Here's my take...
I would continue on the course but maintain altitude. Query ATC, if you wait too long you will not be able to descend in time and will have to go missed.
I would agree with holding at the IAF ONLY if that was your clearance limit. That was probably not the case, your clearance limit was most likely the airport, and you were cleared "direct to" BECAR. "Direct To" does not constitute a clearance limit if you had already been cleared to the airport.
You were probably also at some point told to expect the RNAV GPS 17...that constitutes authority to continue on that horizontal course unless otherwise directed. You can't descend until cleared approach. It also gives you authority to shoot the approach if you go lost comms.