Sean Arbaut/MSU athletics Minot State University senior golfer Matt Bean follows through on a swing.

Matt Bean will not shortchange himself. When the Minot State senior golfer steps up to the tee, he does not want to get cheated.

“I don’t like to lay up,” Bean said. “All my friends know that. I’m always searching for the best shot possible. Sometimes, that has come back to haunt me. I’ve been working on that for the last few years, actually. I’m slowly getting a little more conservative.”

Although Bean is refining his game, his bold tactics have paid dividends. Last season, he averaged 75.5 strokes per round and earned one top-five finish.

Seeking the next great shot allows Bean to stay ahead.

“If I ever get the opportunity to get a green in two (shots) or in one, I’m going to do it,” Bean said. “I definitely like to take advantage of opportunities. If I set myself up really well, I don’t want to waste an opportunity and walk away with something knowing I could do better.”

It’s a mentality he initially developed in the Canadian town of Canmore, Alberta. Bean played a plethora of sports growing up, but hockey and golf rose to the forefront.

He found a true affinity for golf after moving to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. When he was 10 years old, he joined a new junior program.

That program allowed Bean to test his mettle against other golfers in his age group. Relieved at the chance to play against some fresh competition, Bean hit the links and got to work.

“That was when my parents didn’t have to force me to be out there,” he said. “I actually enjoyed being out there.”

The next few years served as the foundation of Bean’s golf career. Still, he enjoyed playing right wing and center on the ice.

Those positions suited Bean. He found himself in the middle of the action or hunting shots to bury in the back of the net.

Bean credits hockey for helping him develop mental toughness, but his path became more clear. He wasn’t ready to hang up the skates for good, but the clubs called his name.

“When you’re 13 or 14, you kind of have to make a decision earlier with hockey than you do with a lot of other sports,” Bean said. “I decided on golf around that age and played less competitive hockey.”

More golf tournaments yielded more exposure. After connecting with former MSU men’s golf coach Randy Westby, Bean readied himself for the leap to collegiate golf.

He signed with the Beavers in November of 2015. For Bean, that decision came as easily as a drive down the fairway.

“Obviously, it’s an affordable school,” he said. “There were a few guys I knew that were there. They said it was a great school and the athletics were top-notch. It was a good fit for me compared to the other schools that I had talked to.”

At MSU, Bean bore the fruits of his labor. His hypercompetitive attitude challenged his teammates and helped his fellow Beavers dig deep within themselves.

Gaining the edge

Recently, Bean found an advantage off the course. He found valuable insight in Dr. Bob Rotella’s “Golf is Not a Game of Perfect,” a book originally published in 1995.

For perspective, Bean was born in 1998. A young golfer with aspirations of playing professionally, Bean gleaned important lessons from the book.

“It is all about realizing and accepting that you’re going to make mistakes and brushing them off to get the best score you can on that day,” Bean said. “It’s a very good book for golf and life.”

Golf is a family affair for Bean, especially when he and his brother Jordan face off. Jordan is two years younger than Matt, but has carved out his own collegiate golf path at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.

“We’ve always been around a similar skill level,” Matt said. “I’d like to say that I’m better and beat him more often. But it’s usually a pretty good competition. That’s what keeps me going.”

All those years spent honing his craft helped Bean make an instant impression on MSU head coach Kyle Knutson. While discussing Bean’s prowess, Knutson spoke with a smile.

“I mean, he is so good,” Knutson said with a chuckle. “He’s one of those guys that can go out and make three, four or five birdies in a row… Even if he’s struggling, he can get his round back to playing well. A lot of players, if they get a couple bogeys and they get above par, they don’t have the ability to get it back to par or shoot under par during their round. He can. His round is never a bad round. He always has an opportunity to bring it back and make the best round possible.”

Knutson was impressed with Bean’s diligent work ethic. The former MSU golfer also recognized the senior’s pure aptitude.

“He’s one of these guys that just has unlimited talent,” Knutson said. “He’s able to shoot those low scores that a lot of players just aren’t able to do.”

While those low scores can pop off the page, Bean concerned himself with something greater during his time as an MSU golfer. He wanted to demonstrate examples of class through his leadership.

Team takes precedent

Bean found a balance between vocal leadership and leading by example. Although he found appropriate instances to speak up, he usually prefers to let his game do the talking.

Last season, Bean found a rhythm with the rest of the team. Even when he felt like the Beavers were struggling, Bean stayed confident in their abilities to regroup and find success.

“We were always going out there and we were trusting that we were going to do everything that we needed to,” he said. “Usually, we did.”

Alongside MSU’s other seniors, Cody Reynolds and Carson Harcourt, Bean made a concerted effort to pass lessons down to younger teammates.

“We’re a very close-knit group,” Bean said. “We don’t often have problems. When we do, we argue about it and then get over it.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the remainder of Bean’s senior season, he heard the news alongside Reynolds. With their final year cut short, an absence of words sliced through the room.

“We just kind of looked at each other and didn’t really say much,” Bean said. “It obviously sucked to hear.”

The coronavirus snatched Bean’s last chance to lead the team he came to love. Despite the circumstances, the senior will continue to pursue his dream.

Now, he must lead the charge in his path to professional golf.

The next course

Upon graduating in May, Bean plans to return to his hometown and work at the Canmore Golf & Curling Club in the summer. After earning his business management degree, he will play in some previously scheduled amateur tournaments.

Those events could get shuffled around due to the pandemic, but Bean is staying flexible. Books have helped Bean understand how to stay ahead of the game.

“He’s really trying to prepare himself,” Knutson said. “He can capitalize on the ability to shoot low scores, but there’s such a strong mental side to golf that people don’t think of. He’s really trying to master that part of it. When he has a really good round going, he can keep it going.”

Bean will search for a more permanent job in the fall. When the following summer rolls around, he will ready himself for his first taste of professional golf.

“I know it’s going to take a lot of work,” Bean said. “That’s my tentative plan.”

While reflecting upon his career, Bean took time to thank Westby and Knutson for their assistance during his time in Minot. Bean has impacted Knutson, but the respect between player and coach is mutual.

“He has a lot of confidence in us,” Bean said. “I think he leaned on us a little bit in those first tournaments. But ever since those first tournaments, he’s become a better and better coach all the time. He’s always helping us improve. He was a great, great addition to the program.”

Forever staying true to himself, Bean was effusive in his praise for MSU. He wants to keep himself honest both on the green and while he navigates life’s course.

“It was a good experience,” Bean said. “I’ll remember it forever. That’s for sure.”

Jimmy Lafakis covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JJLII30.