DOWNEY — It’s been an amazing three year run for Warren High School junior golfer Matthew Robles.

And to think, it all started with a simple game of video golf……on the game Wii at the age of seven.

“I was three and a half to four years old, and I started fiddling around with all of the games,” said Robles, 17, of his simple beginnings. “But I liked Wii Golf and was maybe 20-under Par. Unfortunately, that’s not how golf works.

“My dad (Fernando) noticed how I wanted to play and before you know it, he had a set of plastic clubs and eventually real clubs. I started with actual clubs when I was six.

He just took me down to Rio Hondo Golf Club.”

Fernando Robles said, “The first time Matthew took lessons he was hooked.”

His father saw how his young son would just gravitate to golf on the Wii device. “He would always beat me.”

However, this story should start with his most recent success and a record-breaking round of golf that can be equal to a current professional golfer – Rickie Fowler.

The young Robles shot an absolute incredible 62, which was 10-under-par 72 in his CIF-Southern Section Individual Championship Finals at River Ridge Golf Course (Vineyard course) in Oxnard.

In addition to the winning score of 62, it was also the new course’s low score. The previous low was a 64 on the Par 72 course.

“I shot that two weeks ago, and it still hasn’t hit me yet,” Robles said.

Warren Golf coach Josh Buell had an idea it might happen with the talented young golfer. “It’s something we knew he could do,” he said. “We kept shaking our heads,” Buell added.

Matthew’s father, Fernando said of his sons’ incredible score, “Honestly, I was speechless. I definitely was the proud papa.”

On his first three holes, the young golfer had pars. That was followed by an Eagle, which resulted from a 30-foot chip in. “That got him going,” Buell said. “It was crazy how the day was going.”

In addition to being a top student with a 4.81 GPA, Matthew is a 4th degree Brown Belt in Tae Kwon Do and is testing for a Black Belt.

He also gets additional help from his putting coach, Brendan Flynn and mental coach Dr. Rick Sessinghaus. In addition, he credits his swing coach Rob Douglas for being there from the beginning. “Since I was seven, he’s been a great help,” Matthew Robles said. “He always responds to my questions and has been a great influence.”

On the lighter side of things, Matthew Robles says Douglas helps him with his trash talking. “In all seriousness, he has been there since the beginning,” he said. “Between him and coach Buell, they have done everything for us,” said Robles, of them helping the team. “Coach Buell and (assistant) Eric Watts were always there cheering.”

It was also a banner year for the Warren golf team, as they won the Gateway League and finished fourth in the CIF D4 Team competition this year. In addition, four of the top five in the Gateway League finals were from Warren. “Team play in golf is fun,” Robles added. “We all rely on each other.”

Robles noted the improvement of the team from the previous year as a sophomore – “We knew we were good,” he added.” We had a good team, led by freshman Michael Franco and senior Jonathan Aguilar.

“(Matthew) is so patient and extremely helpful and what a great resource he is, especially with his teammates,” Buell added.

On of the players in his foursome for the individual championships was his close friend, Bryson Barnes of Long Beach Wilson. “He felt comfortable with him,” Buell said. “He is his lifelong friend.” Barnes finished with a 4-under-Par 68.

Warren High junior golfer Matthew Robles flanked by his two coaches, Assistant Eric Watts (left) and head coach Josh Buell (right) after winning the CIF Southern Section Individual Championships at River Ridge Golf Club in Oxnard. (Warren High Courtesy photo)

High School highlights

Freshman

San Gabriel Valley Golfer of the Year

Qualified for the CIF Individuals second round (had to withdraw due to a scheduling conflict)

Final Round Gateway League – Shoots a 63

Sophomore

Won the SGV League MVP for a second consecutive year

Won the SGV League finals

Team won league

Shot an even-par 71 at CIF State finishing ninth at the San Gabriel GC

Qualified for state by finishing sixth in the So Cals

Broke the Warren school record (9-hole average score of 35.25), which was set by his swing coach, Rob Douglas, a Warren Alum in 2004

CIF Individuals average score – 70.25

Junior

Won CIF with 10-under Par, 62

Finished 14th at So Cals

Matthew said of not qualifying for the 2023 CIF State Championships: “Life moves on,” he said. “It’s not the end-all. You should always learn from your mistakes. I try and try again.

On getting to the next level and beyond, Matthew Robles says, “It’s a little bit of talent and a lot of hard work. In the end, it all leads to 1% better each day.

Warren team – Noah Shin, FR, Jaco b Palomares, FR, Matthew Robles SO, Jonathan Aguilar SR, Michael Franco FR, Ethan Ziesel JR.

What they said:

Josh Buell, Warren Golf coach:

“Matthew is an exceptional young man. He applies the same work ethic, self-discipline, and concentration that has made him an outstanding golfer, to his academics. His GPA is 4.5 with a rigorous schedule. With this extremely busy daily agenda between school and golf, he continues his study of martial arts to further his physical and mental development.

Socially, Matthew gets along great with his teammates. Our varsity players ask to be paired with him for matches. I need to have our line-up ready to go because the opposing team’s players ask their coach to pair them up with Matt too. We have teachers and coaches on campus who are eager to go play a round with him just to watch him play.

With this drive for excellence and the achievements he has already accomplished, you might think that it would go to the head of a teenager. But Matthew is grounded. The game he loves is a game of mistakes and quite humbling. His ability to recover from those rare miscues is what makes him special. The way he is able to handle adversity is beyond his years.

Matthew exudes an energy and an attitude when he plays golf, especially when he is playing well and things are clicking, that shines with a love and joy of the game that is so much fun to watch. I only wish that he played in a stadium or gym where more people could witness his skills on display.”

Samantha Miyahara, Warren Athletic Director:

“It is remarkable for me to consider the amount of success that Matthew has amassed and only within his first three years of high school. I cannot wait to see what he and his team achieve in his senior year. Before looking ahead to his senior year, his junior season deserves recognition and adulation.

“Matthew is a league champion and a CIF Champion. En route to his CIF championship, he shot a course record-setting 62. Coach Buell has looked through the record books, and to his findings, there has only been one other occasion on which a golfer has shot a 62. At the time, that was another record-setting performance at that respective course, and it was earned by (PGA Pro) Rickie Fowler. How remarkable to be able to put Matthew Robles‘ name in that same conversation.

“The day of the CIF championship, Matthew was a Force to be reckoned with. Every time that his coaches thought it could not get any better, Matthew wowed agai. As we received updates, it seemed like the messages were just on replay, “Birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie…” it was unreal. All the way to the final hole, Matthew’s golfing was simply unreal that day.

“It is such an honor to be able to celebrate Matthew because he is a tremendous golfer, but he is an even better young man. He is a strong leader for our team. He carries himself with a quiet confidence that is reassuring to all of his teammates.

Matthew is extremely humble, and I don’t think he takes any opportunity or achievement for granted. Matthew has a remarkable ability to maintain his composure and poise, even in the most pressure-packed situations. Matthew is also an extremely hard worker, and he capitalizes on every opportunity to be on the golf course. He is such a great role model because he leads by example, demonstrating the determination and discipline needed to achieve such success.”

Warren High golfer Matthew Robles wins CIF individual championship