All-Empire boys golfer of the year: Montgomery High's Carson Wyatt

Montgomery golfer Carson Wyatt has the raw athletic ability that stands out, according to several North Bay League coaches. However, perhaps less visible but equally impressive is Wyatt’s maturity and precociousness. It’s this combination of attributes that made the incoming junior The Press Democrat’s 2015-16 All-Empire boys golf player of the year.

“I definitely have some natural ability but it’s not what I contribute to my success. I work at it,” Wyatt said.

“I try and stay positive no matter the circumstances or conditions. I put a bad shot behind me and move forward.”

Wyatt led the talented Vikings to NBL domination in the regular season and in the postseason league tournament. While Montgomery won the NBL title, Wyatt won the league individual title with a 78 average (1-3 strokes above par for 18 holes).

“The kid can hit any shot in the book. It’s a freak thing,” Montgomery coach Jess Stimack said. “He hits the ball a mile. No one in the league hits it nearly as far as he does. He is unbelievably coordinated.”

At 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, Wyatt uses his size to his advantage for long, booming drives but still has the finesse and touch to cash in on his putting.

“Wyatt is one of those kids that just have the ‘it’ factor, it’s just incredible. He’s gifted, plus he is huge,” former Ukiah coach Nate Pardini said. “He drives the ball a mile and has the short game to back it up.”

Wyatt, who stars as a center fullback on the Vikings’ soccer team, said when he goes to college his main goal is to play soccer, although golf is a close second.

“I definitely love golf. If in any way I can play soccer and balance golf in college that would be the overall dream, but that is tough to ask that much,” Wyatt said. “There are certain aspects that I like about each sport. Soccer is physical and golf is mental.”

By playing three sports - he plays competitive basketball outside of Montgomery - Wyatt splits his time between athletic endeavors.

“Carson is a good athlete,” Maria Carrillo coach Nick Pappas said. “It’s not his No. 1 sport and yet he was the best player in the league.”

Added Stimack: “Wyatt is fully committed to soccer. If he played golf year-round, it wouldn’t be fair to the other kids.”

While Wyatt dominated the NBL, he had an off day at the 2016 North Coast Section Boys’ Division I Tournament of Champions at The Club at Roddy Ranch in Antioch.

Wyatt finished with an 86, a tie for third among the six Vikings at the TOC.

The disappointing score resulted in Wyatt not qualifying for the NorCal final, which had no Empire representation.

“That day at the TOC was not fun. It just wasn’t my day. I wasn’t hitting the ball well and I was off mentally,” Wyatt said. “I have to look back at the whole season rather than just that one day.”

While Stimack said Wyatt doesn’t have a weakness on the course, Wyatt said he needs to improve on his chip shots from 75 to 125 yards.

“I’ve stressed working on shots from the middle of the fairway from 100 yards out,” he said. “(But) my short game is my strength. If everything else went bad and I had to rely on something, it would be my short game.”

Wyatt credits Stimack’s tutelage with helping him progress as a golfer.

“Coach Stimack influences me not only with golf but also with life lessons,” Wyatt said. “Coach preaches positivity. He has definitely helped me through tough situations.”

Wyatt said he began playing golf at age 10 but only started playing competitively last year as a freshman at Montgomery, when he played sparingly.

Flash forward, and Wyatt was a team leader in his second season as a Viking. He will be anointed team captain for his final two years, according to Stimack.

“He’s got the all-around game; he is very consistent,” Casa Grande coach Phil Emswiler said. “For a sophomore, that is amazing.”

Wyatt said while he is loud and boisterous on the soccer field, on the green he is relatively quiet and leads by example.

“In golf, leadership is showing up every day, being competitive in practice and pushing your team to be better,” Wyatt said. “The best thing about golf is the competitiveness and solitude. It’s you versus yourself.”