By Paul Giordano
Courier-Post Staff
EVESHAM
Tiger Woods won it in 1994, '95 and '96. Justin Leonard took the title in 1992. Phil Mickelson won it in 1990 and Scott Verplank did the same in 1984.
xp Philadelphia's Jay Sigel wore the crown in 1982 and '83. Go back a little farther and former champions include Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Craig Stadler, Jerry Pate and Bob Murphy. South Jersey's Skee Riegel won it in 1947.
It's a pretty impressive list.
And it's from the USGA U.S. Amateur Championship.
It happens to be where Marlton's 20-year-old Mike Hyland will be teeing it up on Monday during the first round of play at Pebble Beach.
From Holy Cross High School to the University of North Carolina-
Charlotte (going into his junior year) to the U.S. Amateur Championship at Pebble Beach .‚.‚. with a few title stops in between.
Last year, at the age of 19, Hyland won the New Jersey State Amateur Championship. He's won the Burlington Country Club Men's Championship the last four years and the Little Mill Country Club Men's Championship the last two.
Last week Hyland retained his South Jersey Men's Golf Association Men's Amateur Champion crown, qualified for the U.S. Amateur and with his dad, Thomas, a pretty good golfer in his own right, carded a 33-34=67 for a three-way tie for the Golf Association of Philadelphia Four-Ball Stroke Play Championship. An 18-hole playoff will be held at a later date to determine the winner.
By virtue of his U.S. Amateur qualification, Hyland was granted a three-year exemption to play in the British Amateur.
But that's another story. Now is now and for Hyland, the U.S. Amateur Championship is tops on his Things To Do list.
``It's going to be like going to fantasyland,'' Hyland said on Tuesday from the clubhouse patio at the Little Mill Country Club.
``It's a dream come true. It's going to be unbelievable. I worked so many years to get there. And at Pebble Beach, that makes it even more intriguing. I've played Pine Valley, played 20 of the Top 100 courses I guess, but nothing compared to Pebble Beach.''
Like Woods, Hyland started playing golf when he was three.
``My grandfather was a pro somewhere near Dallas, I don't know exactly where,'' Hyland said. ``We moved here when I was in second grade. I've been playing ever since and it's finally starting to come around after all these years.''
Hyland credits his payoff to two people: Burlington Country Club PGA professional Mike Mack, and his dad.
``He's (Mack) helped me with my game tremendously,'' Hyland said. ``I've been going to him for about six years now. He has me hitting the ball a lot straighter and lower. He's helped me keep my swing under control.''
``My dad's given me the opportunity to play, to play everyday. He's taught me not to get upset, not to get down on myself when I miss a shot. He's helped me with my ups and downs.
``He's always been there for me. He's taught me a lot about the psychological part of it. It's been Mike Mack with the physical part of my game, Dad with the mental.''
Given the quality of the U.S. Amateur Championship field and the Pebble Beach layout, Mike Hyland knows it's going to take all he has to concentrate on just playing his game.
``That's going to be the most difficult part,'' Hyland said, ``especially with it being at Pebble Beach. The best players in the country are going to be there. It's a lifetime dream for everybody. It's going to come down to the mental part of the game. Everyone hits the ball good. It comes down to mental toughness and taking one shot at a time. That's going to be real hard.''
Hyland cited an example of trying to do too much with one shot. Last year, he missed qualifying for the U.S. Amateur by one stroke.
``I tried a shot I never tried before and ended up with a triple bogey on the 34th hole,'' he said. ``I was 1-under at the time. If, at worst, I made a bogey I would have made it. But I learned from that. I learned that I have to play my game and play the best I can.''
Hyland and his father flew to Pebble Beach Wednesday afternoon. They will play today and Friday.
Officially, practice rounds will be played Saturday and Sunday. The tournament starts on Monday with 312 players going for 64 spots. Monday and Tuesday's rounds, 18 holes each day, will be stroke play, with the field being cut to 64. Wednesday will be 18 holes of first-round match play. Thursday will be 18 holes each of second-and-third round match play. Friday is slated for quarterfinal play, 18 holes of match play. Saturday is semifinals, again 18 holes of match play. Sunday is championship play, 36 holes of match play.
``It's match play and anything can happen,'' Hyland said. ``It's a tournament I'll never forget my whole life.''
