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Baniszewski keeps her focus on course

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By MIKE CAMUNAS

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 25, 2009

Sarah Baniszewski motivates herself, but she sometimes gets a little help.

From her twin sister.

The Zephyrhills senior took up golf about two years ago, after her family hosted a golf tournament at Silverado Golf and Country Club to raise money to help pay medical bills for her sister, Julie. Baniszewski's sister had been diagnosed with anorexia and was battling the disease, so the family needed help with the bills piling up.

Baniszewski worked at the tournament, but she had never picked up a club. She didn't play at the event, and it wasn't until afterward that she started playing with her stepfather and got hooked on the game.

"I always thought the game was for old people," Baniszewski said with a laugh. "When my dad needed someone to play with after the tournament, I just went with him to the range and to the course. One thing led to another and I just fell in love with golf."

Baniszewski might be the No. 1 golfer for the Bulldogs, one of the top teams in the county, but she wasn't always shooting the best score for Zephyrhills.

"I can remember trying to even just hit the ball," said Baniszewski , who now shoots in the low 40s or lower. "I've progressed a lot."

So she got help from local PGA professional Fred Bender. When Baniszewski started working with Bender at his driving range in Wesley Chapel, it wasn't just during the golf season. Baniszewski went year-round to get in as much instruction as she could.

"She's worked hard at getting better," said Bender, who runs Pasadena Hills Driving Range with Tim Polce. "To get better, (players) have to come out all year long, and that's what Sarah's done. She's putting in the time and is very dedicated to being a better player. Her self-motivation has shown that she's got everything going for her."

At first, Baniszewski struggled with the normal things - tee shots and her short game - but Bender said those have vastly improved, too. Thanks to practice and a new driver, Baniszewski is showing that success can come to a relatively new golfer.

Baniszewski showed a natural talent for the game, but Bulldogs coach Ken Burgess thinks the way she stays composed on the course has led to her success.

"When I first saw her play, I just figured she'd been playing for years," said Burgess, who is in his first year coaching the girls team. "She'll always be the first on the course and the last one to leave, putting in extra work, but its the way she is during a round. Her demeanor never changes and her mental approach always has her focused."

Baniszewski has lofty goals for her senior season. She already accomplished a personal-best score and became the top golfer at her school, but now she wants to keep playing, and Bender is trying to find her a scholarship to play in college.

Baniszewski will remember to thank her sister. On the course, she already constantly thinks of Julie, who is doing much better with maintaining a healthy weight.

After all, Julie is part of Sarah's motivation and drive.

"I'm always thinking about her. We're pretty close, so I'm always thinking about her no matter what," Baniszewski said. "But I've got a lot of work to do. I really want to win at the conference tournament, and I just want to play my best. If I can do that, I'd be real happy with my game since its what I'm shooting for."

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