R-C golfers head toward state tournament
by Hank Brockett
10/16/02
Three approach shots drew smiles, a common site these days on Reed-Custer varsity golfers. But the fourth, well, that’s another story.
Senior Ryan Bohac hits his iron and immediately knows something in the thousands of tiny movements that make up his golf swing has gone wrong. The ball bounds off the side of the green into the rough.
Bohac storms off the course, unaware of how many duffers would buy the clubhouse a round a day for such a shot.
A half-hour later, the team — including Bohac — laughs and jokes. Sophomore David Lohmar acts as the lightning rod for put-downs this day. His demeanor shows this isn’t the first time the “rookie” has heard the punchlines.
Everyone from Tiger Woods to the Friday night miniature golfer must balance two conflicting emotions:
• Try and have a good time, but ...
• Win at all costs
For a high school varsity team, that balance remains forever elusive. The short fall season — less than 10 weeks on the calendar — allows for plenty of experimentation, but seldom the right mix.
On this fall day and during this whirlwind season, Reed-Custer golfers found balance.
With a resume including a 20-0 regular season record, an Interstate 8 Conference title, the Grant Park Invitational title, a regional crown and numerous individual accolades, these varsity golfers can smile in their endless search for improvement.
Bohac and his fellow golfers finished their last practice round at the Braidwood Recreation Club with those shots, and the scores couldn’t be better. With sectionals on Tuesday and a state tournament birth in sight, the team shot its best practice round of the year.
“No one has really seen us all come together and play like we did today,” said senior Jayson Povalish. “If we do that, we can really blow some people out of the water that wouldn’t expect it.”
No ‘sissies’
Together, they form a motley crew.
In all, there are five seniors, one junior and one sophomore. But grade levels only tell part of the story.
In conversation, Eric Tessler and Povalish emerge as vocal leaders. Bohac lets his golf talk for him while Jason Bristow, Justin Grace and Scot Stewart offer their perspective when needed. And Lohmar?
The upperclassmen would prefer he kept quiet.
No matter the vocal output, each team member has let the sweet sound of club meeting ball do their trash-talking on the course.
“Sometimes we get too confident, which makes us cocky,” said Tessler. “But we’re confident.”
In fact, opponents have shown appreciation for the Comet golfer attitude.
“A lot of the coaches and players like us,” said Bristow.
The subtle personality of a politician plays a part in those sentiments. Even when basking in success, the team is quick to point out worthy competition.
“Coal City, which is a good young team, almost beat us twice this year,” said Povalish. “We can’t look past anybody, because we know we can have our blow-up rounds.”
A shifting of appreciation has helped foster the increased confidence. In a region so dominated by football, the smaller fall sports teams sometimes play with little notice.
And even at a small class a school like Reed-Custer, golf exploits sometimes take a back seat to Friday gridiron action.
“It’s cool, but at our school everyone calls us ‘sissies,’” said Tessler.
“That was until this year,” contends Povalish. “I think it’s changed a lot ... We let our record speak for itself.”
But Grace, a first-year golfer, knows the flak hasn’t ended for sportsmen in the sport with a Rodney Dangerfield complex.
I can’t get no respect.
A change in season
The 2002 season began with the end of the 2001 campaign.
Comet golfers, including all of the seniors on this year’s team, reached sectionals with a second-place finish in regionals.
On a Bloomington course, Reed-Custer came within five strokes of qualifying for state. A disastrous par-3 17th hole — including a few quintuple bogeys (five over par) — proved the team’s undoing.
From defeat the team rebounded, entering this season with a newfound respect for a relaxed atmosphere. The team teed off against frayed nerves, and haven’t looked back since.
“All five of us (seniors) have been on varsity for at least two years,” said Povalish. “So there’s not much pressure any more. We’re kind of trying to have more fun this year.”
The winning formula has proved fun. Since the start of the season, the Comets have lowered their team score from 161 to a low of 154. With the four top golfers contributing to the final score, that means the top golfers averaged a 38 each for nine holes.
The team hit its stride after squeaking by a few close matches and entering the part of the season dominated by tournaments.
With a shotgun start, the team found its way amid carnival-like courses overrun by fellow competitive golfers.
“We relaxed more and just found out that no one beat us if we just played our average,” said Tessler.
Good company
When talking about the team, the seniors speak with the reserved tones of a level-headed politician. But when attention is placed on individuals within the team, the words come easy and from the heart.
If a tournament came down to one putt, in whose putter would they trust?
With a record of 2-0 on playoff holes — which can include a gallery the Western Open would appreciate — the team agreed on Stewart.
“Scot looks at it as just golfing still, he’s not looking at it to win something,” said Povalish.
OK, how about the never-used yearbook classification “Most Likely to Take a Mulligan.”
Again, the answer came in unison.
“If Bohac’s ball doesn’t go into the hole on the first shot, it’s not a good shot,” said Tessler.
What of this bone-chilling weather, will it affect the swing?
“We’ve got mocks,” smiled Stewart, in reference to mock turtlenecks the team owns for late-season golfing.
And what if you come back with the state championship. Will the respect finally come?
W that, the smiles cease and eyes dart downward. The politicians have returned.
“We just want to get there first,” said Stewart, unaware of the latest picture-perfect balancing act.