A third-place finish in the Northern California PGA Junior Tour Championship at Pasatiempo Golf Club Tuesday in Santa Cruz was good enough to propel Manteca resident Kyle Harman to the Boys PRO Power Rankings overall top spot.
Harman raked in 543.33 points after shooting a 77 on Day 1, followed by an 82 in the finale. His 1,190.83 point total after seven events left Harman in cruise control to the overall championship. Harman’s point total was over 200 points in front of second-place Mason Welch of Sacramento.
“It just felt good because I set that goal a while back, so when I knew I was No. 1 for sure, it was really an awesome feeling,” Harman said. “Basically, that is the only word to describe it.
“It was really a good moment.”
Family and friends were in attendance when Harman was honored with the hardware for the overall points championship. Harman was also honored with a Sportsmanship of the Year award, as well as a coveted free round at the famous Olympic Club in San Francisco, home of the 2012 United States Open. Harman credits his father, Dave, for the unmeasured amount of time he has invested in his son’s golf career.
“I was so glad that my Dad and Mom were there,” Harman said of his support team. “My sister and her boyfriend, my girlfriend; it was like all the people I love were there. My grandparents weren’t able to make it, so they were the only ones missing.
“I know she was praying for me all day, so that was good enough.”
Harman got his season underway with a 10th place finish in the Spring Circuit I Championship at Stockton Golf and Country Club back in late March. Harman withdrew the following week at Diablo Grande before winning the Summer Circuit Championship at Contra Costa Country Club. He finished top-15 in the PGA Championship Qualifier at Chardonnay Golf Club in Napa and never finished outside of the top-3 the remainder of the season. He also won a qualifying event at TPC Stonebrae in Hayward, taking advantage off an off-week from the NCPGA tournament schedule with an 8-over-par 80 for the title earlier this month.
“Earlier in the season my confidence was down and I was really working on my swing so I didn’t have it,” Harman said. “I was just going through days where I wasn’t feeling my golf swing. Then I shot that 71 at Contra Costa, and it’s weird how one round can change everything. It made me realize that sometimes I am just (not going to play well). After that I started playing without fear.
“Basically, I felt I could stand over a ball and hit any golf shot, and be able to do it 10 times out of 10.”
Harman’s latest accolades leave no room for argument as to how bright the NCPGA’s No. 1 golfer’s future is, and it does nothing to waver him in his commitment to NAIA Simpson College and his scholarship to join the Red Hawks’ golf program.
“I definitely am still fully committed to Simpson and I have no regrets,” Harman said. “The decisions I make, I make sure I am happy. I make sure it is going to be the best decision for me so I don’t have regrets. I am basically the happiest guy right now. I have a good college, I’m playing golf; I’ve got my family and a good girlfriend.
“I really can’t ask for more right now.”
Harman raked in 543.33 points after shooting a 77 on Day 1, followed by an 82 in the finale. His 1,190.83 point total after seven events left Harman in cruise control to the overall championship. Harman’s point total was over 200 points in front of second-place Mason Welch of Sacramento.
“It just felt good because I set that goal a while back, so when I knew I was No. 1 for sure, it was really an awesome feeling,” Harman said. “Basically, that is the only word to describe it.
“It was really a good moment.”
Family and friends were in attendance when Harman was honored with the hardware for the overall points championship. Harman was also honored with a Sportsmanship of the Year award, as well as a coveted free round at the famous Olympic Club in San Francisco, home of the 2012 United States Open. Harman credits his father, Dave, for the unmeasured amount of time he has invested in his son’s golf career.
“I was so glad that my Dad and Mom were there,” Harman said of his support team. “My sister and her boyfriend, my girlfriend; it was like all the people I love were there. My grandparents weren’t able to make it, so they were the only ones missing.
“I know she was praying for me all day, so that was good enough.”
Harman got his season underway with a 10th place finish in the Spring Circuit I Championship at Stockton Golf and Country Club back in late March. Harman withdrew the following week at Diablo Grande before winning the Summer Circuit Championship at Contra Costa Country Club. He finished top-15 in the PGA Championship Qualifier at Chardonnay Golf Club in Napa and never finished outside of the top-3 the remainder of the season. He also won a qualifying event at TPC Stonebrae in Hayward, taking advantage off an off-week from the NCPGA tournament schedule with an 8-over-par 80 for the title earlier this month.
“Earlier in the season my confidence was down and I was really working on my swing so I didn’t have it,” Harman said. “I was just going through days where I wasn’t feeling my golf swing. Then I shot that 71 at Contra Costa, and it’s weird how one round can change everything. It made me realize that sometimes I am just (not going to play well). After that I started playing without fear.
“Basically, I felt I could stand over a ball and hit any golf shot, and be able to do it 10 times out of 10.”
Harman’s latest accolades leave no room for argument as to how bright the NCPGA’s No. 1 golfer’s future is, and it does nothing to waver him in his commitment to NAIA Simpson College and his scholarship to join the Red Hawks’ golf program.
“I definitely am still fully committed to Simpson and I have no regrets,” Harman said. “The decisions I make, I make sure I am happy. I make sure it is going to be the best decision for me so I don’t have regrets. I am basically the happiest guy right now. I have a good college, I’m playing golf; I’ve got my family and a good girlfriend.
“I really can’t ask for more right now.”
