Tesoro’s Block brothers, inspired by their famous father, help Titans’ golf team reach state – Orange County Register

Tesoro brothers Dylan, left, and Ethan Block have helped the Titans’ boys golf team reach the CIF State championship at Poppy Hills Golf Course at Pebble Beach on May 31. (Photo courtesy of Tesoro boys golf coach Van Johnstone).

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Life for Tesoro golfers Dylan and Ethan Block has been “weird but awesome” lately, and it’s not all because of their father Michael’s viral performance at the recent PGA Championship.

Yes, there have been interviews on national television because of their father’s surprising success. And there have been text messages from celebrities that they want to keep private.

But the brothers also have garnered attention for their own play with their Tesoro teammates, who on Wednesday claimed the CIF-SCGA SoCal regional title to qualify for the CIF State tournament next week at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach.

“It’s really crazy,” Dylan Block said in a phone interview earlier this week. “Just the whole, entire ambience of everybody saying congratulations. Even half the time, I have to think ‘What are they congratulating me for? Are they congratulating for my dad or are they congratulating me for the team finals?’

“I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’ “

The answer, of course, is the brothers, and their father Michael Block are both producing some magical moments on the golf course. Now, they just have to keep their lives in the fairway.

“It’s a very weird but awesome feeling to have,” Dylan added.

Ethan, a sophomore, carded a 3-under-par 71 and Dylan, a senior, shot a 72 on Wednesday at Los Serranos Golf Club to help the Titans secure their first SoCal title and first trip to state.

Just three days earlier, their father Michael Block, the head professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, tied for 15th at the PGA Championship in an effort that included a hole-in-one on the 15th hole in the final round. The 46-year-old became a hero for everyman golfers around the world.

Ethan said his father’s success helped inspire his performance Wednesday, which included sinking a 40-foot putt for eagle on the 16th. That’s the same hole where teammate Keegan Gicking recorded a double eagle or “albatross.”

“He just inspires us to do what we have accomplished,” Ethan said of their father, who sent the Tesoro team a congratulatory video from the Colonial tournament in Texas.

“My whole life I have looked up him. He’s been a big part in all of the kids’ (golf) on the team. He helps them out when he is at Arroyo and we are practicing there, which gives the team a lot of courage to play at his level and possibly win a state title.”

Several of Tesoro’s players, including the brothers, have worked odd jobs for Michael at Arroyo Trabuco. But it’s the example he showed at the PGA Championship in New York that could stick with the players for years to come.

“It’s just an inspiration for all,” said Tesoro senior Zander Grant, a University of Denver commit. “Seeing what’s happening with this, and knowing it can happen to anyone, should be inspiration for everyone to work as hard as they can.”

Dylan is ready to get started. He plans to attend qualifying school next year in hopes of reaching the PGA tour.

“Trying to make it bigger than my dad, hopefully,” he said. “Right now, I’m being known as Michael Block’s son but I want my dad to be known as Dylan Block’s dad.”