FARMINGTON — Kyler Dunkle came to Utah just under two years ago looking for a chance to make waves with the University of Utah men’s golf program.

The former Colorado State golfer has a chance to stand out in more than collegiate circles Saturday.

Dunkle drained a celebratory birdie putt from 15 feet to knock off Utah teammate Blake Tomlinson, 3 and 1 Friday, and advance to the championship match of the Utah State Amateur.

"That was a bonus. I wasn’t even trying to make that. I was just trying to get it inside 3 feet," Dunkle said. "It felt great, though. When something like that happens, it’s always a great feeling.

"But I was just trying to get close."

Dunkle will face Preston Summerhays — yes, one of those Summerhays — in the 36-hole final Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. at Oakridge Country Club.

After the State Amateur, Dunkle will return to Colorado for a U.S. Amateur qualifier on July 2. He also has stops in Columbus, Ohio, and Denver before going back to school in September.

"It's always fun to compete against the best players in the state," said Dunkle, 21. "It’s really cool to be here.

"You look at the names who have won here — Patrick Fishburn, Tony Finau, Zac Blair — they are all guys who are making an impact on professional golf. It would be really cool to have an opportunity to be a part of that."

The senior-to-be took a 2-up lead on Tomlinson going into the 17th hole, and with Tomlinson needing to make a move to go through the full 18, Dunkle smacked his approach shot from the fringe that dropped just under 15 feet from the hole to knock off this year’s medalist after stroke play.

"It's never easy playing one of your best friends," Dunkle said. "You know there's obviously going to be a winner and a loser, and you hope you win — but you also hope the best for the other guy.

"Blake has been one of my best friends for this entire year. But I know he’s one of the best players in this field, and I know I had to play my best golf to beat him. It was a great match."

Dad's calling

Preston Summerhays, who rolled to a 6 and 4 win over second cousin Tyler Savage in Thursday's Round of 16, got a special phone call as he walked off the No. 18 with a 1-up victory over Dixie State golfer Jayce Frampton.

It was Summerhays' dad, Boyd, who was in New York coaching local PGA Tour pro Tony Finau at the U.S. Open.

"He’s been keeping up with me," Preston said. "We call right before and after each round.

"Today, he just told me that he's proud of me — and to go have fun. Right now, it’s a lot of fun. But before the (semifinals), I was kind of nervous. Really nervous."

The 15-year-old Summerhays, who will be a sophomore at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, will have a chance to do something his old man never did — win the Utah State Amateur.

Summerhays took a 1-up lead on the Par-4 16th hole, and held on for the 18-hole win.

"We had been all square for a while," he said. "I was in the rough, had about 242, and I knew if I could get on the green, I would put enough pressure to make him go for it. And I hit a nice shot with my hybrid that rolled to the middle of the green and to the back."

Uncle Danny Summerhays, who handed Preston his phone when he walked off the 18th green, won back-to-back state amateur titles in 2000 and 2001. Grandfather Bruce Summerhays won the event in 1966 — and all three Summerhays titles were won at Oakridge Country Club, where Bruce is a member.

Boyd Summerhays never made it past the quarterfinals of the event. But watching his son advance to within 36 holes of the state amateur title — via cellphone videos sent by his wife after every hole — has been equally emotional.

"It’s just exciting to be in the mix, and having a chance to win," Preston Summerhays said before adding with a laugh, "My dad never got past the final eight, so I will have to shove that in his face a little bit."

Quarterfinal results

Blake Tomlinson d. John Owen, 2 and 1

Kyler Dunkle d. Darren Overton, 19 holes

Preston Summerhays d. Andy Hess, 3 and 1

Jayce Frampton d. Dan Horner, 2 up

Semifinal results

Kyler Dunkle d. Blake Tomlinson, 3 and 1

Preston Summerhays d. Jayce Frampton, 1 up

Championship final (36 holes)

Saturday, 8 a.m.

Kyler Dunkle vs. Preston Summerhays

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