By: Juan Saucedo

Pearl Sinn-Bonanni is in her first year as head coach of CSUF women's golf. Photo Courtesy Titan Media Relations.

Daily Titan Staff Writer

As an 8-year-old child who originated from Seoul, South Korea, Pearl Sinn-Bonanni used the sport of golf as a way to help her develop her English speaking skills.

Now as an adult, the 42-year-old Cal State Fullerton Head Women’s Golf Coach uses her knowledge of the sport not only to transform her players into solid golfers, but to shape them into well-rounded individuals.

“I’ve been playing golf for 35 years,” she said, adding that this is her first year coaching at any level.

Sinn-Bonanni, a three-time All-American at Arizona State, was chosen to be the women’s golf coach when the program was reinstated after a two decade hiatus.

“Hopefully it was my experience that prompted (the university) to pick me,” she said.

Sinn-Bonanni’s resume speaks for itself.

Considering her collegiate and professional career, which includes her participation in more than 100 LPGA events all across the world, she was an ideal choice to build up the squad.

“I was on the professional tour for 16 years,” she said in a telephone interview.

She added that she is trying to pass all of her knowledge onto her players.

“I have experience competing at the highest level and that’s what I’m trying to teach my players; to be competitive at the highest level,” Sinn-Bonanni said.

After completing her first spring season, she said the toughest part of coaching has been getting the entire team accustomed to the collegiate life due to the fact that most of the players on the team are freshmen.

“The players are very responsive,” Sinn-Bonanni said. “It’s hard because we’re a young team and we have a lot to learn.”

She said the only goal she has set for herself is to make her team competitive, so that they have a chance at defeating more established programs in the area.

“I have set a goal of finishing in the top half of the conference, which requires competing against UC Irvine. Davis is (also) a really strong team and (so is) Long Beach,” she said.

Sinn-Bonanni said golf is a sport played individually so it’s hard to measure team success.

She added that she doesn’t like to single out one individual’s success over other players, and that she tries to focus on what players do right and not on what they do wrong.

However, she does help the golfers improve on the weakest part of their game during practice.

Neomi Hunt, a CSUF freshman golfer, said she thinks Sinn-Bonanni is an awesome coach who’s easy to get along with.

“I think she’s doing really good for her first year,” Hunt said.

Hunt, who has been playing golf for 11 years, said she likes the fact that Sinn-Bonanni gives the players space to work on their flaws.

“A lot of us have our own individual coaches so she tries not to intrude on what they’re teaching us,” she said.

At first, Sinn-Bonanni seemed like she would be really strict but once you get to know her she’s really easy-going and funny, Hunt said.

“She really takes time to get to know everyone and she likes to mess around,” Hunt said, adding that despite her good nature she still expects her players to follow her rules.

Taylor Fowler, a CSUF golfer, said Sinn-Bonanni has helped her improve her game in different ways.

“She works on my swing a lot and helps me improve my putting stroke,” Fowler said. “I really like her as a coach. She’s always there when we need her.”

Fowler said she has also been learning from her to be a smarter golfer.

“I know that she knows what it takes to become a professional,” she said, adding that Sinn-Bonanni emphasizes that it takes a lot of practice to perfect one’s game.

Sinn-Bonanni said her motivation is the challenge of getting the players ready to do well in competitions.

“The opportunity to work with young individuals is quite rewarding,” she said, “I get to influence them in a positive way.”