Grant Bernosky didn’t know quite what to expect entering the 2015 golf season.
After all, the San Benito High junior didn’t play much golf in the off-season, focusing more on basketball. However, Bernosky has displayed some serious skills on the course this season, moving up to No. 2 in the Haybalers lineup after playing No. 6 a year ago.
While last year’s team was one of the best in program history, this year’s squad isn’t doing too shabby, either. Bernosky had a slow start this year only to make a rapid improvement with each passing practice round and match.
“I started off poorly because of all the time off away from the game, but I kept on working hard,” Bernosky said. “I’m definitely a better putter this year, and I’m hitting my short and middle irons with more consistency.”
The Balers have had a tremendous run of late, qualifying for the Central Coast Section tournament in each of the last two years. Having graduated most of their starting lineup from last year’s squad, coach Reggie Synegal didn’t know if another CCS playoff berth was in the cards this year.
With two weeks left in the regular season, however, San Benito controls its destiny.
If the Balers finish in second place in each of the next two league meets, they will clinch second place in the Monterey Bay League’s Gabilan Division and then play the winner of the lower Pacific Division for the right to go to the CCS playoffs.
While the Balers have a top-flight player in sophomore Brad Sparrer, his teammates have picked up their play in the last month. Synegal said he’s been thoroughly impressed with Bernosky, who was a starting post on this year’s basketball team.
Bernosky possesses power off the tee, but more importantly, Synegal said Bernosky has been a good example to players like Nick Wells, who is the latest in a long line of strong San Benito freshmen golf talents.
“Grant has been very mature about the game, and from a coaching standpoint, it makes you really proud,” Synegal said. “His work ethic has been nothing short of outstanding, and he understands what’s important for the program. He’s taken up a leadership role and he along with some of the other kids who weren’t doing well early in the season deserve their props.”
That list includes Tyler Schiller, Ricardo Garcia, Quinn Mendoza and Josh Hoyte.
“As a team overall, we feel like we’re striking the ball pretty well right now,” Synegal said. “We just need to get up and down from some of our missed shots. I’m happy to say the kids are improving and they’re looking to get back to CCS.”
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Bernosky possesses a competitive attitude and strong work ethic. Bernosky, Mendoza and Schiller went to play at Laguna Seca Golf Ranch in Monterey Monday to get a preview of the course the team will be playing on April 15 in a league tournament meet.
“The guys have been doing a lot of short game with chipping and putting,” Synegal said. “I get to the golf course and they’re already working on their short game. It’s great to see.”
Incredibly, Bernosky opened the season by improving in each of his first six matches, posting scores of 48, 47, 44, 42, 39 and 37, the latter a career-best showing 1-over-par on the back nine at San Juan Oaks two weeks ago against Alvarez.
Since then Bernosky has shot a 39 and a 40 on three occasions, giving Synegal comfort knowing he can rely on his No. 2 player.
Not bad for a player who was considering not playing golf this season. Coming off a tough basketball season, Bernosky had thoughts of not playing golf this year until after he was done with the first practice.
“I really enjoyed that first practice,” he said. “I went out there and it was pretty calming, and that helped make up my mind to play.”
Bernosky credited Synegal for helping the players expand their knowledge of the game and going above and beyond the duties of what a coach ordinarily does. Bernosky said it’s fun to play with a bunch of teammates who keep the game fun and want to improve. And he’s forever grateful that at least one of his parents, Rob and Jenny, are at every one of his matches.
“They’ve been incredibly supportive over the years,” he said. “It’s great because I know there’s always someone there cheering you on.”
Bernosky, who has a 3.8 GPA, is fascinated with players’ swings and how they relate to physics and biomechanics. A player like Rory McIlroy, for instance, generates an average clubhead speed of nearly 120 mph.
The best golfer in the world generates that type of speed with a tremendous shoulder turn, timing and flexibility that allow him to coil up significantly on the backswing before unleashing power that few can rival.
Along with No. 1 player Brad Sparrer, Bernosky plans on leading the team to another CCS playoff berth. After that, Bernosky said he wants to play more golf this summer, knowing he would come back his senior year and play at a level he’s never done before.
