BHS golfer John Pace overcame the initial intimidation that came with being the No. 1 player.

Barstow High School golfer John Pace overcame the initial intimidation that came with being the No. 1 player.

Pace became one of the first Barstow players in recent history to advance to the Southern Individual Finals on Monday at Seacliff Country Club in Huntington Beach.

Pace will be one of the top 100 High Desert golfers competing in the Central Section.

“In the beginning, I was very nervous about playing the No. golfers.” Pace said. “I have since changed my approach. Now I play the course, and not the players. I try not to get down on myself and just take it hole by hole.”

Under the tutelage of Barstow golf coach Mike Johnson and military golf pro Oscar Valenzuela, Pace has transformed into a contender with some of the top golfers throughout the High Desert.

“(John) became one of the top three in our program and progression wise, he became the No. 1 golfer,” Johnson said. “He is real mild mannered and isn't one of those players that is going to throw his clubs. Instead of getting discouraged, he makes the necessary adjustments.”

Johnson said Pace has taken the necessary and extra steps during practice. He has been hitting an extra 15 balls during practice, and he is shooting par or better on nearly every course.

“I think his mid-game has really come around, and he is hitting the green and not going over as much,” Johnson said. “He takes Oscar's advice, and he has confidence when he is trying to correct.”

Johnson attributes Pace’s improvement not only to his work ethic, but also his refusal to never get complacent.

“He is pretty persistent, as far as what he wants to do,” Johnson said. “He will practice until dark.

He knows that he is bettering himself and is very competitive against himself.”

Pace said he needed to make his goal realistic against this competition. If Pace advances he will qualify for the Invitational Finals on May 19 at Mission Lake Country Club.

“I probably won't win,” he admitted. “However, I would like to shoot in the 70s and not try to do anything drastic.”

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