The San Benito High boys golf team narrowly missed the Central Coast Section playoffs last season. The Haybalers are intent on making the postseason again. The performance of the team’s No. 2 and 3 players—senior Grant Bernosky and junior Ricardo Garcia—will go a long way in determining the outcome of San Benito’s season.
“I know we can make CCS,” Bernosky said. “It’s just a matter of getting it done.”
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Bernosky is downright elated to be healthy again. A center on the basketball team, Bernosky missed most of this past season after suffering a dislocated shoulder on three separate occasions. Bernosky was only cleared to play this golf season a couple of days before the team’s first match in late February.
“It feels great to be on the golf course again,” he said. “Just being recovered and healthy is a big deal.”
Indeed, a dislocated shoulder is no small matter, and Bernosky went through three of them. However, Bernosky knows things could’ve been a lot worse.
“If I had torn my labrum, I might have needed surgery,” he said. “And things could have gotten more complicated.”
Bernosky has been pretty consistent this season, with a 39, 41 and 42 accounting for his top three rounds (high school matches are nine holes with the exception of playoffs and a few select tournaments).
“I’ve been pretty consistent so far, but I’d like to be shooting some lower scores,” said Bernosky, who carries a 3.7 cumulative GPA. “Right now I’m hitting my driver really well, which is a surprise because normally it’s my weakness. But my short irons are a little inconsistent, and that’s what I’ve been working on the most.”
Bernosky added he was pleased with his short game, as his putting has been on target. Bernosky is known for being a great teammate, meaning he encourages others in their play and sets an example for them to follow. Bernosky’s breakout season came a year ago, and Garcia is following a similar path.
Fueled by an insatiable appetite to improve, Garcia is hoping all of the hours he’s putting on the practice range pays off.
“If I’m not at San Juan Oaks practicing, I’m there working,” said Garcia, who works 25 hours a week at the course doing everything from picking up golf balls on the range to cleaning carts.
Garcia schedules his work shifts Friday through Sunday, meaning some of his teammates like top player Brad Sparrer is at the range when he’s in the tractor collecting golf balls. So how often do golfers aim straight for the cart while he’s in it?
“It usually happens pretty often,” Garcia said. “Brad is out there practicing all the time, so he’s aiming at me (when I’m in the tractor).”
As of last week, Garcia’s low round was a 41 in a match against Christopher on March 15. Garcia said he needs to work on being more consistent, and has picked up valuable habits from Sparrer.
“Brad has rubbed off on me in a good way,” Garcia said. “I’ve picked up a lot of tips from him, and he’s been really helpful with my game.”
Garcia is confident that as long as he puts the work in, his game will improve. Despite his work schedule, Garcia has a cumulative GPA of 4.16, including three Advanced Placement classes.
“I actually like school a lot more than most kids,” he said.
The 5-11, 145-pound Garcia has been satisfied with his results so far, but he’s always looking to develop in every phase of the game.
“I have to work on driving because I’m having trouble getting off the tee box,” he said. “My short game has been pretty good lately—I’ve had a couple of close chip (shots) bounce off the flag. I’ve definitely gotten a lot better from last year. I’ve added a lot of distance to my drives and irons, and my short game has improved the most.”
An avid outdoors person, Garcia loves to backpack, fish and kayak. During the summer, Garcia golfs and fishes with his dad, Robert. Garcia has only been playing regularly since the eighth grade, and he’s optimistic his best days on the links are ahead of him.
“Being the No. 3 guy on the team last year gave me a lot of confidence,” he said.
Bernosky sees positive things ahead, too. Even though the Balers didn’t have their best score when they totaled a 233 in a Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division five-team match on March 17, Bernosky sees potential at the back end of the lineup. Tyler Grimes and Adam Gonzales are both in their first year of competitive golf, but they’re learning fast.
“I’m really impressed with Tyler and Adam because a couple of weeks ago Tyler told me he was playing at Ridgemark by himself,” Bernosky said. “That’s super impressive. Both of them work super hard, and they have a bunch to learn and a lot of potential. They’re playing well already, and they’ll be a couple of more pieces to help us get where we need to be.”
