“Pure gratitude” as Daniel Summerhays, the family who shares the Utah championship by opening up together

FARMINGTON – With his father, Boyd, in his bag, Uncle Daniel peeing in front of you in every hole, and Uncle David as another caddy, Thursday’s golf game might have looked like a family reunion for Preston summerhays.

Of course, it was also the second time to play in the Utah Championship during the Korn Ferry Tour for the two-time Utah State Amateur defender.

He expected to have a lot of family around him on Thursday, even another uncle carrying Daniel Summerhays’ bag. But what he saw through the fence as the Summerhays duo and BYU freshman Cole Ponich left at 9:15 took him by surprise.

There were Preston’s mother, Barbara Jean, and Daniel’s wife, Emily, who forced four children aged 12 and under to prison, clapping and clapping and sticking signs on the fence of the Oakridge Country Club.

“It was really amazing,” said Preston Summerhays. “It was fun to see them look at no. 1, then on tee box no. 2 and below on par. 3 no. 6. It was so much fun to see them out there.

“It still looked like a big event, but it was nice to play with Danny and one of my friends.”

In a fanless tournament, a rule designed to help slow the spread of COVID-19, the view provided a brief moment of normalcy for the trio of Utah golfers – a “home-made pairing,” he said. Daniel Summerhays.

“It’s kind of strange, being able to look through the fence. But at least they could look at some shots, “he added.” They also saw me getting on and off on No. 6. My wife is dying from not being able to walk with me, but I’m grateful to have the support. “

The group was the Utah group in the forefront of the tournament, but it was another former BYU golfer who led off. Patrick Fishburn, who left almost an hour before the Davis County trio, fired 3-under-par 68; Daniel Summerhays and Ponich both scored 2-under 69 and Preston Summerhays was 1-under 70.

Former BYU golfer Mike Weir also scored 3-under 68, who drew 48th with Fishburn. This included an eagle on the 15th hole of par 5, 547 yards and the birds on nos. 2, 6 and 16 to accompany a couple of trolleys.

“I played really well. I wanted to make at least five birds, and I understood; I just added a few carts, “said Daniel Summerhays, who is undergoing ankle and foot surgery and still has a small fracture of the hairline in one foot.” In addition to that, I have hit many good shots; I felt like if I had rolled it up pretty well and was just hitting the edges on some putts.

“Overall, I’m really happy that I haven’t played a tournament in six months. I certainly felt nervous and felt competitive juices again. “

The Summerhays duo was as competitive as it ever was, both in a local tournament and in a family skin game.

Still, Thursday’s professional round seemed almost less competitive than the last time the Summerhays clan met on the links. Of course, there were precautions inspired by coronavirus, such as an emphasis on social distancing and the masks worn around the clubhouse when distancing could not occur. The players were tested before Thursday and undergo mandatory temperature checks before being admitted to the fan area, both for playing and for practicing before their turn.

But above all, it was just another competitive environment for the Summerhays.

“When we play in practice, it’s always very competitive,” said Preston Summerhays, who was also a contemporary golf junior from Ponich. “But in the tournament round, I think it was the same. It is so competitive during rehearsals. “

Both Summerhays golfers have put themselves in position to make the cut, which will be projected 3-under after Friday’s second round.

For Daniel Summerhays, the tournament will mark his last experience as a tourism professional; he is slated to be named head golf coach at his alma mater Davis High in the fall.

But Thursday’s round wasn’t about the future or emotional tide of ending a career.

“The emotion I feel is gratitude,” said Daniel Summerhays. “Having my brother David in the bag with me, being paired with my nephew and brother Boyd – it’s just pure gratitude to be here in Oakridge, Farmington, Utah, the Korn Ferry Tour; what a dream.

“To add an au pair, under 70 rounds? It was a small cherry for me. “

Summerhays, Summerhays and Ponich will be the final group to kick off hole n. 1 Friday at 14:20 MDT, placing them in the main viewing window for Friday’s broadcast on the golf channel from 16 to 18 MDT.

Fishburn will depart at 13:30 MDT and Weir at 8:15 at no. 10.

Harry Hall and Stephan Jaeger both turned 8-under 63 to tie the top of the leaderboard, one more than Josh Teater, Ryan Ruffels, TJ Vogel, Chandler Blanchet and Kyle Jones.

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