RELAXED LAUVER REGAINS HIS FOCUS.

Byline: Brian Dalziel Daily News Staff Writer

Mark Lauver's golf game was falling into place at just the right time. It was March and the senior at Hart High was a medalist, shooting even-par 71 at Rancho San Marcos in Santa Barbara. A few weeks later, he finished with a 72 at De Bell in Burbank.

``I played well at the beginning of the year,'' Lauver said. ``I remember just taking it one shot at a time. Then I started getting overwhelmed with golf and things started getting to my head.''

The scorecard reflected Lauver's struggles - 76, 79, 83. He lost his focus and concentration.

The reason?

``At the time I started writing letters to (Arizona golf coach) Rick LaRose because I was thinking about trying to walk on,'' said Lauver, who has already been accepted to the school academically.

``I didn't even send him the letters. I was putting pressure on myself to do better so he would look at me. I was trying too hard to impress the people around me.

``I cared too much about what they were thinking and I put pressure on myself.''

This was not good timing for the 18-year-old, especially with Hart competing for the Southern California championship today at the SCGA/CIF tournament in Murrieta. But right after his Southern Section final 11-over-par 83 at La Purisima in Lompoc last month, the 5-foot-9, 165-pound redhead realized his goals and expectations were set too high.

``I've been feeling more confident with my golf game and everything around me,'' Lauver said. ``I took a week off right after the CIF finals, because my wrist was bothering me. I didn't touch a golf club for a week.

``Then I started hitting the ball slowly and started to enjoy it. Everything seems to be falling into place.''

That's good news for Hart, which is making its first appearance in the tournament held at the SCGA Members' Club.

``His biggest enemy is himself,'' said Hart coach Dennis Ford of Lauver. ``If his head isn't on right, he can have some pretty ugly stuff going as far as golf goes. But at the same time, when his head is on right, he plays well.''

Lauver's golfing career is relatively new; he picked up the game only three years ago. But during this time, he's had to overcome some adversity along the way.

As a freshman, Lauver wanted to try out for the golf team. That never developed as he injured his left knee playing football. As a sophomore, he hurt his wrist in a snowboarding accident the week before tryouts. He made the tryouts but not the team.

``I just said there's always next year,'' Lauver said with a laugh.

As a junior, Lauver finally made the golf team. He played in just two varsity events before finding a permanent home on junior varsity.

``That was disappointing because your junior year is a chance to show off to college coaches,'' he said. ``And again I think I put too much pressure on myself.''

With one more event left, Lauver feels confident he'll end his high school career on a positive note.

``We've been playing at Valencia Country Club the last two weeks every Tuesday and Thursday and I was feeling comfortable,'' Lauver said. ``I made some errors, but I just started to relax and played like I wanted to play.''

He hopes to do the same today.

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PHOTO Hart golfer Mark Lauver will play today at the SCGA/CIF tournament in Murrieta.

David Crane/Daily News