Stillwater Alum Beach Misses Cut in 1st PGA

August 11, 2017 | 2 min.




CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Alex Beach didn't even play college golf when he was at the University of Nebraska, but he graduated from the school's Professional Golf Management program in 2012 and has worked at some of the top clubs on the East Coast since then -- including Baltisrol Golf Club, the site of last year's PGA Championship. That's where Beach is currently stationed. 

What's more, despite the lack of any college competition, he has put together an impressive resume in the tournaments that he's played during the last couple of years. 

Beach, a former Stillwater High School star, qualified for the 2016 PGA Championship. But a blood clot was found in his leg the day before the tournament and he had to withdraw. The recovery process was slow and painful, and he could barely walk for a while. Nevertheless, he was back in form in time to win the New Jersey Section PGA tournament last fall -- he was the New Jersey Section's Player of the Year in 2016 -- and he tied for ninth at the National Club Pro tournament earlier this year.

The top 20 finishers in that tournament qualified for the PGA Championship. With one round to go, Beach wasn't in a great position to make it. He was tied for 34th. But he closed with a 71 and moved up 25 spots. 

His two days of glory in this year's PGA went pretty much the way they usually do for club pros. He shot 79-80--159 at Quail Creek and missed the cut. It was a disappointment, but he was in good company. Rich Beem, who won the PGA at Hazeltine National in 2002, posted 82-72--154. Y.E. Yang, who won at Hazeltine in 2009, was one stroke higher than Beem, at 155 (76-79).

Thomas Pieters, one of the brightest young stars on the European and PGA tours, was also dismissed after shooting 156 (79-77), and Rod Pampling, who has won this season on the PGA Tour, matched Pieters' total, shooting a 77, then a 79.

Basically, Beach summed things up earlier this week, before the tournament started: "This game, it's never going to give it all to you all at once. And you're going to lose a lot more than you're going to win. Tha't's the nature of the game. When you get to this level, everybody's good."

 

Contact Us

Contact Us

6550 York Avenue South, Suite 411 • Edina, MN 55435 • (952) 927-4643 • (800) 642-4405 • Fax: (952) 927-9642
© 2024 Minnesota Golf Association. All Rights Reserved