PORT ANGELES — The surprise isn’t that Joe Barnes is representing Port Angeles High School at state.
It’s the sport he’ll be playing.
Golf instead of baseball.
“Nine months ago I picked it up and started playing,” Barnes said about golf Friday before a practice at Peninsula Golf Club, the Riders’ home course.
“I had probably swung the sticks four or five times before then, but nothing too serious.”
Now Barnes, along with teammates Jordan Negus and Garrett Payton, are heading to the 2A boys state golf tournament at the Classic Golf Club in Spanaway on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Mark Mitrovich said this might be the best team the Roughriders have had in the 26 years he’s been coaching at Port Angeles.
The Riders have had strong duos before, but never a trio like Negus, Barnes and Payton.
The three players said they will be seeking a state team title, which would be a first for Port Angeles, this week.
Right to top
Barnes also captured the Olympic League MVP award, his nine-hole average score beating Negus by four-tenths of a stroke and Sequim standout Ryan O’Mera by a half-stroke.
“The way that he has come up and learned the game so fast is insane to me,” Negus said.
“I mean, he’s been playing for nine or 10 months, and he’s just as good as I am.”
At Friday’s practice, Barnes was wearing a gray-and-green Port Angeles Roughriders baseball cap and a hooded sweatshirt with a red-and-blue logo that reads “PA Baseball.”
“I thought he’d play baseball his whole high school career,” Payton said.
So did Barnes until everything changed on a mound at a tournament in Kent.
“Threw a pitch, heard a big pop, and dropped to my knees,” Barnes said.
“Never been the same since then.”
Barnes had a torn tendon in his elbow.
He did physical therapy for eight months, but then the doctor told Barnes that if he was ever going to throw a ball again, the elbow would require surgery.
Surgery, and a year of healing.
By then, his prep baseball career would be over, so Barnes opted out of the procedure.
Baseball and golf weren’t the only sports affected by the elbow injury.
Barnes was also a quarterback in football and was forced to switch positions to running back.
He also plays basketball for an all-around sports trifecta.
“He’s just a natural athlete,” Negus said.
“Every sport that I’ve seen him play, he’s been pretty good at. He’s an all-around good player in anything he does.”
Barnes decided to fill his newfound free time with golf, and his new sport has helped him move on from the old one.
“It’s definitely made it a lot easier — filled the void, given me something else to focus on,” Barnes said of golf.
“Baseball, it was my whole life,” he said. “And that pop, tearing my tendon, just ended it.”
A quick study
Barnes entered in a golf tournament with his dad, which they won, and began devoting more time to the greens and tees.
His athleticism has helped Barnes succeed quickly and given him a swing that Payton calls “so pure.”
But Barnes has put in a lot of hard work, too.
He played three times a week in the summer and as often as the weather allowed during the winter.
When he joined the Riders golf team, Barnes began staying an hour or two after practice.
He learned to play the slice of his drives, improved his iron play and spent hours on the putting green chipping and putting.
“Everything started overall just getting better,” Barnes said. “I knew that if I committed to it, I’d get better at it.”
The work paid off.
Barnes was the medalist four times this year, tops on the team.
He led the Riders with the most eagles, birdies and pars, the least triple and quadruple bogeys and the second fewest double bogeys.
Along with the time spent with clubs in his hands, Barnes learned by watching his teammates and talking to his coach.
“He’s coachable, determined,” Mitrovich said.
“He attacks the game with vigor and picks my brain about the finer points of the game.”
The aggressive approach to learning golf is a contrast to how Barnes actually plays the game.
Mitrovich said Barnes is also patient.
“He’s kind of analytical,” Mitrovich said. “You can see him think all the time out there.
“He doesn’t hit until he’s ready, and it’s usually a good one.”
Taller, stronger, better
Mitrovich said Barnes also provides a challenge for Negus, a two-time all-league player making his third trip to the state tournament.
He missed the cut the previous two times, but Negus is a different player this year.
“I’ve grown a couple inches. Last year I was around 5-6, now I’m almost 6-foot,” Negus said.
The extra height has brought a smoother swing and additional power.
“Before, if I wanted to hit a long ball, I’d have to swing out of my shoes,” Negus said.
“But now, I’ve kind of been able to slow my swing down, and I’ve got a lot more leverage over the top of the ball.
“I just kind of grew into myself and got things going a little bit.”
Mitrovich calls Negus a team leader who is respected throughout the state.
Many opposing coaches have pulled the Riders coach aside and complimented Negus’ style and etiquette.
Negus, who will play golf at Olympic College in Bremerton next year, is also the Riders steadiest player.
He isn’t the teams’ longest driver, but he hits long tee shots that usually land in play.
Then he uses good course management and strong play around the greens to consistently score high.
“Jordan knows a par is a good score, but he can still go for birdies,” Mitrovich said.
“He knows when to be aggressive and when to trust his swing, which comes from experience.”
Negus expects that experience to come in handy next week at the Classic, the same course the state tournament was held last year.
“I know a little more what I’m going into, and what I need to do, and where to hit the greens because there can be some pretty tough pin positions,” Negus said.
“It’s a tough course overall. The scores were pretty high last year.”
Payton said golfing alongside Negus and Barnes makes him a better player.
“We push each other, and help each other keep our heads in the game after a bad shot,” Payton said.
Though Payton finished sixth in the Olympic League this year, he is just as capable as his teammates.
“He has a wonderful, effortless swing,” Mitrovich said. “He swings like Ernie Els.
“Also, he’s peaking at the right time.”
Not only did Payton finish first at the sub-district tournament two weeks ago, he also dominated a recent practice round with his teammates and coach.
“We played skins, and he got like 16 skins,” Mitrovich said.
“When he gets a rhythm going and puts the ball in play, he’s tough to beat.”
For the team
Mitrovich says the key at state is getting past the first day, when half of the 80 golfers go home.
His main goal is to have all three golfers to qualify for the second day.
If a school has more than two golfers who make the cut, it is eligible for the team title.
Payton, Negus and Barnes all said winning the team state championship takes priority over an individual title.
“Winning as a team is more important,” Payton said.
“I’d love to bring a trophy to Port Angeles.”
