Ian Bjork excited about the next level
Soquel senior, an aspiring engineer, committed to D-II South Dakota Mines
SOQUEL >> Soquel High’s Ian Bjork feels like he hit the jackpot when he committed to college in South Dakota, home of the Homestake Mine, the largest and deepest gold mine in North America until it closed in 2002.
Bjork — one of Santa Cruz County’s top junior golfers — was interested in competing for Oregon Tech but the pandemic threw a wrench in the recruiting process. So he sought out other options.
The school needed to meet two criterion. Bjork wanted to go somewhere where he’d make the team and play. And he wanted to go to a smaller, specialized school to major in engineering. Turns out, NCAA Division II South Dakota Mines fit the bill.
Outside of those two things — and the fact that Rapid City is also home to Mt. Rushmore — Bjork knew very little about his future home. He made a campus visit over the summer with his mother, Jennifer, and now he can’t wait to get back.
“I wish I could graduate early and go there right now,” said Bjork, who qualified for the Central Coast Section Regionals two years ago as a sophomore. “I’m just so excited. It’s kind of a dream come true.”
The more Bjork learned about the public university and surrounding area — the campus borders picturesque Black Hills National Forest — the more he wanted to become a Hardrocker.
“I wasn’t expecting much in the way of scenery,” Bjork said. “It’s kind of a hidden gem. And their home golf course (Arrowhead Country Club) is in these rolling hills. It was a really beautiful. And I toured the school and it kind of checked all the boxes.”
One of the boxes was his relationship with the coach, Luke Wheeler, who was born and raised in South Dakota.
“Pictures don’t do this place justice,” Wheeler said.
A fun-loving, down-to- earth guy, Wheeler made Bjork feel at home.
Bjork sent Wheeler video of his swing and a resume of his com
petitive rounds. Wheeler, working with a limited budget, liked what he saw. He offered Bjork some financial aide despite never seeing him hit in person.
“We’re a small D - II school,” Wheeler said. “There isn’t a recruiting budget. I don’t get to go out of state to find players. He found us and then I found him. I saw him swing on a bunch of videos.
“And the beauty of golf is the scorecard doesn’t lie. If you’re shooting in the low 70s, as he is and in tournaments, it’s a pretty easy process. And he wanted to be here. That’s a tough combo to find. When you find a good one like that, especially someone from California, I hopped right on it.”
Bjork has a 1-handicap. Robbed of his junior season because of the pandemic, he said he’s been averaging three rounds a week, mostly at Pajaro Valley Golf Club with Knights teammate Ben Donaldson. Bjork has also been putting on a green in his backyard and hitting at Pacific Golf Centers in Watsonville.
“He motivates himself,” said Bjork’s father, Mike, who co-coaches the Knights golf team with Tom Held.
Mike, a former Foothill College golfer who later served as golf pro at Shoreline Golf Links and Valley Gardens, said he put a golf club in his son’s hand when he was six months old.
The Bjorks moved to Avon, Indiana, and lived there for 10 years before returning to Soquel in 2013. Bjork started playing golf when he was eight. He also played basketball, but stopped following his freshman season to focus on golf.
While his father was a valuable resource, Bjork also took instruction from Pajaro Valley teaching pro Eddie Duino, a PGA of America Hall of Famer. Bjork said he has made big steps with his short game.
While his senior season is in jeopardy due to the pandemic, Bjork is comforted in knowing he has plenty of competitive rounds ahead of him. He also has big plans in the classroom.
“My mom is always saying she thinks I’ll be a great engineer,” he said. “And she’s right, I think I will. Five years ago, I never thought I’d be going to school in South Dakota. I didn’t know anything about the school. It’s kinda cool what you find when you start researching schools.”