BEMIDJI – There’s no shortage of friendly competition on the Bemidji High School boys golf team.

There’s also no shortage of trash talk.

After the Lumberjacks won their home invitational at the Bemidji Town and Country Club on Monday, freshman Beckett Grand sported an ear-to-ear grin.

While he was smiling because he tied for first individually with a 73, he also basked in the glory of increasing his season lead on senior teammate Weston Seitz.

“Weston Seitz, by far,” he said, jokingly, when asked who talks the most trash within the team. “Feels amazing to sit above him today.”

Seitz quipped: “After today, I’m eight shots back of Beckett on the year. We definitely know where we’re at against each other.”

Seitz entered the clubhouse feeling good about his chances to close the gap on Grand, and he should’ve. He carded a 74, trailing East Grand Forks’ Brody Johnson and Staples-Motley’s Carter White by one stroke.

Seitz, however, also trailed Grand by one shot.

“We try and push each other with our scoring averages day in and day out,” Grand said. “Ton of trash talking, even during meets. It’s fun.”

For Grand and Seitz, this spring comes as a 180-degree turn from a year ago. Last season, they were the two youngest varsity players behind a group of four seniors.

Now, Seitz is the only regular senior on the varsity roster. And Grand, despite being a freshman, is viewed as a leader among the bevy of rookies beside him.

“It’s a lot weirder, being a freshman and being one of the older guys, kind of,” Grand said. “I think I kind of like it more, being the older guy. I feel like I know what I’m doing.”

Seventh-grader Jackson Fogelson finished in 11th place on Monday with a 78. Eighth-grader Axel Burlingame came in ninth place with a 77. Sophomores Conrad Foss and Graham Fish carded scores of 82 and 86, respectively.

Together, the young core for BHS is boasting impressive results, including an eight-stroke win over Staples-Motley on its home course.

“They spend so much time chipping, putting and working with each other,” Jacks head coach Seth Knutson said. “They’ve become really resilient. As a team, we didn’t have a par until the third hole. They came back and shot 73, 74, 77 and 78. They did what they needed to do, and I’m really proud of these guys.”

Knutson also pointed toward Grand’s resilience. After starting his round with three consecutive bogeys, he finished one-over-par with four birdies and an eagle on No. 18 to move into a tie for the lead.

“That tells you a little bit about how he didn’t let it bother him,” Knutson said. “He put it in the rearview mirror and played golf. He just kept going, which is what you want to see.”

Bemidji’s youth infusion comes with a change of pace for Knutson as well. Despite their inexperience at the varsity level, he doesn’t see a lack of confidence.

“If they have the passion for it, they’re going to be out here whether I ask them to or not,” Knutson said. “That’s how they get better. If you lose your passion, it feels like your coach is making you come out here. But we came back from Park Rapids on Friday and the first thing they did was play 18 holes. These kids love it. They can't get enough of it.”

Knutson also sees a passion for golf trickling down to the junior varsity and middle school players.

“All of the kids coming up behind them see that passion,” Knutson said. “They see what these guys do to get better and say, ‘That’s what I have to do to be where they’re at.’ That makes everybody better.”

Even at their younger ages, a senior like Seitz is still getting pushed to up his game.

“Hey, it’s hard to play golf,” Seitz said, “but some of the shots they’re hitting … like Jackson Fogelson hits it 210 (yards), but he can put a 3-wood closer than some of my 9-irons. It’s just stupid good how these kids play.”

For Seitz, this is his last chance to cash in on his goal of making it to state, whether it comes as an individual or in the form of a team bid. He said “it’s everything” to him as his days at BHS wind down.

“Even when we’re not turning scorecards in, we’re still out here on the weekends playing matches against each other,” Seitz said. “All of us know where we’re at on the team. The coaches are good about letting us know. We all want to know, too, because it becomes, ‘Let’s see if I can beat this guy.’”

With Seitz leading the way, Knutson feels as if he almost has another coach on the course with him, especially when the Jacks are off the clock.

“It’s super helpful to have someone like that who’s been doing this for a long time,” Knutson said of Seitz. “He’s just steady. His last three holes were birdie, birdie, par when he needed them. I’m really proud of that guy. He’s a good leader.”

The Lumberjacks will still have to make it out of a loaded Section 8-3A Tournament May 28-29 at Greystone Golf Club in Sauk Centre. It’s a tournament that will test the mettle of a youthful team’s ability to stay focused on what’s in front of them.

“When you get closer to sections, you want your scores to be more consistent,” Knutson said. “You want to be able to count on that score being under 310 or under 300. We’ve had some scores that have been a little higher, and that comes with starting the spring and not having played golf for seven months. If we can get that consistency, that’d be amazing.”

1-Bemdiji 302; 2-Staples-Motley 308; 3-Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 320; 4-Grand Rapids 321; 5-Pequot Lakes 322; 6-East Grand Forks 323; 7-Thief River Falls 326; 7-Roseau 326; 9-Hawley 331; 9-Detroit Lakes 331.