First-round leaders rarely win the Richard C. Kramer Salt Lake City Amateur. University of Utah golfer Mitchell Schow may have discovered the secret to a breakthrough Sunday by wearing a T-shirt and fishing cap.
Schow posted another 3-under-par 69, thanks to a hot start in the final round, and finished two strokes ahead of Ute teammate Kyler Dunkle at Bonneville Golf Course.
The Park City High School graduate believes taking golf too seriously has hurt him as a college player, during a career that has not been “what I expected for myself,” he said. His approach of dressing casually and “having a good time” seems to be working in amateur events.
Schow showed no effects of any pressure of playing with the lead in his first City Am appearance, as he went 5 under par through five holes Sunday and “just kind of cruised” from there. He chipped in for a birdie on the par-4 No. 4 and hit a wedge to 15 feet to set up an eagle on the par-5 No. 5.
Schow had missed the tournament the past two years while traveling to compete in U.S. Open sectional qualifying. He’s emerging as one of the favorites in this month’s State Amateur, having also won tournaments at Sand Hollow Resort and Bountiful Ridge Golf Course.
Dunkle, from Colorado, and David Jennings also opened with 69s, but couldn’t keep up with Schow in the final round. Dunkle birdied No. 18 to shoot a 71 and move into second place ahead of Jennings, who bogeyed the last hole to complete a 72.
Spencer Wallace (74-68) finished fourth and Ryan Brimley (71-72) and Kelton Hirsch (71-72) tied for fifth. Peyton Hastings (75-69), Tanner Higham (74-70), Dan Horner (70-74) and Denny Job (73-71) tied for seventh.
Bryce Till (74-72) won the A Flight and Josh Jensen (75-74) took the B Flight.
