WORCESTER — When it came to golf, Georgia Beland got into the swing of things at an early age.
Her dad, Eric, introduced his only child to the game when she was a 6-year-old. Georgia, who is named after her maternal grandfather, George Sgouritsas, found the experience enjoyable from the outset.
“I started out playing at Cyprian Keyes golf camps, so it was more like a fun thing to do with my friends at the time,” Beland said May 2 at Notre Dame Academy, where she’s a junior.
“And then, I don’t know, my dad always said I had something, and he wanted to keep pushing me forward.”
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It’s been upward and onward ever since for the 17-year-old Webster resident.
Beland, already a four-time T&G Super Team selection who was honored as the Hometeam Player of the Year in 2021, is off to another terrific start this spring.
The 5-foot-4 righty has been the medalist in the first seven matches for the Rebels, who are 3-3-1 heading into the second half of the season.
“Goals for me personally, I always try to break 40 in a match, and I try to maintain my streak of being undefeated,” Beland said.
“I just have to keep practicing and playing. There are some really good girls on the circuit, so I just have to keep going.”
Beland, who began playing in tournaments and working with swing coach Bob Bruso of Worcester CC when she was 11, is fully invested in expanding and sharpening her skills.
It’s “practice, practice, practice,” be it on the course for sessions that can last up to three hours or in her basement, where she hits balls into a net in the morning and putts on a matt in the evening.
The work has paid off handsomely with steady improvement over the years, one example being Beland is currently playing to a 4 handicap after starting last year at 6.8.
Beland is long off the tee and seeking to improve her short game. But no matter how a hole plays out, it’s always on to the next one.
“I’m very good at not letting a bad shot get to me,” Beland said. “I just move on and go forward and worry about it after the round.”
An outstanding student who is currently taking advanced honors classes in microbiology and precalculus and advanced placement classes in English and U.S. history, Beland aspires to golf collegiately at the Division 1 level and has the career goal of becoming an orthodontist.
To that end, she’ll be working for Central Mass. Orthodontic Associates this summer.
The Rebels are seeking to advance to the state tournament for the fourth consecutive season, but count just three upperclassmen — senior Lillian Marrone, junior Olivia Jarry and Beland — among a squad of 16-plus.
So there are long-term objectives in play, as well.
“We have a lot of middle schoolers, so we have to encourage them and keep them engaged, make them want to play,” said Beland, a captain along with Marrone and sophomore Addison Cutting.
“Keep the program going and keep golf fun because one of the hardest things about golf is the mental aspect. In theory it should be easy. You just hit one good drive, one good approach shot and two putts, and you make a par. But it’s so challenging, and it gets so frustrating.”
And elating.
Beland recorded her first hole-in-one two summers ago, using a 9-iron on the 129-yard, par-3 17th hole at Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston, while on her way to shooting a 4-over 76.
“I hit it and was like, ‘Wow, that was a really good shot. My irons are dialed right now,’ ” said Beland, who didn’t see the ball drop into the hole because of a slope in front of the green.
Then she couldn’t find the ball, thinking it may have hit a rock and bounced into a hazard. Finally, she made her way to the green.
“I went to check and was like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s in the hole,’ ” Beland excitedly said.
And then there was another first — carding a lower round over 18 holes against her dad, who typically caddies for his daughter.
“I was maybe around 12½ when I beat him for the first time,” Beland said. “I remember being so excited because my dad and I are like competitive with each other.
“But it’s obviously friendly competition. We would egg each other on lovingly, and when I finally did it, it was like, ‘Finally. I overcame it.’ It was a really great feeling and a great moment.”
—If you know a student-athlete who should be considered for a Scholastic Spotlight profile, contact Rich Garven at rgarven@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @RichGarvenTG.
Beland’s favorites
Here are a few lighthearted and insightful thoughts from Georgia Beland while she sizes up her next 8-foot putt for par:
∎ Favorite food: Chicken marsala
∎ Favorite ice cream: Coffee
∎ Favorite restaurant: “Pho Sure on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester.”
∎ Favorite musician: “I listen to so many things. Country, pop music sometimes. Pretty much anything. I do like jazz, though. I like Frank Sinatra.”
∎ Favorite athlete: “I have so many favorite golfers. I like Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy, obviously, because he just won the (career) Grand Slam.”
∎ Favorite holiday: Thanksgiving
∎ Favorite subject: “I enjoy science. I’m taking advanced honors microbiology this year, and it’s the favorite class I’ve taken at Notre Dame.”
∎ Favorite TV show: Modern Family
∎ Sports superstition: None
∎ Most memorable moment: “The Central Mass. Tournament has been memorable for me every single year. I won it in seventh grade and freshman year and was runner-up eighth grade and sophomore year.”
∎ Invite any three people to dinner: “I would invite Justin Thomas because he’s been one of my favorite golfers for years. Viktor Hovland for the same reason; he’s been one of my favorites for a while. And my dad (Eric) because he’s been my biggest supporter throughout my entire journey.”
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