Alta wins state golf title
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Alta’s Kenny You took the state 5A individual golf title while leading the Hawks to their first team title in eight years.
His last stroke as a high school golfer was a memorable one. Alta’s Kenny You stood over a 20-foot putt on the 18th green at Talons Cove Golf Course in Saratoga Springs Oct. 6. With a gallery of spectators watching, he calmly sank the shot, finishing with a combined score of 139 over the two-day state 5A tournament.
“That was an amazing putt,” Alta coach Rick Dittman said. “He had the pressure of everyone watching, and yet he steps up and sinks what could have been a very tough shot. What a great way to finish his high school career.”
More importantly, You walked away with the state 5A individual golfer title while also leading Alta to its first team trophy since 2003.
“To win state has been a goal of mine all four years at Alta,” he said. “When I sank the last putt I was finally able to enjoy the moment.”
You shot an even par 72 for the first round of the tournament, which put him in a tie for the lead with Kyler Deardon of Northridge. But his final round of 67 was no match for Deardon who dropped to fifth place. The only scare for You came from Syracuse’s Colton Dallimore, who shot a 68 on the final day. But Dallimore was already two strokes behind You going into the last 18 holes and wasn’t able to make up the ground.
You made the Alta varsity squad as a freshman and has led the team each of his four years as a Hawk. He finished 13th at state his first year, then improved to 10th as a sophomore. He came in fourth as a junior at the state meet.
You knew he could do better, so he continued to work hard during the off season to improve his game.
“He likes the game and is self motivated,” Dittman said. “He is not pushed by his parents to the point where he gets burned out. He will go out and spend five or six hours practicing on his own, so he continues to get better.”
You’s score helped Alta run away with the state 5A title, as the Hawks shot a 616 as a team through the two-day event, easily beating second place Lone Peak by 25 strokes. Hawks Nate Lant and Tanner Howard tied for eighth place overall at 156 strokes. Lant fired rounds of 81 and 75, while Howard came in at 82 and 74. Andrew Ovard was the final scoring Hawk golfer, finishing tied for 28th place at 165 (86 and 89).
You will now take his game to the collegiate level. He has accepted an offer and scholarship to play for Utah State University.
