Jeremy Ranch • Mistakenly believing the hole was cut into the bottom portion of the 18th green, Hayden Christensen planned his approach shot to land just below a ridge and have the ball trickle back down the slope.
Christensen played it perfectly, except an outdated pin sheet for Wednesday’s setup of Jeremy Ranch Golf & Country Club gave him some wrong information. His ball ended up 75 feet from the hole, located in the back-left corner.
“I was a little frustrated,” Hayden said, “but then I was like, ‘Let’s just make the putt.’ "
The unlikely birdie eventually gave the St. George golfer a share of medalist honors with Mitchell Schow and Justin Shluker, former Park City High School teammates, at 7-under par for the two stroke-play rounds of the 122nd State Amateur.
They will lead the remaining field of 32 into Thursday’s first two rounds of match play, with their opponents to be determined by an 8 a.m. playoff. Six golfers – Matthew Lyons, Steven Croft, Willard Richards, Colton Tanner, Brandon Hargett and Andy Hess – shot 3 over par and will compete for the last three berths.
The bracket lacks any major surprises so far, considering how 57-year-old Kirk Siddens’ place in Utah golf offsets the novelty of his age. Darrin Overson (77-68), who won the 100th State Am in 1998, made Wednesday’s biggest jump into match play. Kihei Akina, 14, missed the playoff by one stroke and 2019 runner-up Chase Lansford finished another shot back.
As for the medalist race, Schow’s opening 66 in the wind Tuesday afternoon had given him a one-stroke lead over Shluker and Cole Ponich. Christensen, the low amateur in the recent Utah Open, moved up with a 67 that included birdies on the last three holes.
Schow accused himself of being “lackadaisical” — actually, too aggressive with some approach shots — in posting a 71. “The morning was perfect; I’m disappointed I didn’t take advantage of it,” the University of Utah golfer said.
Shluker was happy with his 70 in the afternoon, although he missed a big-breaking, 6-foot birdie putt on No. 18 that could have given him outright medalist honors.
122nd State Amateur
Stroke-play qualifying scores
137 – Mitchell Schow (66-71), Hayden Christensen (70-67), Justin Shluker (67-70). 139 – Nick Killpack (71-68). 141 – Brock Stanger (70-71), Daren Johnson (69-72), Dan Horner (71-70), Cole Ponich (67-74). 142 – Davis Heslington (73-69), John Owen (69-73), Luke Crapo (71-71), Hayden Banz (70-72). 143 – Simon Kwon (70-73), Noah Schone (71-72), Kirk Siddens (69-74), Kelton Hirsch (73-70). 144 – Braxton Watts (72-72). Blake Tomlinson (72-72), Tristan Mandur (73-71). 145 – Boston Bracken (73-72), Hunter Howe (72-73), Darrin Overson (77-68). 146 – Landon Anderson (72-74), Patrick Horstmann (75-71), Jake Vincent (73-73), Tyson Shelley (70-76), Peyton Hastings (76-70), Brandon Robison (73-73), Derek Penman (73-73). 147* – Matthew Lyons (77-70), Steven Croft (72-75), Willard Richards (72-75), Colton Tanner (72-75), Andy Hess (73-74), Brandon Hargett (75-72).
* – Golfers at 147 will play off Thursday for the last three match-play berths.
Failed to qualify
148 – Gary Smith (74-74), Ali Hameed (75-73), Kihei Akina (74-74). 149 – Elijah Turner (73-76), Scott Nielson (75-74), Kurt Owen (71-78), Tanner Telford (74-75), Chase Lansford (76-73).