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SUU’s Prasurtwong Leads the Way
By Randy Dodson
At the end of the day at Logan Country Club scores were a bit high and a few big names are on the outside looking in after the opening stroke play qualifying round of the 113th Utah Women’s State Amateur.
Southern Utah University senior to be Kamonwan (Poy) Prasurtwong was one of two players under par Monday at (-4) 68. Kerstin Fotu, who plays out of Thanksgiving Point Golf Club was next at 1-under 71. From there the scores rose to where the low 16 include players that are tied for eleventh place at plus-6 78.
“I really like the course personally,” the Thailand native Prasurtwong said. “It feels like my home course. The condition is amazing, it’s perfect from tee to green. The golf course has a uniqueness which you have to be really focused and patient.”
Following Tuesday’s final round of stroke play the low 16 players will move on to Wednesday’s match play rounds of 16 in the morning and quarterfinals in the afternoon.
When asked about the potential of finishing as the stroke play medalist, Poy said, “I honestly tried to do my best to build my confidence and belief in myself. I didn’t think of anything else other than proving to myself that golf is my game.”
This year’s championship has the unique distinction of having no former champions in the field. Last year’s champion Tess Blair is away preparing for her freshman year at Sacramento State. Four-time champion Kelsey Chugg joined the corporate golf world earlier this year as Salt Lake City’s assistant director of golf making it harder to schedule time away from the office and she’s looking ahead to the U.S. Women’s Amateur. Kendra Dalton, 2016’s champion, is playing professional golf as a rookie on the Symetra Tour.
That’s not say the 2019 Women’s State Amateur field is lacking strength. BYU’s Naomi Soifua, the runner-up in 2012, the last time the event was held at Logan Country Club, has returned and is T11 with five other players.
15-year-old Grace Summerhays, recently returned from last week’s U.S. Girl’s Junior Amateur, where she lost in the round of 16 to eventual champion and Stanford incoming freshman Lei Ye, is playing. As is Utah Junior Amateur champion Carissa Graft and Utah Women’s Stroke Play winner Tyler Erickson. Unfortunately they’ll need significantly lower rounds tomorrow to make it to match play.
“Winning the State Amateur would be incredible,” Poy said. “I would love to represent SUU as a winner. It would mean a lot for me to win, not only for myself but for everyone behind me. I am proud of my mental game and believing in my swing today. I feel free, I was able to let myself do what I wanted to do.”
The Utah Women’s State Amateur stroke play qualifying final round tees off at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday with the final group going off at 11:50. For parings, tee times and online scoring please visit UGA.org.
Photo courtesy of SUU Athletics