Josh Suto was destined to play golf.

He just didn’t know it until a few years ago.

Enamored with basketball while growing up, things took a turn for the Palmerton athlete during his freshman year. That’s when circumstances, along with the urging of his brother, shifted his attention in a totally different direction.

“I mainly got into golf because of my brother,” said Suto, whose older sibling Joey was a member of the Blue Bomber program. “I had loved basketball my whole life but (situations) turned me away from it, and I just got into golf and just kind of went from there. After that, I kept progressing, and just got better and better.”

Did he ever.

Posting scores in the mid-80s most of his first year, he improved on that during his junior campaign and was one of the team’s top players. But Suto raised his game even more this past season.

His average score was 73.7, including a low round of 66 against Wilson on Sept. 9. He especially excelled in the postseason, winning the District 11 Class 2A title with a 71 and tying for second at states with a 74 - just two strokes behind the champion.

For his efforts, Suto was named the Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Golfer of the Year.

“Josh’s year was by far the best individual season ever in Palmerton history and possibly top 5 in Lehigh Valley high school history,” said Palmerton head coach Alex Knoll. “I mean, there’s only been two Lehigh Valley state champs, so for Josh to win a district title and tie for second at states is in rarefied air, for sure.

“This is basically his third full season playing, and he went from a true beginner to obviously a golfer with the ability that Division 1 and Division 2 schools are looking at him for next year.”

So how did a novice at golf turn himself into one of the state’s elite in his class?

“I started playing more tournaments over the summer, and that’s what really helped me get better,” said Suto, who has never had any golf lessons. “I was in a lot of tournaments, including a lot of higher-level tournaments like in the Hurricane (Junior Golf Tour). And those are what helped me. That, and just playing everyday.

“In the early matches of the season, I could tell I felt a lot more comfortable with my own game. I just felt more comfortable over the ball.”

Anyone who has ever hit a slice into the rough, or watched a five-foot putt veer away from the hole will tell you the mental aspect of golf is just as important as the physical.

That mental approach is another reason Suto has been able to achieve plenty of success.

“Golf is a unique sport in that you can start at different times throughout your life and, depending on your work ethic and natural talent, you can develop that at different paces,” said Knoll. “Josh really works at it and has that natural competitive ability ... He stepped up when we needed him, and he has this innate ability to just kind of focus on the next shot and block everything else out. That’s a tough skill to learn at a young age ... so when a lot of other kids might feel pressure, Josh kind of just plods along and doesn’t worry about it.

“He has a lot of internal confidence, and to be a top-level golfer you really must believe deep down that you’re going to beat anyone when you play against them, and you’re not worried about your opponent.”

His play, along with that of teammates Tyler Hager and Connor Reinhard, helped the Bombers capture their second straight Colonial League title and their third consecutive District 11 championship this season. The three have enjoyed plenty of success together, and their skill level also created a friendly rivalry.

“It’s always a competition between me, Tyler and Connor,” said Suto. “Toward the postseason it always gets competitive between us, and it’s always a race to see who can finish on top. We always know it’s going to be close. During the season, I knew if I have a bad day, they’d be able to back me up.”

Knoll echoed those sentiments.

“They have been a great trio here for the last two, three years,” added Knoll. “They all support each other, but golf is an individual sport so obviously deep down they want to beat each other, not in a negative way, but they want to out-do the other and that kind of healthy competition is a great thing for a good golf program.”

In the end, it was Suto that edged out his teammates in the postseason, gaining his district gold and state silver.

“(At districts), I was just trying to make states,” said Suto, who trailed by six strokes with eight holes to play. “All I was trying to do was place top four to advance. I made the birdie (on 14) and the eagle (on 15) and it was like, ‘Oh wow, I can win this’. (At states), everything was going well for me that day. My drives were good even though it was a really windy day.”

“The course set up well for Josh, most courses do,” said Knoll about states. “He plays well in tough conditions, and it was a windy, chilly day ... He felt comfortable with the setup and just kind of played his own game.”