From the moment Chase Cesarek picked up a club at age 5, he knew he was destined to be a golfer.
Fast forward to over a decade later and Cesarek, a junior at Catalina Foothills High School, is a part of the No. 1 boys golf team in the state and individually ranked No. 5.
This week, he’s competing in the AIA’s Div. II state championships at the Aguila Golf Course in Phoenix, where he’s hoping to snag first place. In last year’s state championship, he finished second.
“It was good and bad,” he said of winning second place last year. “It was a great feeling for me, but obviously, I would have wanted the team to do a little better and we all want to win, right? But it felt really good, especially in the second year and (I’m excited) for what could happen next, this year and next year.”
The Catalina Foothills boys team lost the state championship by one stroke last year.
The moment was bittersweet for Cesarek and his coach, Julie Walters, who has coached the Foothills boys golf program since 2003.
Foothills High School golfer Chase Cesarek tees off from the third box during a match at Fred Enke Golf Course last week.
“When he describes it as a bittersweet moment, it was, because we wanted to be joyful and celebrate for him, but at the same moment, all of us were kind of shell-shocked that we had just given that tournament away,” she said. “It never comes down to one player on one hole taking responsibility for that, but he did, even though at that moment, he should have been so happy and I’m sure he was, but he tempered it because of the (overall) picture.”
“He’s just one cog in the team and while he was pleased for himself, he was as disappointed as the rest of us and watching him go through that emotional moment, like all phases of that, it was incredible watching him handle that all with grace and kindness to his teammates.”
Although last season’s championship loss felt like an obstacle to Cesarek, he didn’t let it keep him down. Instead, he spent the last year prepping and practicing for this year’s golf season, even on nonpractice days and in his free time.
Those days and hours spent practicing paid off because Cesarek had a pretty good season.
During an interview with Walters early last week, before the regular season ended, she shared that Cesarek had been shooting under par for a significant number of matches. Out of 12 matches, he had been under par in 10 of them.
In addition to his consistent performance, Walters credits Cesarek with being a great team player, especially to newer players on the team.
Catalina Foothills High School golfer Chase Cesarek gets warmed up on the driving range before the Falcons match at Fred Enke Golf Course on Oct. 24.
“I have five freshmen (on the team) and he’s really good at making sure that they don’t get too stressed out and that they remember that golf is supposed to be fun,” she said. “He’s a good leader in that way and, sure, we all get upset sometimes, but he models letting that go and not letting it affect your next decision on the course.”
The technical aspect of golf is one of Cesarek’s favorite parts of the sport. Every shot is different, and he enjoys calculating the best move each time, he says.
“Every time you tee up, there’s going to be a challenge,” he said. “It’s never perfect and that’s what’s fun about it, is you got to figure out how to deal with the challenges no matter what.”
The 16-year-old credits his dad for his love of golf.
“My dad got me into it,” he said. “He’s played his whole life and so he wanted to get me and my siblings into when we were really young. It just kind of took off from there and playing in tournaments when I was really little and I loved it and kept with it and it stuck.”
After years of golfing, he finally beat his dad in a match last year. Cesarek described the moment as “pretty cool” and said he was greeted with a big hug from his dad following the match.
For Cesarek, golfing isn’t just an extracurricular or a hobby, it’s a lifestyle.
“During the week, I’ll go to school and then come to practice and then go home, eat some dinner and do some homework and then go to bed and it’s the same thing the next day,” he said of his daily schedule. “And then the weekends are usually at the golf course all day, just practicing and working on something just to try to get a little bit better.”
Even when he’s not golfing, he’s thinking about the sport and what he can work on next. His dedication to the game is something evident to those who know him (and even those who compete against him.)
After graduating high school, Cesarek hopes to continue his golf journey at the collegiate level.
“It’s been a joy every day since he walked into the program. He has a smile on his face, with a (positive) attitude. He works hard with everything that I put in front of him. Always, he always puts in the work,” Walters said. “He’s just such a great kid, a great player.”
Get to know Chase
What is your favorite golf club?
My driver. It makes a cool sound and it’s fun to hit with.
What local golf course is underrated, in your opinion?
Randolph Dell Urich Golf Course.
Who is your favorite golfer?
Max Homa.
If you could golf anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I would have to say Scotland. That’s where it started. And I think that’d be pretty cool to see all the history and see where our game started.
What is your current favorite class right now?
Either my math or science class.
