Big Rapids coach Mark Posey has a younger boys’ golf team this year. In the past, the program has produced all-state golfers and state titles, and this year, he has a sophomore prospect who figures on making quite a lot of noise before the 2014 season comes to an end.
Carter Bechaz has been leading the way, not only for Big Rapids, but also for the entire Central State Activities Association. He shot a 74 for medalist honors in the final CSAA jamboree in mid May.
Bechaz’s freshman season was an indication to Posey that Bechaz had a chance to be a special golfer. “He was learning how to play the game,” Posey said. “He averaged like a 90. He was still learning how to play golf.”
But in the matter of just one season, Bechaz went from the team’s No. 4 or 5 golfer to No. 1 in the CSAA.
“He’s about eight strokes better than he was last year at this point,” Posey said.
The improvement in Bechaz’s short game has made him a better golfer, Posey noted. “Last year, he missed a lot of greens, would make a chip, but wouldn’t make the putt,” Posey said. “He wouldn’t get close enough. Last year, he’d get up and down maybe once or twice in a round. This year at one of the tournaments, he was like 80 percent.”
“I’m getting it closer to hole,” Bechaz said. “I’m definitely a lot more focused. Last year, I was probably more nervous, too, coming in as a freshman and being on the varsity. I was more comfortable in the environment and playing with better people.”
The time that Bechaz put in during the summer has paid off, Posey pointed out. “He was out playing a lot of summer tournaments. He knew from last year when we sat down with his stats at the end of the year and said, ‘Hey, this where you’re losing your strokes.’ He took it from there and worked on his short game. This year, he’s a whole lot better.
“One thing I like about Carter is he has a good head on his shoulders. He really does a nice job of keeping his emotions in check. A really good golfer has a good head on his shoulders. Carter has that. He doesn’t get down or get really excited. He just goes out and plays with the game he has that day. He goes and grinds it out.”
Bechaz, like other golfers, has had to battle the weather to get his game where he wants it to be. “I’ve been on the range with my varsity players just once this year,” Posey said. “That’s how bad it is. So we’ve spent a lot of time on the putting greens.”
Bechaz said he’s been focusing on his drives. “I’ve been slicing them a lot and just need to keep focused at practice, which is tough with all the rain,” he said. “I played a lot, three to four times a week, during the summer. I have a membership at Katke (Ferris State’s course), and I also play up at Traverse City in a junior golf league.”
Posey hopes to see Bechaz stay in the low to mid 70s for the rest of the season. “We have some tough courses coming up, so he’ll have to work hard to do that,” Posey said. “He’s certainly capable of it. That would be a goal for him. Considering what he was averaging last year, it’s just phenomenal.”
Bechaz has been reaching his expectations. “I can definitely shoot a lot better than I have been,” he said. “There’s been some silly mistakes in there.”
Bechaz also plays football and basketball, but he said that golf is his favorite sport from the individual aspect.