By Pete Borello
Todd Scanlin will be heading to Texas later this month, thanks in part to his decision to play golf near Sacramento last week.
The Los Altos resident qualified for the United States Junior Amateur in San Antonio by placing third in a qualifier held June 25 at Rancho Murieta Country Club outside of Sacramento.
Scanlin could have competed at a U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifier held closer to home, but the Stanford University Golf Course hasn’t been all that kind to him.
“I’ve never played well at Stanford,” said Scanlin, who struggled there two years ago when he last tried to qualify. “A friend of mine played (Rancho Murieta) last year and said it’s easier than Stanford, so I took a chance.”
A chance that paid off. Only two of the 90-plus golfers in the qualifier posted better scores than Scanlin, who shot a 1-over-par 145 for 36 holes.
The top four performers at each qualifier advance to the U.S. Junior Amateur.
“I seem to play better on courses I’ve never played before,” said Scanlin, who’s first experience at Rancho Murieta came the day before the tournament, when he played a practice round.
The incoming senior at St. Francis High led the field after 18 holes, firing a 3-under-par 69.
“The first nine holes were the best nine I’ve ever played,” Scanlin said. “I had four birdies and only one bogey. I was hitting the greens and fairways and had a real solid nine holes.”
On the back nine, Scanlin had a birdie and a bogey.
The final 18 holes were a different story.
“I was kind of a wreck,” the 17-year-old said. “But my caddie helped me get through it.”
That caddie happened to be Los Altos Hills resident Adam Sollers, who played with Scanlin on the Northern California champion St. Francis boys golf team. Although Sollers and his twin brother Brett have qualified for several major tournaments during their stellar careers and will both play at the University of Arizona next year, neither of them ever reached the U.S. Junior National.
“It’s definitely a big confidence booster for me,” Scanlin said of qualifying for the 17-and-under event. “I’ve never won a tournament before and haven’t even finished second or third before. To qualify for something that a lot of golfers haven’t done means I’m right up there and can play with the best.”
Scanlin will get an opportunity to face the best at San Antonio’s Oak Hills Country Club. The 156-player U.S. Junior Amateur runs from July 24-28. The top 64 players after two days move on to match play.
“My goal is to make match play,” Scanlin said. “I want to play two good rounds, make match play and then whatever happens, happens.”
