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Lacombe’s Brady McKinlay wins fourth consecutive U.S. college tournament

McKinlay continues streak at Utah Valley
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Lacombe’s Brady McKinlay has won four straight tournaments in U.S. college competition. (Submitted photo/ Alberta Golf)

Lacombe’s Brady McKinlay has continued his impressive run on the U.S. College circuit.

After closing out the winter semester with the Utah Valley University Wolverines winning three consecutive tournaments, McKinlay made it four straight last weekend.

While competing in Sunbrook Golf Club’s Pat Hicks Invitational in St. George, Utah he shot seven under par on the final day to complete a three-round 22-under-par performance.

His impressive seven-under-par round on Sunday helped move him up six spots on the leaderboard to claim the individual title. With the victory McKinlay has now won four out of the five tournaments he’s competed in this season.

McKinlay told The Advocate during those three wins in the fall semester he carried the momentum in from competing in the summer but once he returned in the spring he had come off a three-month break.

“You don’t know what to expect what you’re going to hit at the start of the spring as far as your game,” he said.

“Honestly the first two days [of the tournament] it was kind of just that I didn’t really know what I was going to get. I had one OK round, had one bad round, and then everything came together in the last round.”

His four-tournament run began in September when he took home the Ram Masters Invitational in Colorado with a nine-under-par finish. McKinlay shot an impressive 71, 66, and 64 throughout the three days.

After that, he continued his success at the beginning of October with a narrow seven-under-par victory in the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational and again later that month at the Grier Jones WSU Shocker Invitational.

During the semester break, he kept himself busy with golf and competed at an amateur tournament in Phoenix, Ariz. He also prepared by hitting balls indoors before the start of the new semester.

“I’ve obviously been hitting the ball well,” he added. “You’ve got to do that to play good golf but it kind of comes down to my mindset and a lot more patience and maturity in my game.”

“I’m not as rushed and kind up and down as I was a few years ago. I’m much more even-keeled and really just playing solid golf.”

McKinlay explained even if he doesn’t start a round off well he knows the better shots and birdie putts will eventually come. Not only patience but gaining perspective has helped him excel this season.

“There’s a lot of pressure on each hole. Especially coming down the stretch at this one in St. George. The last four holes I’d say are the hardest holes on the golf course and I was able to play them one under par,” he said.

“As I’ve won I’ve become more mentally tough in those situations but that comes down to being able to close out. And know that the only thing you have control over is your game.”

The Utah Valley Wolverines also took home the team title after 16-under-par 272 on Sunday. The title is also the fourth in program history at that tournament.

At the end of the month, McKinlay will look to make it five straight tournament wins at the Loyola Invitational in Goodyear, Ariz.

“That’s the goal. It’s a weird thing to say or hear but weirdly enough I’m thinking about that more than I’m thinking about this win. Not really expecting to win but going in there with the idea that if I play good golf I think I can and I think I will.”



Ian Gustafson

About the Author: Ian Gustafson

Ian began his journalism career as a reporter in Prince Albert, Sask. for the last three years, and was born and raised in Saskatchewan.
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