LANDON NEGRI
Whether it’s a slap shot or a tee shot, Bryce Johnson has proved successful. Now, well into his senior year and beginning his final season with Hemet High’s boys golf program, Johnson is giving his team a chance to share in that success, as well. As the 2015 season kicks into gear, Hemet has risen to be one of the better teams in the Inland area. One reason is the Bulldogs’ impressive 1-2 combination of Richard Schweitzer and Patrick Gorman, but another is the emergence of Johnson, who’s given the team a strong No. 3 scoring option. Johnson didn’t play much golf until his freshman season, when circumstances steered him away from his first love, ice hockey. That love was sparked by his pa- rents, both Canadian natives, and Bryce himself has dual citizenship. “My dad grew up watching hockey, so he brought it into my life,” Johnson said. “I always grew up watching hockey, and I started skating when I was 3 years old. “Most kids learned to walk,” he added. “I learned how to skate.” Johnson played most of his youth hockey in Santa Clarita. When the family moved to Hemet five years ago, the closest rink was in Riverside, a farther drive than the 15-minute trips he used to take in north L.A. County. He said it just became too much and hung up his skates after two more seasons, ending a 10-year youth career. “I had to slowly give it up,” he said, “because the only days I had games were on Sundays. It took much time. … I had always said I wanted to be a professional hockey player. It was very hard for me.” Yet as one dream faded, another came into focus. He had toyed with playing golf a couple of times, and with there being no shortage of golf courses in the San Jacinto Valley – four 18-hole layouts at last count – he started playing with the Bulldogs as a freshman. He said he picked up golf pretty quickly and was breaking 50 for nine holes in his first year. He felt his background gave him an athletic advantage, and he noted a similarity in the slap shot and a golf shot. “You are the center and the pendulum is the arms going around your body,” he said. “The whole motion of the arms coming around your body is the same motion as swinging a golf club.” Johnson improved and began seeing the same swing coach, Jim Follingstad, who for years coached former Hemet High standout and current PGA player Brendan Steele. Those 48s and 49s started turning into 40s and better last year. His scores are now averaging around 40, and his low this year is 37 shot on his favorite course – also his home course – The Country Club at Soboba Springs. The biggest improvement, said Hemet coach Rod Kemp, is in Johnson’s mental approach. “Coming out of a hockey career, he really never understood how to score on a course,” Kemp said. “I think over the last couple of years, he’s finally figuring out what it takes to score.” Kemp said he leans on Johnson to provide leadership and also to push both Schweitzer and Gorman. “We’ve got our solid (Nos.) 1 and 2, and now he’s taken our leadership of the 3-4 category,” Kemp said. “It always helps to have him as the veteran leading the No. 4 guy. I’m able to put him with different people to lead that group that he’s in.” So maybe it will be the little white ball and not the puck that paces Johnson’s future, though he said he still roots hard for the Montreal Canadiens and is pulling as hard as anyone west of the Rocky Mountains for the NHL to return to Quebec City – “Bring back the Nordiques,” he says, noting his father’s native province. Golf, though, will have to be No. 1 for him personally. “It comes down to confidence,” Johnson said, “and the confidence that I am going to swing ... and I am going to make this shot.” CONTACT THE WRITER: [email protected] BOYS GOLFERS TO WATCH
Alex Burchinal, Redlands, Sr.: Expected to be one of the top players in the Citrus Belt League and takes over the ace mantle from K.K. Limbhasut. Sage Casaga, Murrieta Valley, Sr.: Made a crazy late-season surge last year and won the CIF Southern California Regional Championship before tying for fourth at the state tournament. Kendel Hodges, Temecula Great Oak, Jr.: Reigning Southwestern League champion leads a stacked Wolfpack lineup. Harrison Kingsley, Murrieta Valley, Fr.: One of the top incoming freshmen in the Inland area, if not Southern California, he already has a top-15 finish from the Riverside Cup tournament. Tommy Koper, Corona Santiago, Jr.: Takes over the ace role for the Sharks with Aaron Wise having departed for the University of Oregon. Haoyuan Li, Temecula Great Oak, Jr.: Had low average in Southwestern League last year and leads low-scoring depth for Wolfpack this year. Storm Lee, Wildomar Cornerstone Christian, Sr.: CIF-SS individual qualifier from a year ago leads a revamped Crusaders lineup into new season. Hunter Newlin, Lake Elsinore Temescal Canyon, Jr.: Tied for fifth at the SoCal regional last year and qualified for the state tournament. He also led the Titans to an undefeated league championship. Shivam Patel, Riverside King, Jr.: Forms a formidable 1-2 combo with Sam Butler, and the duo should have Wolves in thick of Big VIII League race. Richard Schweitzer, Hemet, Sr.: Hemet’s ace not only leads a sub-200 lineup, but he’ll also be looking to take the Mountain Pass League title this season. Norman Xiong, Lake Elsinore Temescal Canyon, So.: Big hitter who won the Titan Classic last year and already has a win this season at the Lion Invitational. Jake Williams, Temecula Valley, Sr.: Another CIF qualifier from 2014, Williams leads a much-improved Golden Bears lineup. LANDON NEGRI GOLF TOP 10
1. Great Oak: Has already carded a 179 this season. 2. Murrieta Valley: Stacked lineup can make Southwestern League a real race. 3. King: Led by Butler and Patel, the Wolves have shot in the 190s. 4. Riverside Poly: Tough to say goodbye to Gonzalez, Stone, but the lineup is formidable. 5. Temecula Valley: Jake Williams-led Golden Bears continue to get better. 6. Hemet: If the Bulldogs can build scoring depth, they’ll rocket up the rankings. 7. Temescal Canyon: Xiong and Newlin give the Titans firepower at front. 8. Santiago: Sharks lost a big one in Aaron Wise, but they’ll still have a big bite. 9. Cornerstone Christian: Impressive small-school lineup led by Jeong, Lee. 10. Calvary Chapel: Opened eyes with strong performance at Lions Invite.