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How Do State Am Champs Rank on PGA Tour?
With three former Utah State Am champions on the PGA Tour many Utah golfers are following the tour closer than they ever have and with the internet it is easier to follow the results than ever before.
Daniel Summerhays is the veteran on tour, but he trails the two rookies, Tony Finau and Zac Blair in most statistical standings.
Money earned is the major statistical focus and in that category Tony Finau ranks first among the Utahns and 31st in tour rankings. Finau has filled his pocket with $759,272 so far. Zac Blair ranks second with earnings of $503,767, good for a 54th ranking on tour. Summerhays has won $248,001 and stands 105th on tour.
In the driving categories Tony Finau hits it farther and wider than the other Utahns. Finau ranks fourth in driving distance with an average of 308 yards, outdistancing Summerhays by 25 yards whose average is 283 yards. However, Finau also hits it wider than the others, ranking 190th in fairways hit at 53%. Blair ranks 30th in fairways hit with a 67 percent average. Summerhays hits fairways at a 64% clip and ranks 59th. As it might be expected the longest is also the widest and the straightest is also the shortest.
Of course, it’s not the driving that counts unless it leads to more greens in regulation. How is that working out. It happens to work out in direct proportion to length off the tee. Finau has hit the most greens of the three, 70.37 percent for a tour ranking of 46th. Blair has only hit 66.16 percent of the greens and ranks 121st on tour. Summerhays ranks 75th with a percentage of 68.77.
Blair makes up for missing the most greens by his putting. The PGA category in putting is termed Strokes Saved Putting and Blair leads the Utah trio with a .711 total for a high ranking of 20th on tour. Summerhays also excels in this category with a ranking of 33rd and a total of .526 strokes saved. Finau is way down the list at 158th and he losing strokes rather than gaining strokes. He is losing strokes to putting at a .316 figure.
The PGA Tour now moves east to the Honda Classic at the PGA National at Palm Beach Gardens.
Utah Golf Hall of Famer Mike Weir will be in the field along with the three former State Am champions. Weir tees off Thursday at 7:25 and Blair follows him at 8:25. Summerhays plays at 11:45 and Finau starts at 12:55.