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Two State Amateur Qualifiers, Three Medalists, And History In the Making

(Photo courtesy of Easton Folster, Director of Rules and Competitions, at Bonneville GC)

 

By Beaux Yenchik, UGA Intern

 

Millcreek, UT – Wind, three medalists and an entry for the history books was made Thursday at two State Amateur Qualifiers. 

Bonneville and Glenmoor Golf Courses were the host venues for the ninth and 10th qualifiers for 166 eager participants looking to test their luck against the best players in the state. Carly Dehlin, the lone-female player in either field, became just the third woman ever in Utah to qualify for the State Amateur Championship. Joshua Summerhays (1-over-par 73 at Glenmoor GC), Carl Jensen (1-under-par 71 at Bonneville GC) and Preston Richards (1-under-par 71 at Bonneville GC) each earned the honor of being low medalist at their respected qualifiers.

With each qualifier that has come and gone, the competition has increased and the mental toughness strained as each fight to pull tooth and nail to make the given cut.

Bonneville Qualifier

Jensen and Richards both put together respected rounds as the two claimed a two-shot victory over the five players tied at 1-over-par. Each medalist scripted five birdies in their rounds but were matched with bogeys and double bogeys of their own that dirtied the scorecards.

The 6,872-yard course, built on the bench of the Wasatch Front, held strong against the push for low scores. For a layout whose tournament-course record is 62, it held the field to a scoring average of 80.3. With uphill and downhill lies, plus sloping greens, players were seeing more squares than circles.

25 participants, with two alternates, gained passage to Farmington’s club while the rest of the field were left outside looking in.

Glenmoor Qualifier

Wind. Wind. Wind. If that wasn’t obvious enough, the qualifier at Glenmoor GC was windy. For what is an already challenging layout, the course was taken to the next level as players tried to maneuver under and with the wind on almost every shot. Failing to break par, the field succumbed to a scoring average of 82.3 with Summerhays doing it best.

Carding four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey, Summerhays did what he could to stay grounded on the 6,815-yard trek. Playing on his home course may have been exactly what was needed to clinch the medalist position. And who says home-field advantage doesn’t help!

Dehlin can add her name alongside Naomi Soifua and Annie Thurman (last name now Young) in the history books. Posting an impressive 6-over-par 78, Dehlin made the cut by one. After shooting even par on the front with two birdies and two bogeys, she managed to control the back-nine rollercoaster just enough to be safe.

Sighs of relief were given by those who clinched spots 256-280 in the State Amateur Championship.

TalonsCove Last-Chance Qualifier

With the qualifying season nearly wrapped up, eight spots – 10 percent of the field – await to be filled by those looking for some sort of redemption.  

CLICK HERE for complete results for Bonneville Qualifier.

CLICK HERE for complete results for Glenmoor Qualifier.