Some top college players have to make tough choices about turning pro or staying in school

By Jim Dover

Nobody will dispute the drive that most college golfers have to ultimately compete on the PGA and LPGA tours. But with the opportunities that top college players now have to compete on the professional level through various exemptions, the temptation to turn pro before finishing school is stronger than ever.

UCLA’s Patrick Cantlay was a prime example in 2011. Stories about the talented collegian more than holding his own against the best players in the world often included how much money he would have earned if he was playing as a professional. Cantlay is on record as saying he will stay all four years at UCLA, just as Oklahoma State star Peter Uihlein said before last season. Uihlein, however, recently gave up his final semester as a Cowboy to pursue his dream of playing professionally.

Here are recent storylines involving the textbook-toting crowd:

Jordan Spieth stayed in his home state of Texas and is the second-ranked college player as a freshman for the Longhorns behind teammate Dylan Frittelli. While it would have been a stretch to believe Spieth could skip school and compete on the PGA Tour, his recent results are impressive. The Isleworth Collegiate Invitational medalist also played this summer on the U.S. Walker Cup team and was a quarterfinalist at the U.S. Amateur. Combine that with two impressive finishes at the PGA Tour’s Byron Nelson Championship – a tie for16th in 2010 and a tie for 32nd in 2011 – and it could be sooner rather than later before Spieth embarks on a pro career.

Leaving one year early from Alabama, Bud Cauley began his professional career at the U.S. Open and subsequently made seven of eight cuts. That was enough money to obtain a PGA Tour card and skip Q-School, making him only the seventh player to accomplish that feat. A three-time All-American for the Crimson Tide, Cauley was a member of the winning 2009 U.S. Walker Cup team, which he lists as his biggest accomplishment in golf. As a young full-time member of the PGA Tour this year, he should have many more chances to add to his achievement list.

Patrick Cantlay could have jumped to the PGA Tour without a second thought after his four top- 25 finishes and one top 10 in 2011. His decision to stay in school did have one controversial blip when Cantlay played in the Frys.com Open in October instead of teeing it up for UCLA at the Nicklaus Invite at Muirfield Village. Cantlay, who has received a sponsor exemption for the Northern Trust Open at nearby Riviera Country Club this month, is likely to get more PGA Tour invitations as the year progresses. He already has an exemption to play in this year’s British Open at Royal Lytham by virtue of his amateur ranking.

Peter Uihlein, the 2010 U.S. Amateur champion, turned pro in December and will begin most of his professional career on the European Tour. Uihlein signed with Chubby Chandler’s International Sports Management Group, which also handles Lee Westwood and Charl Schwartzel, among others. Uihlein’s career could be put on hold if he doesn’t perform well in the seven sponsor exemptions he is allowed on the European Tour schedule. His record in PGA Tour events is three cuts made in six events. His top finish at a professional event was 48th at the 2011 British Open.

Pepperdine’s Danielle Kang had an impressive amateur record when she won U.S. Amateur titles in 2010 and 2011 but a less-than-spectacular exit from college after becoming academically ineligible her sophomore year. She turned pro after winning the 2011 U.S. Amateur and competed in five LPGA tournaments, with her best finish a tie for 49th at the British Open. Competing at LPGA Q-School also resulted in limited success as Kang finished in a tie for 39th for conditional status this season. If Kang has learned from her school of hard knocks, she definitely has the talent to succeed down the line.

If you haven’t heard of 16-time collegiate winner Sandra Changkija, it’s likely because she played her golf at tiny Nova Southeastern College, where she was the four-time Division II Player of the Year. Earning her LPGA Tour card on her first try at Q-School, Changkija proved you don’t necessarily have to compete at a big school to achieve big results. Changkija was competing with fellow teammate Taylor Collins, who failed to make the 72-hole cut but will have full status on the Futures Tour by virtue of qualifying for the final stage.

Leaving Texas after one year was a risky move for Rebecca Lee-Bentham, especially considering she had only one top-5 finish during her eight starts as a Longhorn. However, a determined Lee-Bentham earned her LPGA Tour card by carding a sensational 5-under-par 67 on the final day of Q-School to vault from 38th to a tie for ninth. Lee-Bentham’s feat was equaled by fellow Canadian Maude-Aimee Leblanc, who earned her card on her first attempt following a four-year career at Purdue.

Stephanie Kono might be the only golfer in history to have mixed emotions about earning her tour card. The UCLA senior had no intention of leaving school early, but a ninth-place finish at the LPGA Tour Qualifying School and some incorrect information from officials along the way resulted in her receiving her card. The three-time All-American handled the situation with class and spared the LPGA further embarrassment. UCLA coach Carrie Forsyth, who now must compete for the national title without her star player, was more critical of the LPGA and plans on addressing the issue at the National Golf Coaches Association meeting this year.

Kevin Na’s reputation as a golfer since turning pro at 17 is all over the map, but now that the pressure to win has been relieved, he’s ready to let the good times roll.

By Jim Dover

Do a Google search of Kevin Na and the first page is dominated by the 16 he recorded on a par 4 at last year’s Valero Texas Open. There also are a couple of references about allegedly whiffing on a tee shot in a tournament that didn’t count as a stroke, and Na’s reputation for slow play is available for viewing by scrolling down a little further.

Not exactly a good first impression.

But there’s more to Kevin Na than meets the eye, or at least his status on social media sites. Na, who was born in South Korea and moved to the United States at age 8, acknowledges the critiques and says he is trying to speed up his play. But regarding that not-so-sweet 16? “I think it will stay with me for the rest of my career,” he said.

How his career moves forward as he approaches 30 is something he can control. Na, who grew up in Rancho Cucamonga, hopes to build on his victory at last year’s Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in his hometown of Las Vegas as a springboard to more success. Now in his seventh year as a full-time member on the PGA Tour, Na seems poised to do just that. And if he can win more events and show galleries that he’s a personable guy, all the better.

“I’m a lot more relaxed now than when I first came out on tour and I think the fans are starting to see that,” Na said as he prepared to play in last month’s Humana Challenge in La Quinta. Here are some other things he had to say:

Your win last year got you into the Tournament of Champions. Does that early tournament give you any advantage over other players starting the year?
Definitely, because you get four rounds of competition. All the guys are rusty when you’re coming out and I played well in the second round, shooting a 64, and it was nice to get those four rounds in although I didn’t play well at the Sony, I think mainly because of the Monday finish the week before.

What were your feelings playing that first event at Kapalua? Was there a sense of accomplishment or were you in your normal tournament mode of trying to win?
When I got there it was such a beautiful place and you get a sense that you’ve earned it and it really feels great. Then you realize there are just 27 players in the field. It does give a feeling of having a better chance of winning. All in all, it was a good week.

Your win last year at Las Vegas looked satisfying and a bit of a relief. Looking back, what do you remember most about the victory?
It still feels great. I get a little better tee times and the feeling of being a winner on Tour is just a great feeling. When I teed it up on Maui and they announce ‘Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children champion,’ it’s a great feeling and it makes you want to have more.

Las Vegas resident Kevin Na earned his first PGA Tour victory at last year’s Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

It must have been gratifying to win a tournament on your home turf. How close is the pro golfing community in Las Vegas?
I play practice rounds with the Vegas guys for sure. Nick (Watney) lives in Henderson so I don’t see him as much as I would see someone like Charlie Hoffman, who lives in Las Vegas.

One of the by-products of winning is we get to see your personality more. I think fans were surprised with your humor and how personable you are on camera. Can it be frustrating not to get that chance to show the public who you really are?
No, not really. I felt like I was always known as the guy who was the next guy to win or break through. I felt like I was always known as the guy with good career winnings, but without a win. I’m a lot more relaxed now than when I first came out on tour and I think the fans are starting to see that.

You have also been dubbed a slow player. Is that type of label hard to shake?
People don’t realize that I have gotten better and I am really trying to play faster. Sometimes I still have to take my time, and if I take my time on one shot I don’t really think that means you’re a slow player.

How important is it for you to get that second win?
I can’t wait to win again and I think I will. I’m hitting the ball well and I think because I’ve won now, I know what comes with it and that makes me want it even more.

You’re one of those players that can get on a roll and shoot really low to either jump start your tournament or save it. Can that hurt you at times, sometimes banking on a low round if you shoot an average round the day before?
I actually think every tour player has the ability to go low on any given day. I have been fortunate to have some pretty low rounds in my career and I think at times I can be a pretty good putter, and when you catch fire that’s when you get the really low numbers.

Looking at your career starts, one of the biggest things that jumps out is how many tournaments you play a year. Your first full year in 2004 was over 30 tournaments.
Thirty-two. I actually did plan that and I only played over 30 tournaments my first two years because I wanted to see which golf courses suited me. The last three years I’m down to 26 tournaments. Now, I know I can choose where to go.

How hard is it to say no to a particular tournament?
You can’t play every tournament. And while I love the West Coast Swing I’m not playing Torrey Pines because I haven’t had success there and that’s just a natural week to take off.

What other California stops are you playing besides the Humana Challenge?
I’m not playing Torrey Pines and I don’t believe I’m going to play Pebble Beach. I’m playing the Northern Trust and absolutely love playing Riviera. That was the tournament I watched as a fan when I was 10 years old. I really would like to win there.

Even with your success, the 16 you had on one hole at the Valero Texas Open is the first thing that comes up on your Google search. You’ve done a great job of embracing it, but are you ready for it to go away?
I think it will stay with me for the rest of my career. There’s nothing really wrong about it, because people can really relate to that. People forget the next week I played I finished top 10.

KEVIN NA: FYI
AGE: 29.
BIRTHPLACE: Seoul, South Korea.
RESIDENCE: Las Vegas.
TURNED PRO: 2001.
PGA TOUR VICTORIES: Justin Timerblake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, 2011.
PGA TOUR TOP 10s: 29.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL VICTORIES: Volvo Masters of Asia, 2002; Long Beach Open, 2002; Nationwide Tour’s MarkChristopher Charity Classic, 2006.
CAREER EARNINGS: Nearly $12 million.
EDUCATION: Attended Diamond Bar High School near where he grew up in Rancho Cucamonga; bypassed senior year and skipped college to turn pro at age 17.
MISCELLANEOUS: Became a U.S. citizen at 18.
TWITTER HANDLE: @TheKevinNa.
TWITTER FOLLOWERS: Nearly 8,000.

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The Bayonet and Black Horse golf courses on the Monterey Peninsula are ready to step into the spotlight once again as host site of the 2012 PGA Professional National Championship in June. The 36-hole facility in Seaside, Calif., was recently part of a $13 million renovation project by architect Gene Bates, who modified fairways, changed some routing and added and reshaped bunkers. The courses are the official site for the PGA Tour’s second stage of Qualifying School as well as the Champions Tour Q-School. It also was the host site for the 2010 U.S. Open qualifier. The Bayonet, which opened in 1954, is a classic, tree-lined 7,104-yard course that offers expanded views of the bay. The Black Horse, which opened in 1967 and plays 7,024 yards, has been transformed from a series of tightly treelined holes to a more open and flowing environment. Both par-72 courses are steeped in military history and were created on the site of the former Fort Ord. For more information, visit bayonetblackhorse.com.

When it comes to great golf destinations, there are many reasons to applaud the Valley of the Sun

By Joel Beers

Sure, he may be a little biased, but talk to Kris Strauss about the lure of the Phoenix-Scottsdale region as a golf destination, and it’s hard to not get infected by his enthusiasm.

“This is arguably the pre-eminent golf destination in the U.S. — if not the world,” said Strauss, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for OB Sports Golf Management, which manages 15 golf properties in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. “The proximity of an international airport makes accessibility to the courses ideal, and the resorts, night life and restaurants are second to none. It’s a complete golf destination that should be on every golfer’s bucket list.”

Four OB Sports-managed properties are part of our list of six must-play public facilities in the Phoenix-Scottsdale region: ASU Karsten Golf Course, Raven Golf Club, McDowell Mountain Golf Club and We-Ko-Pa Golf Club. Rounding out the list are the Arizona Biltmore and the Wigwam Resort.

While obviously a small sample of the approximately 200 golf courses in the greater Phoenix area, which includes the cities of Chandler, Glendale, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe and many others, these six courses embody key characteristics of what makes the region a genuine golfer’s paradise, particularly the natural amenities of a valley created by the Sonoran Desert bumping against dramatic mountains.

“It really is a perfect destination for anyone,” Strauss said. “If it’s a buddy trip, there’s great night life. If it’s a couple’s vacation, the art, culture, dining and shopping are exceptional. And there really are a lot of outstanding quality golf facilities.”

The first four months of the year are peak season in the region, and the sooner you set up tee times the better. That’s particularly true the week of January 30 through February 5, when the PGA Tour’s annual Phoenix stop holds court, and in March, when 15 major league baseball teams, including all five California franchises, hold their spring training games in 10 Cactus League stadiums.

But even if you’re just in town for an overnight business trip or weekend getaway, or plan a longer stay to experience all the region has to offer, it’s hard to find a more fitting destination than the Valley of the Sun.

Arizona Biltmore
Phoenix
(602) 955-6600 • arizonabiltmore.com

Travelers from around the world have flocked to this property since 1929, when a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired hotel opened. And part of its maturation into a world-class luxury resort has been its two 18-hole golf courses: The Adobe, which opened in 1928 and received a full restoration in 2004; and The Links, which opened in 1978. Both are resort courses, meaning their lengths are quite manageable (each is less than 6,450-yards from the back tees) and both are eminently playable. The William P. Bell-designed Adobe is a step back in time, as it’s a traditional layout with lush fairways and no gimmicks. The par-71, 6,300-yard Links is an interesting combination of desert topography, rolling, pine-flanked fairways, and Scottish links golf.

ASU Karsten Golf Course
Tempe
(480) 921-8070 • asukarsten.com
If it was good enough for Phil Mickelson to hone his game in college, this Pete Dye-designed course should be good enough for anybody. The home course of the Arizona State University golf team, the length ranges from 4,765 yards to 7,002 yards from the professional tees. Like any Dye design, it is dramatic. “It’s only minutes from the airport, so it’s a perfect way to begin or end a trip to Phoenix,” said OB Sports’ Strauss. “You’ve got Dye’s signature railroad ties, Hershey Kiss-like mounds and three really tough finishing holes, including the stunning 18th, which is very similar to the Dye’s final hole at TPC Sawgrass.”

McDowell Mountain Golf Club
Scottsdale
(480) 502-8200 • mcdowellmountaingc.com

In January 2011, Mickelson purchased this course, formerly known as Sanctuary Golf Course. The new owner then authorized Randy Heckenkemper to oversee a dramatic revision, which included flipping the nines, widening the playing corridors, reshaping fairways, and adding new teeing areas and waste bunkers. “The improvements have really pushed this course up on the Arizona must-play list,” Strauss said. The par-71, 7,072-yard track is located 600 feet above the valley floor and features dramatic elevation changes and stellar views of Camelback Mountain.

Raven Golf Club
Phoenix
(602) 243-3636 • ravenphx.com
Though located only minutes from downtown Phoenix, playing this David Graham and Gary Panks-designed course, with its nearly 6,000 pine trees lining the fairways and the Flagstaff red cinder border “almost makes you feel like you’re playing a course in Northern Arizona,” Stauss said. Opened in 1995, length ranges from 5,759 yards to 7,078 yards. Offering stellar views of both mountains and the downtown Phoenix Skyline, Raven is eminently playable, but its complex, multi-tiered green system offers plenty of challenge. The Raven Golf Club recently underwent an extensive renovation, including bunker enhancement, and landscape and clubhouse improvements.

We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
Fort McDowell
(480) 836-9000 • wekopa.com

“If you’re a scratch player looking for a true desert test, We-Ko-Pa ranks right up there,” Strauss said. “It offers the challenge of desert golf off the tee, as well as exceptional shot values and really challenging and creative green complexes.” The facility includes two courses, the 7,225-yard Scott Miller-designed Cholla, which opened in 2001, and the 6,966-yard Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw-designed Saguaro, which opened in 2007. The Cholla is the tougher of the two, but each benefits from what may be We-Ko-Pa’s greatest attribute: its location. Situated on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, there are no homes or structures within eyesight, making this not just a desert golf experience, but a desert golf reality.


Wigwam Golf Resort
Litchfield Park
(623) 935-3811 • wigwamresort.com
Part of a 440-acre, 80-year-old resort that blends modern amenities with the region’s Native American history, the three golf courses on this property rank among the most scenic and lush in this golf-saturated area. The Gold Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., opened in 1964 and is a true monster, as it stretches 7,430 yards from the tips. The far more manageable Patriot Course, also designed by Jones, is a par-70, 6,001-yard track with sharply contrasting nines. Resting comfortably between is the 6,852-yard Heritage Course. Though each has its own character, all three offer generous, tree-lined fairways and you’re never too far from water. A $7 million “rejuvenation” of the resort finished in January 2011.

Lost Canyons Golf Club presents a pair of beautiful, exacting tests where smart play can pay off.

By Eli Miller

There is perhaps no better combination of calm and chaos at a Southern California golf facility than Simi Valley’s Lost Canyons Golf Club.

As one of the only 36-hole daily-fee venues in the Los Angeles area, Lost Canyons distinguishes itself with two challenging 18-hole layouts co-designed by Fred Couples and Pete Dye, who is widely regarded as one of the most decorated and demanding golf course architects ever. It’s set amidst the statuesque Santa Susana Mountains and part of an amazingly tranquil environment that’s shielded from freeways and the denser metropolitan area.

A relaxed aura permeates throughout the facility, which includes a full-turf practice range, spacious pro shop and cozy dining space in the Oak Tree Room. And while the two layouts present certain challenges in the form of intimidating tee shots, plentiful bunkering and quick, wavy greens, that aura remains once on the course to help players stay calm and composed for an entire round.

Last month, I teed it up with a few friends on the Sky Course from the 6,740-yard gold markers. Although I was quickly reminded I am indeed not one of the most skilled golfers out there, I thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance and found myself thirsting for a return trip — provided I keep my game warm during the winter months and employ a smarter strategy on the course.

SAFETY FIRST

Early on, the 545-yard, par-5 fourth hole presents an interesting test. Initial challenge off the tee includes a large oak tree guarding the left side of the fairway and a deep bunker on the right. Then, the fairway doglegs sharply to the right around a large hill, making the last 150 yards of the hole invisible off the tee. Like other par 5s on Sky — especially Nos. 12 and 14 — hitting driver isn’t mandatory since reaching the green in two shots is a pipe dream for most. Take a fairway wood or hybrid and keep the ball in play. Otherwise, you’re making yourself more vulnerable with unnecessary risk.

SHORT HOLES, BIG GREENS

The Sky Course at Lost Canyons boasts a stellar collection of par-3 tests, each of which is framed by majestic mountain views. And while three of the four short holes play close to 200 yards from the gold tees, their expansive, undulating green complexes present more demand. A tee shot to the center of the putting surface is still the prudent play, but since the pins are usually set on green edges, a two-putt is not a sure thing.

The 17th hole, my choice for most scenic on the course, presents a birdie chance if the flag is set in front of the segmented green — it’s listed at 160 yards on the scorecard but plays about 130 yards when the pin is short. If the pin is set on the precarious perch at the far-back-left corner of the green, good luck.

SOAK IN THE SCENERY

The intricate, bumpy faces on the Santa Susana Mountains and the flowing grasses covering them are truly sights to behold. Don’t just admire them for their beauty — putts break away from the mountains, so when you’re reading the greens, be sure to factor them in when determining your line.

To make a tee time at Lost Canyons Golf Club, call (805) 522-4653 or visit lostcanyons.com and facebook.com/lostcanyons.

Recent UC Irvine stars come up short after advancing to the final stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament.

Mike Lavery earned an exemption to play on the Nationwide Tour.

By Jim Dover

Three golfers with UC Irvine ties were among the 173 players in the California desert competing in the final stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament in early December. The former Anteaters climbed a monumental hill to get to La Quinta by advancing through five stages and past the majority of a field that began with 969 players.

But in the end, Mike Lavery, Sean Shahi and John Chin came up short of their shot to earn a PGA Tour card. Lavery, however, did receive full exemption to play on the Nationwide Tour this season, and he hopes to use that status to reach his ultimate goal of playing on the PGA Tour.

John Chin finished in a tie for 82nd place after jumping as high as 41st.

“I certainly want to win on the Nationwide Tour,” said Lavery, who finished tied for 54th at Q-School. “In the players meeting they stressed that every tournament you are one week away from the PGA Tour, which is true. But that doesn’t happen unless you win, and that will be my first priority and my only clear goal at the start of the year.”

Lavery, who attended UC Irvine from 1999-2003 and won the Big West title in his final season with the Anteaters, started the final stage of Q-School with an opening 5-under 67 that put him in 10th position. But he knew there was plenty of work still to be done.

“The tournament is quite literally a marathon,” he said. “Six rounds of golf is a lot, and to get excited about one round of golf considering we had only played 18 holes of 108 would have been a little overzealous.”

As it turned out, he gave those shots back with a 5-over 77 on the second day. After an up-and-down middle portion of the final stage, Lavery rallied with a 4-under 68 on the final day to vault up the standings and secure his nice consolation prize. The top 27 players earned cards, with the next 50 finishers attaining full exemption on the Nationwide Tour. All remaining players received conditional status on the Nationwide Tour for making it to the final stage.

Sean Shahi was in 61st place after the first round, but would fall to 159th by the end of the tournament.

That latter group includes the other two former UC Irvine players in the field.

Chin (2006-10) was UC Irvine’s first PING All-American selection and earned a spot on the 2010 All-Nicklaus team as a senior. He has played recently on the Canadian Tour and Golden State Tour. Chin was in 126th place at Q-School after his opening round but played well enough to ascend to the 41st position after the fourth round. His final two days, however, included consecutive 1-over efforts and he finished tied for 82nd.

“I was happy that I made it to the finals, but a little disappointed I didn’t play well during the six rounds,” Chin said. “But it gives me a schedule for next year and helps me get closer to my goal of a PGA Tour card.”

Shahi (2007-09) left UC Irvine early to compete on the Asian Tour before moving to the Canadian Tour last year. A legitimate one-two punch with Chin during their college days, Shahi had a decent first round at Q-School with a 2-under 70 that left him in a respectable 61st place. But that was his best round of the final stage and he tumbled to the 159th spot after the final round.

While golf is an individual sport, the fact that three former Anteaters were at the final stage of Q-School lifted Lavery’s spirits and he was able to sneak an occasional peak at how Chin and Shahi were progressing during the week-long grind.

“I knew generally how they were doing in the tournament,” Lavery said. “They both came to UCI after I left, and I know them both, but I probably know John Chin a little bit better. John is a very good golfer.”