Page 39 - 2019 Western Amateur Championship Program

WGA_Program_2019_V3__ 6/13/2019 2:30 PM Page 37

Van Biezen helped build up Hammer’s Two months later, Hammer teamed
lanky frame, adding muscle (more than up with LSU signee Garrett Barber
10 pounds since December) and nearly to win the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball
10 mph in clubhead speed. Hammer Championship. He then advanced to
went from the 5-foot-8, 125-pound the semifinals of the U.S. Junior and
kid at Chambers Bay to a 6-foot, followed with truly the biggest win of
160-pound high-school senior who his career to date at the 2018 Western
contemplated enrolling in college a Amateur, where he also was co-medalist
semester early. in stroke play.
“I felt like I had witnessed someone
FINALLY, THE VICTORIES
who had really matured,” said Allison
START COMING
Hammer, who caddied for her son at
One problem: He still hadn’t won a
the Azalea and Western Amateur.
golf tournament.
Hammer capped his summer with
That changed in March 2018 when
another stroke-play medal and
Hammer won the Azalea Invitational at
semifinals trip, at the U.S. Amateur at
the Country Club of Charleston. He
Pebble Beach, which helped him move
lost a big lead on the back nine but Cole with his mother, Allison, walking the fairway
into the top 20 in the amateur rankings.
didn’t break, prevailing in a playoff by during the 2018 Western Amateur
Earlier this year, he was ranked 5th in
sticking an approach shot to 2 feet and
the Scratch Play World Amateur much enthusiasm as Hammer was
making birdie.
Rankings. Cody Gribble.
“I truly believe that was the biggest day
Hammer is one of just five players, “Cody turned things around for us,”
of my golf career so far,” Hammer said
including Bobby Jones, to medal at the Fields said. “Cole has that same
after the victory.
U.S. Amateur and Western Amateur in persona.”
the same year. He also earned a spot on
Hammer is a golf nut. He doesn’t just
the three-man U.S. squad for the World
COLE HAMMER have a practice putting and chipping
HIGHLIGHTS Amateur Team Championship in area in his backyard, he had two golf
Ireland, though that means he’ll miss
holes drilled into the wood floor in his
• 2018 Western Amateur Champion the Longhorns’ season opener in
bedroom, complete with Texas flags.
and Co-Medalist Minnesota.
He also has more hats and golf shirts
• 2018 U.S. Amateur Co-Medalist “To finally win three times this summer, than a pro shop. Among the items on
• 2018 U.S. Amateur Semifinalist it’s huge for my confidence,” Hammer his bedroom walls: a picture of Ben
• 2018 U.S. Four Ball said in September. “The guys I’m going Hogan, two flags signed by Spieth and
Amateur Champion to be playing against in college, I know a framed flag of Pine Valley’s fourth
that I can compete and beat them. I’m hole, where Hammer made his first
• 2018 U.S. Junior
excited to hit the ground running.” hole-in-one.
Amateur Semifinalist
• 2018 Azalea Amateur Champion Hammer has made an immediate He hopes to decorate the walls at
impact as a freshman at Texas, going UT Golf Club with more awards.
• Selected to U.S. World
4-0 in his matches to lead Texas to
Amateur Team “It’s all up there for a reason,” Fields
third-place finish in the Big 12 Match
• Member of 2017 United States Play Tournament in October. This said. “What we want is for our players
Junior Presidents Cup Team March, he tied for first in back-to-back to visualize themselves up there and
get up there as fast as they can.”
• 2017 Byron Nelson International weeks at the Southern Highland
Junior Golf Award Intercollegiate and the Lamkin Grips For the newest Texas star freshman,
• 2016 AJGA Rolex First Team San Diego Classic. the clock is starting now.
All-American Texas head coach John Fields said the (Note: This story appeared in the 2018
• 2015 U.S. Open participant. last player to arrive in Austin with as September issue of Golfweek.)

2019 Western Amateur Championship Western Amateur Championship History 37