Utah amateur championship will put BYU sophomore against grandson of Cougar legend

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MIDWAY — After back-to-back Utah state newbie finals had been held fully by two teammates from the College of Utah, BYU golfers vowed to make their method again to the rostrum.

Via Friday’s quarterfinals, the dream remained a actuality — and the Cougars’ team Twitter account reminded you of it — with medalist Zac Jones and BYU teammate David Timmins seeded on reverse sides of the bracket.

By the tip of the day Friday, Jones’ two victories saved the dream of a BYU champion alive. His opponent in Saturday’s last? Nicely, not less than he has sturdy Cougar heritage.

Jones dispatched former professional John Owen 5 and 4 in Friday’s semifinals of the 124th Utah state newbie championship at Soldier Hole, the place he’ll face former Skyline Excessive star Simon Kwon in Saturday’s 36-hole last.

Kwon, who simply accomplished his freshman season at Cal, is not only a native golfer on summer season break from Berkley, although; he is additionally the grandson of former BYU nice Johnny Miller. The rising sophomore held off Weber State’s Hayden Banz 4 and three in Friday’s semifinals to punch his championship ticket.

Jones’ run continued by Friday’s quarterfinals with a 2 and 1 win over former Utah golfer Steve Croft, who now works at Provo-based Qualtrics and performs out of Timpanogos golf membership. The rising BYU sophomore who received three 5A state titles at Lone Peak led from the sixth gap, cling to a 1 up lead a lot of the method earlier than a brief birdie putt on No. 17 clinched a semifinal bid.

Jones performed in two tournaments as a freshman within the 2021-22 season, shortly after serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Pachuca, Mexico, and Orlando, Florida. However the 2019 Utah Golf Affiliation Participant of the Yr confirmed something however rust all week, from firing a pair of 66s to complete at 12-under 132 after stroke play — two pictures higher than his teammate Timmins on the high — to match-play wins over Nick Nielson, Jacob Wagstaff and Ryan Barber en path to Friday’s quarterfinals.

The 2020 Utah junior golfer of the yr, Kwon confronted an uphill climb simply to make it to the semifinals. The rising sophomore was down a gap to Timmins heading into the 18th inexperienced, however birdied the ultimate gap to outlive and received on a walkoff birdie on the nineteenth gap.

Then he superior to face Banz, the previous East Excessive standout who comfortably dispatched Jackson Holman 3 and a couple of within the quarterfinals.

Saturday’s 36-hole championship last will tee off at 8 a.m. MDT. Admission is free at Soldier Hole.

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