Choosing his words carefully, and knowing how the tournament ended, University of Utah golfer Blake Tomlinson remembered being “a bit unhappy” as he stood on Bonneville Golf Course’s No. 8 tee in the rain Sunday afternoon.
One swing later, his mood brightened considerably. That’s what a hole-in-one on a par-4 will do for you.
One of the most remarkable shots in the long history of the Richard C. Kramer Salt Lake City Amateur launched Tomlinson’s comeback. After starting the day four strokes behind the four co-leaders, Tomlinson posted a 6-under-par 66 in the chilly, windy and rainy conditions. His 5-under total for 36 holes gave him a two-stroke win over Westminster College’s David Timmins (69–72) and Skyline High School’s Tyson Shelley (69-72).
Tomlinson, who’s also a Skyline product, was stewing about consecutive bogeys as the weather worsened, just before his round was dramatically altered. “I just knew I needed to step up and hit a good drive,” he said. “That’s what crossed my mind.”
His memorable shot came with No. 8 playing 359 yards and straight downwind to the original, more accessible of the two greens used on the hole. An ace, though? Even when the other players in his foursome were yelling for the ball to go in the hole, Tomlinson was thinking, “There’s no way it’s going in.”
It went in. And almost as improbably, he followed that with a 60-foot birdie putt up and over the ridge on the demanding, par-3 No. 9. Tomlinson then made three birdies and one bogey on the back nine to complete his 66, as he became only the third golfer to win both the Salt Lake City Amateur and the SLC Open.
Tomlinson’s bogey came on the par-4 No. 13, where he had made a triple bogey last June on the way to a tie for fifth place at Bonneville after briefly taking the lead in the final round.
Timmins and Shelley had shared the first-round lead Saturday at 69 with Zach Jones and David Jennings. Jones posted a 73 and tied for fourth place with Ute golfer Mitchell Schow (72-70), the 2018 champion.
Dan Horner (72-72), Ryan Brimley (71-73), Jennings (69-75) and brothers Connor Howe (73-71) and Hunter Howe (73-71) tied for sixth.
Tomlinson knew he had done all he could by posting a 66 and a 5-under total, but was “a little bit scared” about his score holding up. The weather took a toll on the rest of the field, though, with no other golfer breaking 70. Even with a par on No. 8 instead of an ace, Tomlinson would have shot 69.
In college tournaments, “I tend to play well in bad weather,” he said, citing “a lot of mental toughness and a lot of faith in my game.”
Tomlinson has two more years of eligibility at Utah, following the shortened 2019-20 NCAA golf season. He’ll be among the favorites in the State Amateur, Sept. 1-5 at Jeremy Ranch Golf & Country Club.
