LAS VEGAS, NV (July 30, 2021)–Hazen Newman, a junior-to-be at Oklahoma State University, beat Andrew Hawk 8 & 7 in the finale of the Nevada State Match Play Championship. The event was held at July 27-30, 2021, at SouthShore Country Club at Lake Las Vegas and featured a field of 32 golfers pursuing the prestigious trophy. –by Bill Bowman, LasVegasGolfInsider.com staff
Newman, who graduated from Arbor View High School in Las Vegas, trailed just once over the three days of match play in winning the title.
“It feels good to end the summer with a win before I head back to school,” he said. “It was my first big win and will help my confidence a ton. I was close all summer in getting a win but I was having a tough time closing out tournaments.”
In the match play finale, Newman won the first hole while Hawk, a Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association member, tied the match with a win on the third hole. Newman then won the fifth and sixth holes to go 2-up and he was off and running.
“I was playing really well this week,” he said. “Against Kenny (Ebalo, a 6-and-5 win) I was nine-under through 13 holes and against Cameron (Barzekoff, a 5-4 win) I was nine-under through 14 holes. I knew they were going to be tough matches and I was going to have to come out and play great golf. I believed in myself and I made a ton of birdies.”
Newman has been closing in on winning big-time Nevada events for some time. He was runnerup in the 2020 Nevada State Amateur to champion Michael Sarro. Newman finished with a 10-under-par final round to get top within three. He was also runnerup in the 2018 Nevada State Amateur Championship as well as fifth in the 2019 Nevada State Match Play Championship.
He credits those finishes with helping him learn what it takes to get over the hump and post that first victory.
“I’ve practiced a lot this summer to hopefully get in position to get a win,” he said. “But it’s not easy. In any sport, it can be mentally draining. I have to stay in my own bubble out there and stay positive. Negative thoughts are easy to come upon even when you’re playing well. I was really able to stay positive this week.”
Now it’s back to college life and trying to help the Oklahoma State squad.
“We have a great team,” he said. “All 13 of us can make the lineup any given week. I just have to keep getting better.”
To that end, he’s ready for his next challenges.
“My goal has always been to just play great golf,” he said. “When I go back to school, I’d like to make the lineup and play well. I would love to be an All-American but that’s going to be tough. I just know I have to try to keep getting better and better.”
Championship Match
Newman def. Hawk, 8 & 7
Semifinals
Newman def. Fortunato, 4 & 2
Hawk def. White 20 holes
Quarterfinals
Hazen Newman def. Cameron Barzekoff, 5 & 4
Joseph Fortunado def. David Llewellyn, 1Up
William White def. Marcus Mullins, 3 & 1
Andrew Hawk def. Dane Pendleton, 19 holes