and future PRITHIKA SUNDAR
J writer
unior Eric Sun spends his days attending classes at Cupertino High School, while making hole in one’s as a competitive golf player. Playing golf since the age of three years old, Sun has been able to develop and perfect his golfing skills throughout his childhood to now. When Sun’s dad used to play golf, he took Sun with him once he was old enough, igniting Sun’s golf journey. Throughout his childhood, Sun has moved across countries as an athlete, coming to Cupertino during late 2019 to early 2020. Sun talks about how back in Canada, he felt like a big fish in a small pond, winning tournaments often. After moving to Cupertino, Sun says, “The environment was much more competitive, as I pushed myself to work harder.” As a competitive athlete, Sun undergoes training both at school and outside of school. Aside from school practices, where he connects and works with the other Cupertino athletes and coaches, Sun has a professional coach in Monterey. Sun meets with this coach before or after school practices, and even
coaches, Sun has a professional primarily on sharpening skills, coach in Monterey. Sun meets with whereas in football, there is a balthis coach before or after school ance between skills and conditionpractices, and even on weekends to ing. improve his skill set. Sun undergoes In a typical week in his life, Sun both technical training and condi- has school matches on Tuesdays tioning, both key factors that sup- and Thursdays, preparing for those port his golf game. through practices held on Mondays, all ranging from two to three hours. In addition to this, Sun takes GOLF IS A LOT MORE lessons outside of school and pracDIVERSE THAN PEOPLE tices consistently throughout the week on his own. When asked how THINK IT IS, I’VE MET he balances academics with athletA LOT OF INTERESTING ics, Sun responds that communicaPEOPLE THROUGHOUT MY tion is key and staying on top of his PLAYING CAREER school work is his main priority. ERIC SUN “Often I do work during the car ride to my golf practices, finding As Sun has been continuing his any time that I can and using it to golf journey for over a decade, he the best of my abilities.” has had many different experiencFor the 2023 Cupertino golf es throughout his tournaments and season, Sun says his coach sets practices. When asked for the most goals for his team and him to meet memorable aspect he has learned during each match. Sun is hoping from golf, he talks about the stereo- for the team to collectively qualify types around the sport regarding the for the CCS tournament. lack of diversity as he says, “Golf is As co-captain of the Cupertino a lot more diverse than people think Golf team, Braden Monroe, is both it is, I’ve met a lot of interesting peo- a teammate and friend to Sun. ple throughout my playing career.” Monroe says, “Now that he’s Sun has made many personal my co-captain this year, it’s cool connections through this sport, as to see that we have a lot of simimost of his best friends were met lar ideas when it comes to helping through playing golf. Playing in both teammates, running practices, and tournaments or just casual rounds more. I’ve actually known Eric for with his friends have brought Sun a as long as he’s been at Tino, so I’ve lot of unforgettable memories that seen him change over time. He’s he will cherish throughout his life. definitely become more confident Before shifting his focus pure- with himself and his ideas, which is ly to golf, Sun played a variety of really fun and inspiring to see.” sports like hockey, track and footSun hopes to continue playing ball. During his freshman year, Sun golf in the future as a college athtook part in football conditioning lete, taking his journey in as it proafter speaking to Coach Oswald. gresses Sun explains how golf is focused
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