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UGA Amateurs Near the Top in Individual, Team Play
(Photo courtesy of Pacific Coast Amateur Staff)
By Beaux Yenchik, UGA Intern
Fruit Heights, UT – Utah Golf Association’s amateurs put together a strong showing in one of the nation’s top tournaments – the Pacific Coast Amateur.
With 32 of the world’s top 100 amateurs in the field, Kelton Hirsch, Mitchell Schow and Preston Summerhays represented the Beehive State in fashion at the Olympic Club- Lake Course in both the individual stroke play and the team competition (Morse Cup). Each UGA golfer made the 54-hole cut, while the team finished tied for eighth.
On a venue that has hosted the U.S. Open five times, players looked to make their mark on the historic layout by putting together the four-best rounds of their lives. Isaiah Salinda – the eventual winner of the individual event – broke the course record during round three with an impressive 62 (-9).
Playing at sea level, along with the morning mist, Team Utah learned quickly they couldn’t rely on the advantage of playing at a high-altitude as yardages had to be readjusted.
Hirsch, the low of the three Utahans, finished the tournament at a 9-over-par 293. Finishing tied for 52nd, Hirsch said he played well the first three rounds. On a course that has “no room for error,” Hirsch said he just wasn’t making the putts he needed to stay in it. As a good opportunity to reflect on his game, Hirsch followed by stating that he played well in such a deep field and on a venue where even the pros struggle.
Schow – finishing at a 12-over-par 296 – tied for 60th out of the 75 players that made the cut. As a first-time participant, Schow said the tournament and venue was in a “league of its own” – everything from the setup to the caliber of players who participated.
As a huge confidence boost, Schow said playing in such a field was a treat of its own. He loved representing the state of Utah and all the prestige that comes with it. Stating that Utah golf, as a whole, gets overlooked, he enjoyed the opportunity to prove the stigma wrong.
On a course that felt like it was playing close to 8,500 yards – in’s Schow’s opinion due to the elevation change – Schow said it was somewhat difficult to change his mindset from accepting that pars were just as valuable as birdies on such a difficult course.
But all-in-all, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Schow.
Summerhays, who was unable for comments, tied Schow at 12 over par. As one of the youngest competitors in this year’s field, the 16-year old proved again that he has the game to compete with the big boys.
T52 Kelton Hirsch (+9): 73-70-73-77 = 293
T60 Mitchel Schow (+12): 75-75-73-73 = 296
T60 Preston Summerhays (+12): 79-70-72-75 = 296
For complete tournament results, CLICK HERE.