Marty James Writes About California Novice Championship Winner-Zach Pollo

Because the winner of the 112th California Novice Championship, Zach Pollo bought to take an in depth have a look at the trophy that was offered to him on Saturday, June 24 at Lake Merced Golf Membership in Daly Metropolis.

He noticed among the largest names in golf – Johnny Miller, Ken Venturi, Mark O’Meara, Xander Schauffele. Every of them have beforehand gained the state novice, one of many largest occasions of the 12 months. Their accomplishments have been immortalized as their names are engraved on the trophy.

“It’s fairly cool to place your title on that,” stated Pollo, a resident of Rocklin (Placer County). “It’s a superb feeling, simply understanding that you simply’re in there with among the greats to play the sport.”

At simply the age of 18, Pollo is a rising star within the sport. He made a direct affect on the College of Arizona, as he performed in all 12 tournaments in the course of the 2022-23 season for the Wildcats. He was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Staff. He was a co-individual medalist, main the Wildcats to the Arizona NIT staff title in March at Omni Tucson Nationwide Resort. His 72.53 scoring common ranks because the sixth-lowest by an Arizona freshman in program historical past, in accordance with Arizona Athletics, at arizonawildcats.com. He was named Pac-12 Co-Golfer of the Week in March.

“This primary 12 months was pretty much as good as I might have envisioned,” stated Pollo, a 2022 graduate of Whitney Excessive College-Rocklin. “It’s been a fantastic 12 months. I’m wanting ahead to subsequent 12 months.”

“I feel I at all times attempt to be the toughest employee I can. So, I feel that’s a giant a part of my success within the final 12 months or so. As an entire, I attempt to simply put as a lot time as I can into working towards. I really feel like if I try this, greater than another guys, that it’s going to form of reward you. It can form of repay in the long run.”

Pollo bought his summer time season off to a fantastic begin, as he spent the week of June 19-24 enjoying on the California Novice Championship, which is placed on by the Northern California Golf Affiliation and Southern California Golf Affiliation.

By capturing 73-70 – 143 and ending in a tie for ninth place within the 36-hole stroke play qualifying, Pollo superior to match play. There have been 156 gamers within the discipline. Solely the low 32 gamers from qualifying advance to match play. In match play, Pollo gained within the Spherical of 32, beating J.R. Warthen of Avila Seaside, CA, 1 up. Within the Spherical of 16, Pollo beat Ivan Barahona of Van Nuys, CA, 19 holes. Within the quarterfinals, Pollo gained, 2 and 1, over Ethan Chung of Eastvale, CA. Within the semifinals, Pollo beat Davis McDowell of San Rafael, 19 holes. Within the 36-hole closing, Pollo gained, 5 and 4, over Dylan Oyama of Carlsbad, CA.

Pollo turned one of many youngest champions within the historical past of the occasion.

“I knew going into it, you form of simply inform your self, if you wish to make all of it the way in which, you’ve bought to undergo a whole lot of golf, a whole lot of holes, and simply mentally form of put together your self. After which when you get within the second, you’ve simply keep locked in,” he stated.

“You’re so targeted on being on the market that you simply form of overlook how a lot golf you’ve performed. After which form of afterward you’re like, now I’m actually drained.”

Pollo’s dad and mom, Jay and Carrie Pollo have been readily available to see the ultimate match.

Pollo’s placing was key within the finals. He eagled the par-5, 14th, the thirty second gap of the finals.

“My sport felt actually good all week. I used to be steadily round 2-3-under par in every match. After which in that closing match, just some extra putts went in, and I made a few actually lengthy ones. The following factor I knew, I used to be 7-8-under,” stated Pollo.

“It form of simply got here to me. I didn’t actually really feel like I did something particular. Simply performed good all week. I feel it form of simply got here to me on the finish. Clearly, it feels nice to have the ability to put it collectively like that and know that you simply’re the final one standing.”

Lake Merced Golf Membership, a par-72 championship format that was based in 1922, offered a tough take a look at with agency, tight fairways, and fairway bunkers. The course, in accordance with the membership’s web site, “is outlined by its pure magnificence. Enhanced by dramatic elevation modifications and carved into tree-lined, manicured fairways, the course is nationally acknowledged as a troublesome however honest take a look at of golf.”

Lake Merced has hosted U.S. Golf Affiliation, LPGA, school and NCGA occasions over time. This consists of U.S. Open qualifying, 1990 U.S. Junior Novice, 2012 U.S. Women’ Junior Championship, 2009 NCAA West Regional Championship, Swinging Skirts LPGA Traditional (2014-2016), and LPGA Mediheal Championship (2018-2020). Lake Merced underwent a “whole-course restoration” in 2021, in accordance with its web site, with the design by Gil Hanse. Hanse is the President and Lead Designer for Hanse Golf Course Design.

“It’s a extremely well-designed course,” stated Pollo. “I feel it’s an ideal course for match play as a result of there’s sure holes the place you possibly can form of go for it a bit of bit. And it’s also possible to lay again. Sometimes, I’m the form of man who, after I get to match play, I really feel prefer it’s value it to form of take just a few extra dangers.”

“I discovered myself laying again lots and form of hitting kind of low tee photographs with rather less membership that form of simply rolled up there. As a result of there’s a whole lot of fairway bunkers on the market, for those who go in them, there’s a superb probability you’ll have to put up.”

Pollo was red-hot late within the closing match, as he was 8-under over his final 14 holes, the NCGA reported, at weblog.ncga.org.

“It undoubtedly form of boosts your confidence for certain,” he stated of the win. “It form of simply validates the work that you simply’ve put in and makes you notice, simply hold doing what you’re doing and put extra work in and hold it going.

“It simply feels actually good. I do know that that solely comes with staying dedicated to your sport plan and staying dedicated to your coaching. Hopefully, proceed placing that work in and seeing extra outcomes.”

Pollo performs out of Whitney Oaks Golf Membership in Rocklin. He’s very appreciative and grateful for all the assistance and assist that he has gotten from Tom Morton, his coach. Morton is a PGA Member and is with the possession staff at Morton Golf. Morton is President of the Morton Golf Basis and the PGA Director of Participant Efficiency for Morton Golf. Morton is a board member of First Tee – Better Sacramento and chairman of the NCPGA Participant & Instructor Improvement Discussion board.

Morton’s honors embrace:

* NCPGA Apprentice/Assistant of the Yr, 2002.

* NCPGA Horton Smith Award Winner, 2006.

* US Youngsters Prime 50 Junior Golf Teacher within the World, 2006-2008.

* Northern California PGA Junior Golf Chief of the Yr, 2008.

* NCPGA Junior Golf Chief Award Winner, 2008.

* Northern California PGA Junior Golf Chief of the Yr, 2012.

* Northern California PGA Participant Improvement of the Yr, 2012.

“He’s been nice. He’s at all times been there alongside the way in which. I couldn’t do it with out him, for certain,” stated Zach Pollo, who was named probably the most priceless participant of the Sierra Foothill League for Whitney Excessive.

This summer time, Pollo will play within the 2023 U.S. Junior Novice, July 24-29, at Daniel Island Membership (Ralston Creek), Charleston, S.C., and Daniel Island Membership (Beresford Creek), Charleston, S.C.

He can even play within the Southern Novice Championship, July 19-22, at The Honors Course, in Ooltewah, Tennessee, and the U.S. Novice qualifying, July 10, at Granite Bay Golf Membership.

Pollo performed in each the U.S. Junior Novice, at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon, and the U.S. Novice, at The Ridgewood Nation Membership in Paramus, N.J., and Arcola Nation Membership in Paramus, N.J., final 12 months.

Pollo had a standout freshman season of faculty golf for Arizona. His closing rating of 13-under par on the Arizona NIT tied for the Twelfth-best match rating in relation to par in program historical past, Arizona Athletics reported, at arizonawildcats.com. He shot a season-low 65 within the first spherical and completed second at The Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate, in January at Tucson Nation Membership.

Pollo stated the expertise of attending to play school golf has been phenomenal.“I anticipated a fantastic 12 months. I anticipated the staff to be actually good,” he stated. “Simply being there with the fellows and coaches is nice. The schedule we play is nice. Every little thing about it was tremendous cool. Can’t wait to get again for Yr 2.”

Arizona completed in a tie for eighth place on the NCAA Morgan Regional in Might. It was performed at The Institute Golf Membership in Morgan Hill, Calif.

Arizona was seventh on the Pac-12 Championships, performed in April at Stanford Golf Course. Pollo is joined on the Arizona staff by Sam Sommerhauser, a senior, who can be from Rocklin. Sommerhauser additionally went to Whitney Excessive.

Chase Sienkiewicz, a 2019 Jesuit Excessive-Carmichael graduate, performed 4 years of faculty golf on the College of Arizona and graduated in Might from the Eller School of Administration with a level in enterprise advertising and marketing. He just lately turned skilled and is now on PGA Tour Canada. He makes his house now in Dallas and performs out of Stonebriar Nation Membership, in Frisco, Texas.

* Marty James is a contract author who makes his house in Napa. He retired on June 4, 2019, after spending 40 years as a sports activities author, sports activities editor, and govt sports activities editor for the Napa Valley Register, a every day newspaper in Napa County. He’s a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Affiliation. He was inducted into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Part Corridor of Fame in 2016.

If you wish to learn extra Marty James Tales or sustain with Zach Pollo, subscribe to Golf In The Metropolis Of Sacramento.