Logan Beechy isn't your typical young golfer.
The Newton Falls senior doesn't let the littlest error in his game sour his mood.
"I don't get too frustrated with shots. Sometimes you've got to laugh about it and have fun with the game," Beechy said.
Take Beechy's third hole at the Division II district boys golf tournament at Windmill Lakes in Ravenna on Tuesday.
"I had a good chance at par," Beechy said. "I just left the putt a little bit short because I was going downhill. I realized I couldn't get too mad about that, just being a little too overcautious. It really wasn't a mistake. It was overthinking the shot. I just got to the next tee, swung, relaxed a little bit and came back."
Beechy shot a 35 on the back nine - his first nine - and had a 38 on the front nine for a 73, making him the top individual quailfier for the state tournament Oct. 12-13 at the Scarlet Course in Columbus out of the Northeast District.
The top four teams and the top four individuals on non-qualifying teams advanced to state.
Also, Poland sophomore Mark Passarello shot a 74 to advance. CVCA's Jeff Britton and Tim Straka also shot a 74 to advance.
Chagrin Falls (309), Canton Central Catholic (312), Orange (313) and Kirtland (324) took the top four team spots.
Poland (326), Girard (328) and Newton Falls (330) took the next three spots.
Beechy is the first ever golfer to make state from Newton Falls.
"It feels pretty good," said Beechy, who is being recruited by Youngstown State University. "I've wanted that title since my freshman year. I was kind of hard on myself since that year. I've tried a little too hard since then instead of relaxing and having fun.
"With it being my senior year, I practiced a whole bunch. I made sure the last couple weeks I would have a good opportunity to make it because it was my last opportunity and I did the best I could."
Also, Newton Falls was the first team in school history to advance to districts.
"We're very happy with Logan and all of his accomplishments, but we've also proud of the team," Newton Falls boys golf coach Scott Kernen said.
Kernen said Beechy has been a great help for the Tigers.
"He's been a good role model for him," Kernen said. "He's been very steady. He never lets bad rounds or bad shots get to him. That played an important role today. When he got that first bogey, I was wondering if he would let it get to him. Sure enough, he started back on more pars.
"When you're down there in pressure situations in Columbus, his level-headness will be an advantage for him."
It wasn't the best conditions for Beechy or the other golfer to play on Tuesday.
"When the first group teed off, it started to downpour," Kernen said. "The Windmill course has a tendency to be soft. If there's any rain, it keeps the rain. It was a going to be wet. The conditions were tough, playing from the blue tees, which plays about 6,600 yards.
"I told him before the round, 'You've got to hit fairways. You've got to hit greens.' You've got to hit that. He hit a lot of fairways. He hit a lot of greens and hit a lot of two putts. There wasn't anything spectacular about his round other than everything was steady."
Considering the way Beechy plays, especially before getting on every tee box, it's no wonder he shot so well on Tuesday.
"It helps taking a couple of deep breaths and relax, just a couple of practice swings and I have a couple of mechanics I've learned from playing that have helped me - just working with your swing before you tee off, just having the confidence to be able to hit it straight," Beechy said.
ALMOST THERE: Lakeview's Kaylee Neumeister shot a 41-4283 to finish her round in a three-way tie for third at the Division II girls golf district at Tam O'Shanter Golf Course in Canton.
Poland's Rachel Sines and Canton Central Catholic's Michelee Vlacovsky each shot 83, but Sines won the three-way playoff.
The top three teams and the top three individuals on non-qualifying teams advanced to the state tournament Oct. 12-13 on the Gray Course in Columbus.
Hawken (349), Hathaway Brown (361) and Laurel (370) advanced with Vermillion's Jessica Lardie (82) and Crestwood's Gina Harmon (82) also advanced.
Lakeview finished sixth with 387, Hubbard was eighth with 396, while Poland took ninth with 391.
