He’S One Promising Golfer Post Falls’ Chesnut Comes Long Way In Four Years

Cameron Chesnut is headed to Washington State University to play golf because of a promise made by a cousin four years ago.

A broken promise as it turned out. And for that the Post Falls High senior is grateful.

“It’s a funny story,” Chestnut said. “It was the summer before my freshman year. I’d never played golf before.”

His cousin, Mike, then a caddie at The Coeur d’Alene Resort, offered Cameron a chance to play the course on the condition that he play a few rounds and hit some balls at a driving range beforehand.

So how did Cameron fare?

“He never took me out there,” he said, grinning.

Chesnut, who’s emerged as one of the top players in the region, fell in love with the sport from his first swing.

At the time, though, it wasn’t the sport in which he thought he’d make a name for himself.

He started on the varsity soccer team at goalie as a freshman, finishing as the leading scorer in limited time at striker on an offensively challenged team.

“I thought that was my sport,” Chesnut said. “I thought I would have been a very good goalie.”

But he traded soccer for football as a sophomore. His kicking skills served him well as a three-year starter at placekicker.

Although kicking involved the use of a tee and the swinging of a limb, it didn’t provide the same satisfaction or challenge as golf.

Chesnut went from rounds hovering near triple digits to shooting around 80 the summer before his sophomore year. That provided a solid foundation for the coming school year when the high school offered golf for the first time.

Chesnut’s game wasn’t devoid of hooks, skulls or worm-burners his first high school season, but it took another measurable stride as he qualified for state by shooting a 3-over-par 75 at the Coeur d’Alene Golf Course.

By his junior year, Chesnut was consistently shooting 75-80. But the season ended on a disappointing note when he missed qualifying for state by a stroke.

“I learned a lot,” he said.

“He didn’t meet personal expectations,” said Post Falls coach Jeff Hinz, who co-coaches with Craig Newton.

“He rededicated himself for this year,” Newton added.

It began last summer when Chesnut played in the Washington Junior Golfers Association. He fired a personal-best 6-under-par 64 in a Washington Junior Golf Association match at Wandermere.

At the WJGA state tourney in Yakima, Chesnut shot 78-73-72 (7 over par) to tie for seventh place.

The day after his 64, he posted a one-under 70 at The Coeur d’Alene Resort - his best score there in five rounds.

Chesnut hopes to top that today as part of a four-team match with Washington 4A champ Ferris, two-time Idaho A-1 champ Coeur d’Alene and Lake City at The Resort.

He holds the record at Prairie Falls (6-under 66), Post Falls’ home course. He carded his first 66 last spring and has matched it five times.

Chesnut’s had two opportunities to break the mark, but suffered round-ending bogeys.

Although Chesnut has improved rapidly in four years, nothing came easily at first.

“Everything was difficult,” Chesnut said. “Everything has progressed at about the same pace. I hit a plateau at 80 and didn’t crack it until I worked on my short game.”

He’s been nagged by the yips on short putts this season. He shot 73 at the Lewiston Invitational, but lost to Oregon-bound Greg Lavoie of Pasco on the second playoff hole after missing a 2-foot putt for birdie on No. 18.

A day later, Chesnut took medalist honors with a 72 in a five-team match at Avondale in a round that started the way it ended at Lewiston.

“I missed a 2-footer for birdie on the first hole and I thought `Here we go again”’ Chesnut said.

Hinz isn’t concerned. “He’ll get through it,” he said.

Newton says the key to Chesnut’s game is accuracy.

“Especially with his iron play,” Newton said. “He always gives himself an opportunity to score.”

Chesnut has followed a season-opening 84 with 73-72-74-74. He expects to shoot lower in preparation for regionals and state.

“My goal is to win the state championship,” Chesnut said.

Chesnut, who will graduate with a 4.0 grade-point average, wants to be a neurosurgeon.

But he will keep his hands attached to his golf clubs as long as he can.

“I wish I’d started playing earlier,” he said. “I was way behind all the players my age until this year. Some of them have been playing since they were old enough to walk.”

Chesnut has more than made up the gap. Even though his cousin didn’t fulfill his end of the bargain.