Wes Artac Wins 2016 Saguaro Amateur

Two-shot swing on 18 is the Difference for Artac

MARICOPA, Arizona – Wes Artac of Kingwood, Texas, and Nick Hardy of Northbrook, Illinois, battled back and forth all day with Artac’s birdie on 18 being the difference in winning the 2016 Saguaro Amateur. It was Artac’s first tournament since early September. Artac said, “It was fun. I dislocated my shoulder in the fall and so this was my first tournament in 4-5 months so it was a really good feeling to come out here and play well right off the bat. After the first day I realized I was alright and just played hard.”

Artac said the pressure didn’t affect him until they started down the back nine. “I look at is as a regular tournament until the last 9 holes and I knew Nick and I were tied. He is a very, very, good player. 9,10, 11 that was when everything kicked in and the nerves and pressure started. Golf is great.”

Top 5 Results

1. Wes ARTAC, Kingwood, Texas—68-68-71–207 (-9)
2. Nick HARDY, Northbrook, Illinois—73-65-70–208
3. Taylor MOORE, Edmond, Oklahoma—71-71-69–211
4. Hayden WOOD, Edmond, Oklahoma—71-71-70–212
Turner MACLEAN, Fort Worth, Texas—68-73-71–212

Notes

The sun came out on day 3 for the first time since the practice round. The high was in the low 60s with wind out of the south at 10-15 mph most of the day.

Ak-Chin Southern Dunes played to an average of 75.8 during the final round and we had an overall field average of 75.5 over the course of the tournament.

Artac beat past champions Taylor Moore (2014) and Sean Walsh (2015). It is likely the last time every champion of the Saguaro Amateur will play in the same field as Moore (Arkansas) and Walsh (Gonzaga) are seniors in college.

About the Saguaro Amateur:
The Saguaro Amateur is in its third year and has established itself as one of the top individual men’s amateur events in the US over the winter months. It was founded by University of Colorado Head Men’s Golf Coach Roy Edwards and University of Wyoming Head Men’s Golf Coach Joe Jensen. The host golf course is Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, which plays to a distance of 7395 yards and par of 72. It was designed by Schmidt-Curley-Couples and has hosted numerous professional and amateur events in its short but heralded history.

The 2017 Saguaro Amateur will be back at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes January 1-4. The Saguaro Team will take place immediately before December 28-30. Also look for the debut of a Women’s Saguaro Amateur.

Roy Edwards
Chairman, Saguaro Amateur
Head Men’s Golf Coach, University of Colorado
[email protected]
www.saguaroamateur.com
303.917.4538