19-Year-Old Patrick Hill Takes Top Honors

Patrick Hill took the top prize at the 28 th Annual Hyland Hills Amateur Golf Tournament held at the Courses at Hyland Hills on August 1 st and 2 nd. The tournament was a 36-hole, "gross" tourney, where there is no handicapping of golfers and was open to all ages. Hill, a 19-year-old Colorado School of Mines sophomore, smiles as he notes there was a lot of age and experience on the courses during those two days.

"I started playing golf at Hyland Hills when I was 12 years old," said Hill, "then I joined the Jr. Golf Program a year later. I really loved to just hang out on the Course and eventually, (then Director) Marv Mazone gave me a job working at the course and taught me to love the game."

Nowadays, Hill is giving back as an instructor of the Hyland Hills Junior Golf Program where he works with Val Heim, a course Pro, and early supporter of his. Hill says he "sees himself" in some of the aspiring golfers. Patrick also gives a lot of credit to his parents, who live adjacent to the Course and who chauffeured him around to different tournaments throughout the years and gave him the encouragement to play.

"My dad caddied for me during the tournament," Hill said, "and I just went out there and made birdies and shot an eagle on 15."

What Hill actually did was shoot a 65, just two shots short of the Course record. Hyland Hills Director of Golf Todd Coover said it is Hill's focus that impresses him the most.

"His determination and focus have developed his game, and given him a certain leg up in life as well."

Coover said that despite heavy rain early in the week, the courses were in perfect shape for the tournament. It is a good thing too, because the 100-man limited roster had filled up easily with enthusiastic players.

"This is a very attractive tournament for seasoned golfers," said Coover "a gross tournament is like taking the gloves off."