The last time Alvin Kwak participated in the U.S. Junior Amateur golf tournament, he was largely just along for the ride.
This time he’s determined to be more than just a participant.
The 16-year-old from Mukilteo will once again be playing on junior golf’s biggest stage after he finished first at a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier last week.
“I’m more excited about qualifying for the U.S. Junior Amateur than I’ve been in any other tournament I’ve won,” said Kwak, who just finished his sophomore year at Kamiak High School. “It was a very exciting moment.”
This is the second time Kwak qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur. He also competed in the event in 2015 when he was just 14.
“He’s had a fantastic spring,” said Vic Alinen, Kwak’s coach at Kamiak. “He’s competed at a high, high level, winning district championships and league championships. He had just a little slip-up at state, where he finished tied for 10th. But he said to me after, ‘Coach, I’m going to commit myself to being the best golfer Snohomish County has seen in a long time.’ He’s been going after it, and I’m so proud of what he’s done here. I love the kid.”
The U.S. Junior Amateur is a big deal, serving to preview the careers of some of the world’s greatest golfers. Among the past champions are Tiger Woods (1991, 1992, 1993) and Jordan Spieth (2009, 2011).
Kwak qualified for this year’s edition, which takes place July 17-22 at Flint Hills National Golf Club in Andover, Kansas, by earning medalist honors at last Tuesday’s qualifier at Classic Golf Club in Spanaway. Kwak shot a 1-under par 71 to finish two strokes ahead of a field that included Mukilteo’s Devin Kim (tied for fifth at 74) and Snohomish’s Jordan Brajcich (tied for 10th at 75). The top three qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur.
Kwak, a booming hitter, has a penchant for making birdies. However, he played a no-frills round at Classic Golf Club, making two birdies, one bogey and 15 pars.
“I was playing really consistent,” Kwak said. “I was hitting a lot of greens and having a lot of two-putts. I only had two birdies and one bogey — the bogey was from going out of bounds on 14, but I bounced back with a birdie on the next hole.
“I don’t think anyone expects to get a lot of birdies on that course. It’s a tough course where it’s easy to go over par. I was just trying to eliminate mistakes, which I was able to do.”
The qualifier victory set Kwak up for a return to the U.S. Junior Amateur. Kwak played at the 2015 Junior Am at Colleton River Plantation Club in Bluffton, S.C., but at the time he was a wide-eyed kid who was also dealing with two jammed fingers on his left hand. The result was rounds of 88 and 83, which left him well short of making the cut.
But being two years older and wiser has Kwak better prepared this year.
“I definitely see it as a chance to redeem myself,” Kwak said. “My game has been a lot more consistent, so I feel I’ll actually be in the tournament instead of just experiencing it as a little kid.
“It’s a whole new level and a different feeling. It’s a very pro atmosphere and feeling. There’s a lot more pressure to it, so you have to stay calm.”
This year’s U.S. Junior Amateur features 128 of the best under-19 boys golfers from around the world. The six-day tournament begins with two rounds of stroke play, which will whittle the field down to 64. After that comes four days of head-to-head match play to determine the champion.
Kwak’s primary goal this year is to reach match play, which would allow him to play a format he’s never experienced before.
“I’m not really expecting that much yet,” Kwak said. “But I feel I can advance to match play, at least. I want to get within the top 50 percent. But playing with great players is my goal.”
Match play seems a realistic goal for Kwak, considering he’s playing the best golf of his life.
“This season was different than any other year I’ve had,” Kwak said. “I haven’t shot in the 80s this year, which would happen once every other tournament in the past.
“I feel like I have more experience playing in bad conditions. I know how to deal with that. Then my putting has been a lot better. I’m able to make more birdies now than I was before.”
There’s other indicators Kwak’s up for the challenge, too. During this year’s qualifying, Kwak finally finished ahead of his longtime friend, Joe Highsmith from Lakewood near Tacoma. Highsmith, who’s a year older than Kwak and tied for second in qualifying to reach his third straight Junior Am, made the cut at the past two Junior Ams, reaching the round of 64 in 2015 and the round of 32 last year.
It all suggests Kwak is ready to do more than just participate at the U.S. Junior Amateur — he’s ready to compete.
If you have an idea for a community sports story, e-mail Nick Patterson at npatterson@heraldnet.com.
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