Some of the best amateur golfers in the state — as well as the region — descended on Purple Sage Golf Course in Evanston over the weekend, competing in the WSGA Men’s and …
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Some of the best amateur golfers in the state — as well as the region — descended on Purple Sage Golf Course in Evanston over the weekend, competing in the WSGA Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championship.
Fossil Island Golf Club in Kemmerer was well-represented at the tournament, with five golfers competing in two different men’s flights, and one golfer — 14-year-old phenom Tazlyn Wagner — competing in the Women’s Championship flight.
Wagner — who’s been enjoying quite a bit of success this spring and summer on the regional tournament circuit — finished a respectable eighth, carding a three-day total of 259.
“The weekend could have gone better — meaning my putts could have been lots better — but you always have those days,” Wagner said. “I was happy with my finish, because I was playing with college girls, and seniors in high school. So overall, the weekend went pretty OK.”
Running with the Big Dogs
Utah’s Ali Mulhall — the 18-year-old phenom who plans to forgo college for a chance to qualify for the LPGA tour in August — won the Women’s Championship Flight with a 75-71-78-224. University of Wyoming’s Samantha Spielman finished runner-up, just four strokes back with a 224; Utah Tech’s Jane Olson rounded out the Top 3, carding a three-day total of 240.
Given the level of competition she was up against, Wagner’s finish is definitely one she can build on. She opened the tournament Friday with an 80, and followed that Saturday with an 88. Wagner closed out the tournament Sunday with a 91.
“The course played pretty well for me, considering it was 6,200 yards,” she said. “The thing I enjoyed most about the course was the scenery, it’s really beautiful on that course. The thing I found most challenging was the super-fast greens — I don’t always practice on greens that fast, so it took a minute to get used to. But I made it work.”
Over the course of the tournament, Wagner had the opportunity to play with several collegiate golfers, including Westminster University’s (and Evanston native) Kyra Sponenburgh, recent Central Wyoming College signee (and Green River High School graduate) Isabelle Salas and third-place finisher Jane Olson, from Utah Tech. Asked if any of her playing partners offered advice or words of encouragement, Wagner said conversation covered a variety of topics — not just golf.
“I was able to talk to some collegiate players, and got some great information, including the importance of learning a second language, and to practice how I want to play,” Wagner said. “The second language stuff wasn’t really golf-related, but the girl I played with said that it was one of her biggest regrets, and to try and learn one. Another piece of advice that I got was to practice really well, so you can transfer it to other places, including competition. I found this to be the best advice I was given, because I struggle practicing how I play.”
Wagner said her strengths this weekend were her drives off the tee, while her short game — primarily her putting — are definitely the areas she needs to focus on.
“The reason my short game is a big struggle for me, is because I would either aim too high or aim too low, which caused me to either go super-long past the hole, or leave it short,” she explained.
As for lessons learned, Wagner said she’s still getting mad at herself after bad shots, but she’s getting better at letting them go sooner.
“A lesson I learned at Purple Sage this weekend was to not get mad at myself for a bad shot — nothing will ever be perfect just like any other sport,” she said. “Another lesson was to practice better on the putting green before my round. The reason I needed this is because, like I said, my putting was kind of bad, so this will help get better.”
Wagner won’t have much time to dwell on the weekend — she’s currently in Salt Lake City for the Utah State Junior Stroke Play Championship July 1-3, then she and her dad Jason leave Saturday for the IMG World Championships in San Diego.
Fossil Island golfers make mark at Purple Sage
On the men’s side at the WSGA Amateur Championship, three members of Fossil Island Golf Course competed in Men’s Flight 1, led by Charles Wagner, who finished tied for fourth. Wagner carded a 77-76-83 for a three-day total of 236.
Scott Benson finished in a tie for ninth, carding a three-day total of 254; Keith Rasmussen shot 85-81-90-256 to finish 11th.
In Men’s Flight 3, Trevan Benson shot back-to-back 80s on Friday and Saturday, then closed out the tournament Sunday with an 82, finishing runner-up with a 242.
Kurt Beebe rounded out the Fossil Island contingent with a tie for sixth in Men’s Flight 4, carding a 96-92-93-281.
