UVU Golfer Tarasiewicz Advances to U.S. Publinks in North Carolina

Nicholas Tarasiewicz

June 23, 2010

OREM, Utah - UVU junior golfer Nicholas Tarasiewicz carded a 5-under 66 on Tuesday at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Qualifying on the par-71 Highland Meadows Golf Course in Windsor, Colo., to capture medalist honors.

He fired a 3-under par 68 on the first day. With the win he now qualifies for the national championship is set for July 12-17 at Bryan Park Golf Course in Greensboro, N.C.

"It's great that he'll be representing himself and UVU in North Carolina," UVU men's golf coach Chris Curran said. "I'm really proud of him and it's a great accomplishment to be playing in a national USGA event."

Tarasiewicz, Allen, Arp Advance to U.S. Publinks
National tournament will be Arp's amateur finale
by Gary Baines - June 22, 2010

While next month's U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship will mark a beginning for Nicholas Tarasiewicz of Colorado Springs and Stu Allen of Lakewood, it'll be an ending for Riley Arp of Fort Collins.

Tarasiewicz and Allen will be competing in their first USGA championship, while Arp will conclude his days as an amateur.

All three earned spots in the U.S. Publinks on Tuesday after completing a two-day qualifying tournament at Highland Meadows Golf Course in Windsor. The national championship is set for July 12-17 at Bryan Park Golf Course in Greensboro, N.C.

Tarasiewicz (pictured), who just completed his sophomore season at Utah Valley University, claimed medalist honors Tuesday after a 5-under-par 66 left him at 8-under 134 for 36 holes. Allen, a 24-year-old salesman of Mizuno golf equipment, and Arp, a former Colorado State University golfer, shared second place at 136 after rounds of 68 and 69 on Tuesday, respectively.

It will be the second USGA championship -- and second U.S. Publinks -- for Arp, who wrapped up his CSU golf career last month. It will also be the end of the line for Arp as an amateur as he plans to turn pro before next month's HealthOne Colorado Open, then go to PGA Tour qualifying in the fall.

"Going into this week, I said, 'This is my last chance at a USGA event (as an amateur)," Arp said. "And it worked out."

Arp's previous USGA appearance came at the 2008 U.S. Publinks at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora. There, he advanced to match play before losing in the second round.

At Highland Meadows this week, Arp admits he had a bit of an advantage. He once worked on the outside-services staff at the course for three or four years.

"I've been out here a lot," Arp said, noting he's played at least 150 rounds at the course. "And without a doubt (it helped me this week). I still remember all the spots you've got to be."

Arp's game is starting to round back into shape after a finish to his college career that he'd just as soon forget. At an NCAA regional tournament last month, CSU finished four strokes shy of what was needed to advance to the NCAA Championship Finals, and Arp struggled all three days, shooting 78-77-77.

"If I would have showed up one day, we would have qualified for nationals," Arp said. "I feel horrible about it. It was on me. Everybody says you can't put one tournament on you, but it was my fifth year and it was on me. That still stings a little bit, but there's nothing I can do about it (now). You just move on and see what you can do."

At Highland Meadows, Arp's game was solid as he finished 6 under par for two days. But it was Tarasiewicz who was particularly impressive in Tuesday's second round. The German-born player -- he and his family moved to the U.S. when he was about 3 years old -- made eight birdies en route to his 66 and medalist honors.

"It's phenomenal," said the Rampart High School product. "I've never been in this position in a USGA event before. I'm glad I could put two rounds together. The 66 was awesome. It's kind of blowing my mind right now, but it's a great feeling."

Tarasiewicz overcame a double bogey on Tuesday with a stellar putting display.

"I started off really nervous because I really wanted to get this done (qualifying for the U.S. Publinks)," the 21-year-old said. "But I just knew I had to shoot something low today to give myself a chance. I just went out there and got it done."

Meanwhile, Allen recorded an eagle on the par-5 15th hole for the second straight day on his way to a second consecutive 68. He made a double bogey early in the second round, but played his final 10 holes in 5 under par.

"It's a little surreal, but wonderful," he said of qualifying for his first USGA championship. "I'm elated."

Riley Andrews of Highlands Ranch won a four-man playoff to become the first alternate, while Branden Barron of Centennial will be second alternate.

U.S. Amateur Public Links Qualifying
At Par-71 Highland Meadows Golf Course in Windsor

Qualifiers
Nicholas Tarasiewicz, Colorado Springs, Colo., 68-66--134
Stu Allen, Lakewood, Colo., 68-68--136
Riley D. Arp, Fort Collins, Colo., 67-69--136

Alternates (in order)
Riley Andrews, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 69-69--138
Branden Barron, Centennial, Colo., 70-68--138

Failed to Qualify
Zahkai Brown, Arvada, Colo., 68-70--138
Jordan Burgess, Windsor, Colo., 68-70--138
Joseph Schwark, Westminster, Colo., 71-69--140
Dean Clapp, Littleton, Colo., 70-72--142
Philip Nelson, Xenia, Ohio, 74-68--142
Mitch Gilchrist, Lone Tree, Colo., 73-69--142
Tristan Sanders, Denver, Colo., 75-68--143
Charles Chon, Aurora, Colo., 71-72--143
Neil Metz, Boulder, Colo., 69-74--143
Brandon Bingaman, Montrose, Colo., 74-70--144
Kurtis Lucas, Lakewood, Colo., 75-69--144
Wesley Martin, Denver, Colo., 72-73--145
Zachary Zaremba, Pueblo West, Colo., 73-72--145
Andrew Filbert, Scottsbluff, Neb., 74-71--145
Bryan Hackenberg, Thornton, Colo., 71-74--145
Bryan Kruse, Westminster, Colo., 72-73--145
Adam Golesh, Littleton, Colo., 72-74--146
Sean Thomas, Arvada, Colo., 71-75--146
Blake Mitchell, Loveland, Colo., 70-78--148
Jason Marshall, Aurora, Colo., 77-72--149
Greg Johnson, Lakewood, Colo., 73-76--149
Jon Bohannon, Ocate, N.M., 75-75--150
Ben Lyons, Centennial, Colo., 77-73--150
Grant Javernick, Aurora, Colo., 76-74--150
Kyle Beardslee, Littleton, Colo., 75-76--151
Eric Parish, Laramie, Wyo., 73-78--151
Clint Miller, Englewood, Colo., 77-74--151
James Kurtenbach, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 74-77--151
Shane Unfred, Loveland, Colo., 75-77--152
Nicholas Reisch, Thornton, Colo., 76-76--152
Kenneth Forward, Superior, Colo., 74-79--153
Jeffrey Schroeder, Aurora, Colo., 78-76--154
Derek Powell, Commerce City, Colo., 75-79--154
Wlad Colmenares, Aurora, Colo., 78-76--154
Matthew Rubin, Castle Rock, Colo., 78-77--155
Randy Gaddis, Lone Tree, Colo., 76-79--155
Robert Glucksman, Denver, Colo., 76-79--155
Nick Umholtz, Greeley, Colo., 74-83--157
Ryan Bent, Evergreen, Colo., 81-77--158
Brandon Hystad, Colorado Springs, Colo., 83-76--159
Grant McLaughlin, Aurora, Colo., 77-82--159
Phillipe Kim, Arroyo Seco, N.M., 81-79--160
Adam Vasilakis, Colorado Springs, Colo., 84-76--160
Jay-Jay Botha, Englewood, Colo., 82-79--161
Timothy Walters, Fort Collins, Colo., 80-81--161
Mark Barkley, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 87-78--165
Richard Zavada, Fort Myers, Fla., 90-85--175
Ethan Castle, Denver, Colo., 93-92--185
Douglas Rouse, Evergreen, Colo., 77-NC
Doug Grove, Parker, Colo., 85-NS
Travis Fore, Windsor, Colo., 71-WD
Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield, Colo., 72-WD
Spencer Grove, Parker, Colo., 107-NS
Brian Richmeier, Aurora, Colo., 74-NS