OTHELLO — Othello senior Patrick Azevedo said he has just tried to stay busy after his golf season was put on hold and his senior year moved online a few weeks ago.

“It’s very different,” Azevedo said. “No one really expected us to be away from school and everything. It’s kind of tough with so much stuff. Being a senior, especially, this year’s been super busy.”

After claiming a 2A state championship as a freshman golfer, the Othello senior was just beginning his run for a second title in his final season with the Huskies.

Azevedo said he’s been spending between six and eight hours a day working on his game at home since the golf courses were shut down. Whether it’s being outside putting, hitting balls or simply swinging, he just looks to work on aspects of his game each day while he waits for his next turn at the tee box.

Azevedo said the closures have given him ample opportunity to work on an aspect of his game he takes great pride in: putting.

“That’s one thing I pride myself in, having the best possible putting game, short game, I can have,” Azevedo said. “This time, where I’m not able to go play, or hit balls, at the course, I’m just going to work on putting, work on my stroke, and work on really minute details that really matter in putting.”

He has had more time to read. He said he reads a lot of books about athletes, their journeys and their mental approaches to the game. “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play” by Kobe Bryant, is currently in Azevedo’s hands.

He has a few more books focusing on mental approaches to golf lined up.

“As me and you both know, it’s not an easy path to become good, or even great at the next level,” Azevedo said. “A lot of these books, especially the mental ones, they really provide another aspect of golf, maybe not even golf, but life as well, that maybe I never really thought about.”

He said he likes to take notes while he reads, citing key words or phrases that stick with him. Azevedo said he’ll put these notes in his phone to always be there as a reminder, or motivator, for him.

Azevedo said he had kicked off his first tournament of the season with a round score of 69, three under par — a solid day by his standards.

“That was my goal since I was a freshman, I wanted to keep my tournament average under par,” Azevedo said. “Hopefully, we get to play a couple more tournaments, but we’ll see.”

Azevedo said he didn’t expect everything to be shut down. Rather, he was excited about the prospect of being able to be on the golf course every single day.

He got a few days out on a course before golf courses joined the list of closures across Washington.

The golf course, for Azevedo, is his sanctuary.

“It’s just a peaceful place for me,” Azevedo said. “These last couple of weeks, staying at home, have been tough. But it’ll be good when we get back out there, and it will be fun. Hopefully we get at least districts, and hopefully state, if this stuff can clear up.”

The Othello golfer said he just wants everyone to stay as healthy as possible. If that means canceling the spring season, Azevedo said he’s OK with that, simply shifting his focus to the summer and his upcoming freshman year at the University of Wyoming.

Azevedo said he’s itching to compete. When he is able to return to the golf course, whether that be later this spring or next season in Wyoming, Azevedo said he’s certain he will be 100 percent prepared.

“I’m kind of excited for my first tournament out,” Azevedo said. “It’ll be good. I’m just excited.”

Editor’s note: This story was written before Gov. Jay Inslee extended the statewide schools closure through the end of the academic year and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association officially canceled spring sports.