Fieldstone GC’s Davis continues summer roll
While most 20-year-old college students spend their summers relaxing before classes resume, Kyle Davis, July’s GAP Player of the Month, passes the time by competing and winning some of the area’s top events.
And although the reigning Golf Association of Philadelphia Amateur Champion and soon-to-be sophomore at the University of Central Florida said he has experienced stretches where he has played this well before, it never came at this level of competition.
“I would play to a high level for extended periods of time,” said Davis of Fieldstone GC. “However, not at this level. To be able to play in a GAP event and compete at a high level against players like Mike McDermott, Chris Lange, Paul Rogowicz, Conrad Von Borsig, P Chet Walsh, Clint Deibert and Billy Stewart is a true privilege.”
A short-game marvel, Davis has dominated the local amateur circuit by winning the 2006 Amateur, taking third-place overall as low amateur in the Philadelphia Open, finishing tied for second place at the Pennsylvania Amateur at Moselem Springs and is the current leader in the Player of the Year standings with a 250-point lead over Chris Lange of Overbrook GC.
“My wedge game and short game have been key to my success this season,” Davis said. “I have worked extremely hard to become a better wedge player, this is what my coach harps on down at school.”
The amateur from Kennett Square, Pa., has also made some noise outside the Delaware Valley.
Davis followed his win at Amateur Championship with a record-threatening, 10-under-par round of 60 at the Eastern Amateur championship at Elizabeth Manor Golf & Country Club in Portsmouth, Va., where he finished tied for fifth.
And just this past week, Davis capped off his strong play by qualifying for the U.S. Amateur for the first time after he tied for second with a two-round score of 135 at Stonewall’s North and Old courses.
With arguably his most successful summer season already under his belt, Davis still looks forward to completing and hopefully contending in the Patterson Cup, Pennsylvania Amateur and the U.S. Amateur.
“This has been an awesome summer so far, but it is not over yet,” he said. “I still have Patterson Cup, Pennsylvania Amateur and now the U.S. Amateur. I am excited to play all of these events and can’t wait to tee it up again.”
Regardless of the outcome, Davis, who is coached by Blue Bell CC’s Mike Dynda since the sixth grade, will head into his college season with an added weapon in his bag, confidence.
“My confidence is very high heading to school,” Davis said. “I hope to help our team jump to a Top 20 program this year and improve every year after that.”
The sophomore phenom added, “I hope that my play can help us to win some team titles. If individual titles come along with that then that would be great but there is no better feeling than playing great as a team and being able to celebrate with my teammates.”
And through all his success, Davis is always sure to thank those who helped him get this far.
“I could not have done anything without my support from my parents, Mike Dynda, Jim Larkin (Fieldstone GC), Nick Clinard (UCF Coach) and Gary Ingram (GiGi Golf)." |