Zac Jones tees off as he and Simon Kwon play in match play for the 124th Utah State Beginner Championship at Soldier Hole Golf Course in Halfway on July 16, 2022. Jones, who performs collegiately for BYU, this week led the Cougars to the WCC event championship. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
Lone Peak’s Carons Lundell hits out of the sand on the 18th gap as he competes Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, within the Class 5A Excessive College State Championships in Halfway at Soldier Hole Golf Course. Lundell was among the many BYU golfers who helped lead the Cougars to the 2023 WCC championship. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
In BYU’s last stab on the West Coast Convention golf championship, the Cougars defeated San Francisco and defending champion No. 6-ranked Pepperdine with a crew comprised completely of former Utah highschool stars. It came about at Gold Mountain Olympic Course in Bremerton, Washington, because the month of April concluded.
Huge 12-bound BYU overcame loopy lies, reduction from a tractor observe and a 90-foot eagle putt within the last spherical to carry on for a one-shot win over San Francisco on the ultimate day of the 54-hole WCC championship.
Sophomore Zac Jones, the defending Utah State Beginner champion, received medalist honors with a rating of 9-under to guide the Cougars. BYU’s assigned NCAA regional website will probably be introduced Wednesday on the Golf Channel.
The truth that head coach Bruce Brockbank’s crew was comprised of native Utahns made this last season within the WCC much more candy. Traditionally, it’s been Pepperdine on the high with everybody else chasing second. BYU completed at 21-under adopted by San Francisco one shot again. Pepperdine completed 10-under.
“It’s an enormous course. It’s hilly with plenty of timber and the wind was swirling particularly the final two rounds,” mentioned Brockbank. “Our guys, after we get rolling, we’re a fairly good golf crew. And it’s all the fellows. One man will step up at some point and one other man will step up on one other and that’s what occurred. We simply put it collectively.
“We confirmed indicators of being excellent that final spherical, however we struggled at occasions as effectively, then we’d bounce again,” he continued. “Coming down the stretch the fellows simply bought after it and we had been lucky sufficient to sneak by San Francisco.”
For his total profession, Brockbank’s groups have ridden the again of senior and All-American Carson Lundell. However this time it was younger Jones, additionally from Lone Peak Excessive, who led the sphere. BYU’s Max Brenchley completed T3 at 8-under, Lundell was T8 at 4-under, Tyson Shelley got here in at T13 at 1-over whereas Dave Timmins was 6-over and completed tied for twenty seventh.
The Cougars led the sphere with 62 birdies (San Francisco had 57 and Pepperdine 56) and had been 26-under on the par-5s. Timmins led the sphere in pars with 40. Jones, Shelley and Brenchley had been all 7-under on the par-5s. BYU and San Francisco tied with 4 eagles.
Gold Mountain hosted not solely the Husky Invitational, however the WCC girls’s championship the week prior and has a U.S. Junior Publinx and NCAA regional on its resume.
Within the last spherical, Brockbank watched his crew lead, lose the lead, take the lead, lose the lead after which end in type with birdie-filled ending holes. Because the event wound down, Brenchley, who doubled No. 10, made a 90-foot eagle putt on No. 14 earlier than making birdie on 18.
Lundell birdied 14, 15 and 18 coming residence and Jones birdied 11 and 17. Shelley birdied 10, 14 and 17 to assist the Cougars climb on high and put away the Dons.
Jones bought reduction out of a tractor observe on No. 14 and saved par. On that very same gap, Brenchley made his bomb eagle. “It was simply a kind of issues the place the fellows got here by. We would have liked yet another birdie, then yet another birdie, and so they made them and we ended up on high.”
Brockbank personally feels how particular this title was due to the Utahns. As a former two-time Utah State Beginner champ, a participant out of Timpview Excessive who earned all-conference honors, he’s watched former juniors like Tony Finau,Daniel Summerhays, Zac Blair, Rhett Rasmussen, Patrick Fishburn and plenty of others make it large on the nationwide scene.
He takes care to not low cost the efforts of native gamers, however he is aware of personally that he performed two strokes higher in his profession in Utah than when he crossed state strains to compete. He is aware of that may be a monkey on the again of Utah gamers and that’s why his 5 guys closing the door after being down six strokes within the last spherical actually meant one thing for not solely themselves and the college however for the state of Utah.
Brockbank credit Utah’s junior golf competitors, Utah Golf Affiliation tournaments and different native alternatives for each girls and boys for producing a powerful discipline of golfers at each degree.
To have Jones come by after successful a event earlier in Arizona with a 16-under rating was enormous as a result of BYU didn’t need to have Lundell carry the crew as he’s accomplished time and time once more.
Jones was up for one of many six spots on the all-conference crew going into the WCC championships. His win assured the honour.
Jones, Lundell and Brenchley, in addition to head Brockbank, every acquired WCC all-conference honors, the league introduced Monday.
“I’m tremendous happy with Zac, Carson and Max,” mentioned BYU director of golf Todd Miller. “They've labored so exhausting this season to unlock the potential Bruce and I knew they'd. It’s good to see their exhausting work and their sturdy play acknowledged by the convention.”
Jones fired rounds of 69-66-72—207 to complete at 9-under, earlier than making a birdie on the primary gap of the sudden-death playoff to seize his second particular person title of the season.
“Bruce and I knew after we signed Zac that we bought a participant who might win tournaments throughout his time right here,” mentioned Miller. “His first 12 months coming off his mission was a problem, but it surely by no means modified his drive or confidence and we’ve solely seen the start of a improbable profession. He didn’t have his finest stuff on the convention event, however nonetheless bought the job accomplished. That's the mark of an important competitor.”
Lundell earned his third-straight All-WCC first-team choice after ending eighth on the WCC championship final week. The fifth-year senior concluded his 2022-23 common season with 9 top-25 finishes, seven top-15s, 5 top-10s and three third-place finishes. The 2-time All-American held a scoring common of 70.5 and led the Cougars to 3 crew championships this season.
“Carson is among the finest gamers I’ve had the chance to teach,” mentioned Miller. “He's sturdy, has nice course administration, is an unbelievable ball striker and easily doesn’t have any weak point in his recreation. I’m happy with Carson and all his accomplishments throughout his collegiate profession.”
Brenchley was named an All-WCC honorable point out after his 8-under. The junior has competed in eight occasions for the Cougars this season whereas recording 4 top-25 finishes and two top-10s. The Lone Peak Excessive product was a constant performer for BYU this 12 months as he recorded a scoring common of 71.7.
“Max has been enjoying actually strong golf over the past 12 months,” mentioned Miller. “He's at all times decided to enhance, and it’s paid off. He had plenty of stress to play effectively in that fifth spot at convention and he actually stepped up. His play was a serious a part of us successful the event.”
Named WCC Coach of the Yr for the second time, Brockbank has earned a complete of seven such honors in his teaching profession.
“Bruce simply retains including to his hall-of-fame teaching profession,” mentioned Miller. “He has a powerful work ethic and at all times helps his gamers be ready to compete. His smart decision-making so far as who to place within the lineup has been very evident this season. I’m glad for Bruce and this recognition is effectively deserved.”
Listed below are capsules of the native Utahns who stormed to the WCC championship final weekend.
Zac Jones — Sophomore (Alpine), Lone Peak Excessive. Earlier received the Arizona Thunderbird Intercollegiate with a rating of 16-under, a three-time 5A state champion, 2019 participant of the 12 months in Utah, and defending Utah State Beginner champion.
Carson Lundell — Senior (Alpine), Lone Peak Excessive. Collegiate All-American, three-time 5A state champion, 2022 NCAA Regional champion at Stockton, California, 2022 and 2021 Ping Basic medalist at Riverside Nation Membership.
David Timmins — Senior (Sandy), Brighton Excessive, Westminster School. All-State golf crew, 2016 UJGA Eddie Hogan Cup Group, 2014 5A State medalist.
Tyson Shelley — Sophomore (Salt Lake Metropolis) Skyline Excessive. The 2021 particular person highschool state champion with a 65-67, the bottom two-day whole in state playoff historical past, Skyline Athlete of the Yr as a senior.
Max Brenchley — (Alpine) Lone Peak Excessive. Member of three-time state 5A championship crew, third in Junior America’s Cup, seventh in Optimist, fifteenth in IMG Junior World 2017.
Lone Peak’s Carons Lundell hits out of the sand on the 18th gap as he competes Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, within the Class 5A Excessive College State Championships in Halfway at Soldier Hole Golf Course. Lundell was among the many BYU golfers who helped lead the Cougars to the 2023 WCC championship.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information