Maybe what’s most impressive about Gabe Barnes’ golf game isn’t so much what he does swinging a club. It’s what he doesn’t do that wows his coach.
When Barnes, a junior on Capital High School’s golf team this spring, shanked a tee shot out of bounds or when an iron shot skips into a sand trap, he didn’t blow up. Instead, he just kept his cool and focused on his next shot.
“He’s got an extremely good mental game,” said Steve Hamilton, Capital’s golf coach.
To prove his point, Hamilton talked about a magical moment Barnes had his freshman year. After shooting a nine on a par 5, Barnes just calmly walked off the green and birdied the next two holes.
“When he’s on the golf course, he doesn’t tend to act like your typical teenage boy,” Hamilton said. “He’s pretty calm.”
That’s a maturity level needed on the golf course to excel.
“It’s definitely one of his strengths,” Hamilton said. “It’s his ability to stay in the moment and to relax.”
With Barnes playing steady, cool golf, Capital’s recipe for victory and a memorable season that goes down as one of the best in school history, was simple.
There was the unflappable Barnes, the junior with a mature, steady game. And there was Eric Hagen, the senior transfer from Aberdeen with the 310-yard monster drives. They were the top two golfers with Hagen playing No. 1 all season. Add Tavis Bossio and Eli Simpson on the Cougars varsity and they made an incredible run to second place at the 3A state tournament. It’s Capital’s best finish since the Cougars won the state title in 1999. The last time they placed second in state was in 1987.
“They were disappointed they didn’t win,” Hamilton said. “They felt they had a chance.”
Capital’s score at state was better than the winning score the last two years.
“This year we ran into Roosevelt and they had all the stuff,” Hamilton said.
It doesn’t matter what the setting, whether Barnes is studying in the classroom or swinging a club on the golf course. You know what to expect from him – his best. Barnes is a true definition of student-athlete. Despite taking all upper level IB classes, Barnes has a 3.83 cumulative GPA. And he’s taking seven and a half classes – 1.5 more than required. His day begins with a 6:45 a.m. class in IB psychology. And, on Monday and Wednesday evenings, he finishes his school days with orchestra sessions. He plays cello.
But his commitment to the classroom, to golf and to music, isn’t a have to. It’s a want to.
“I have fun doing it,” said Barnes, who finished eighth in state with a 5-over-par 149. “It’s something I enjoy. I like doing it.”
That attitude explains his high octane performance.
“He’s a well-rounded kid,” Hamilton said. “He’s taking the hardest classes you can take at Capital. He’s got a busy schedule.”
Barnes’ introduction to golf came when he was in sixth grade through the Olympia Country and Golf Club’s youth program. That led to family outings on the golf course and an eventual showdown with his dad.
“I think the first time I beat him was when I was in eighth grade,” Barnes said.
And, Barnes said with a chuckle, they’re still on speaking terms.
When Barnes went into ninth grade, he had to make a choice between golf or baseball. The two sports are in the same season. He picked golf and has played on the varsity every year, making it to state for the first time as a sophomore. Golf, school and orchestra make for a a full day. In 40 days of school this spring, he missed 11 days because of golf tournaments, including five days at the state tournament.
“So, there’s a lot of makeup work for that,” Barnes said.
And there’s lots of late night reading and studying on the bus.
For Hagen, being the new guy on a new team at a new school with a new coach, it would have been understandable if his game took a nose dive. But Hagen’s transition was seamless. He gives his coach and teammates the credit.
“The guys were so great,” Hagen said. “They’re a group of guys I see myself being lifelong friends with. They were really, really welcoming. I was really fortunate to come to Capital. They’re great people, including Coach Hamilton. He’s a guy I could always go to for advice on multiple fronts. He’s just a great guy.”
Hagen, who finished fifth at state with an 1-over-par 145, fit in with his new team from the start because he was a friend, not a rival.
“He’s just kind of a really nice personality,” Hamilton said. “He knows how to deal with people.”
Hamilton told of how Hagen politely met a friend of the coach one day on the golf course.
“Eric came over to say hi. He said, ‘Hi, my name is Eric Hagen. Nice to meet you,’” Hamilton said. “My friend said that’s not a normal teenager. We go to tournaments and he thanks people for inviting us. He knows how to work well with people.”
Now that Hagen’s high school career is over, he’s still not done with golf. In August, he’ll be headed to the University of Denver on a golf scholarship. It’s a dream come true.
“I’m excited,” Hagen said. “I can’t wait.”
Hamilton gave Hagen and Barnes, who also hopes to golf in college, words of advice. After graduating from Capital in 1991, Hamilton golfed at the University of Portland on scholarship. In 2010, he then took over for his high school coach, Greg Santora.
“In 34 years of playing golf, I know the nuances of the game,” Hamilton said. “So, Eric would routinely come off the course early in the year and ask for tips on his swing. He thought the problem was all physical.”
And if he worked hard to make it all perfect he’d shoot great scores.
“I kept telling him there’s nothing wrong with his swing,” Hamilton said. “It’s your mental game. It’s how you approach each shot. I really worked with him on how to play the game.”
And the payoff was a season he’ll never forget and continues his hope to one day play on the PGA.
