Everything about the inaugural Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational, a two-day, 54-hole tournament, was very emotional for Todd Miller, the Director of Golf for the Brigham Young University men’s team.
It was emotional because he was returning to Napa, where he grew up and began playing golf, learning about the game from his dad, Johnny Miller, a 25-time PGA Tour champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member, and his grandfather, Larry Otto Miller.
It was emotional because he was showing his players around Silverado Resort and Spa’s North Course, a par-72, 6,988-yard championship layout that he knows so very well, from having played it during his days as a junior golfer and then through his high school years.
It was emotional, because of all the memories he has.
And it was emotional, because Miller was standing proudly for photos with his players in the late afternoon on Tuesday, as tournament officials presented the first-place team award to BYU in a ceremony near the practice green.
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“It’s not even just the win. It was a little emotional for me, just being out here this week, whether we won or not. Just a great feeling,” said Miller, a Justin-Siena High School graduate, who was an honorable mention All-American at BYU in 2004 and named Academic All-America and Academic All-Conference at BYU in 2005. “I was just soaking in it. It was bringing my team to Bistro Don Giovanni and just showing them this beautiful Valley.
“This is a pretty special place. I think they could feel it, what a great spot this is, and I think they could feel my passion and love for Silverado, and everything that's happened here for our family.”
Yes, it was a special homecoming for Miller, as his BYU Cougars celebrated as team champions at the Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational, which had a field of 11 schools. BYU finished at 12-under-par, an eight-shot win, with rounds of 280, 285 and 287 for an 852-team total.
“For me, I've been saying it all week, ‘Guys, I'm so happy to bring you back to where I grew up, to tell you some stories about my childhood out here.’ Some of them they believe. Some of them they don't believe,” said Miller. “And then, playing a course where I can give them some real knowledge, that I've hit shots is really cool.
“The guys really played well this week. Our strategy was pretty good. And the guys handled it well.”
BYU’s Cooper Jones, a freshman, also won the individual title, completing the event at 7-under-par 209, with rounds of 69, 67 and 73.
As the individual winner, Jones earns an exemption into a 2024 Korn Ferry Tour event, to be announced at a later date.
Jones learned a lot about Silverado’s North Course from Miller during his trip to the Napa Valley.
“This is right where he grew up, so it's pretty cool to come out here and have him show us the ropes a little,” said Jones.
“We're driving around and every block we turned down, he's telling us another story. He's got quite a few pretty amazing stories when he grew up.”
The Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational, announced in February by the PGA Tour’s Pathway to Progression, drew top-level NCAA Division I men’s programs and HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) schools, along with high-ranking individual golfers from underrepresented communities. It’s held in collaboration with the Golf Coaches Association of America. The Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational, according to a report, at www.pgatour.com, is a competitive element of the Bridgestone Collegiate Development Program.
“To be able to have it on a course that hosts a PGA Tour event is really special,” said Kenyatta Ramsey, vice-president of player development for the PGA Tour.
Last year marked the third year of the Fortinet Championship, a PGA Tour FedExCup Fall event, at Silverado. The PGA Tour had had events at Silverado for the last 10 years, including the Frys.com Open (2014-2015), Safeway Open (2016-2020), and Fortinet Championship.
“What we're trying to do with our Pathway to Progression program is really just ensure that everybody has an opportunity for advancement,” Ramsey said. “If you prove that you’ve got the tools that that can be successful inside the ropes, we want you to have an opportunity to play against elevated competition. We want you to make sure that you're playing for something, in addition to these great trophies and the team win, and that's rewarding a top player with an opportunity to further their career, to grow more to get in an environment that helps you to develop and prepare.”
Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, Texas) finished second in the team scoring, at 4-under 860.
In third was of Nihon University (Japan), 7-over 871.
Michigan State was fourth at 11-over 875; North Alabama (Florence, Ala.) was fifth at 14-over 878; Elon University (Elon, North Carolina) was sixth, 15-over 879; University of Connecticut was seventh at 25-over 889; Howard University (Washington, D.C.) was eighth, 35-over 899; Florida A&M tied for ninth, 38-over 902; Central Michigan tied for ninth, 38-over 902; and Arkansas-Pine Bluff was 11th, 52-over 916.
Temperatures for the third and final round were in the mid- to high-60s, with sunny conditions and light winds.
“The golf course is great. The greens are great. The kids absolutely loved it. They said it's a huge challenge,” said Justin Baker, manager of player development for the PGA Tour. “I've seen some really, really good, good play out here.
“This is our culminating event of the first year of activating the Pathway to Progression platform. We've got a lot of good things coming up in Year 2.”
There were 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. shotgun starts on Monday.
Players started Tuesday’s final round from the Nos. 1 and 10 tees at 9:30 a.m.
Jones was at 8-under-par 136 through 36 holes and took a three-shot lead into the final round.
As a team, BYU took an 11-shot lead into the final round.
“What we want to provide and help create is an experience for these college athletes, where they say, ‘I did something cool. I did something cool because of golf.’ Stick with it. And more importantly, pass it down to the next generation. Tell the next generation, the kids that are in high school, what this experience was like, so hopefully they'll strive to get there as well,” said Ramsey.
The Bridgestone Collegiate Development Program, according to a report, at www.pgatour.com, “is dedicated to enhancing competitive and mentorship opportunities for golfers from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and underrepresented communities. Additionally, it offers tangible career development opportunities for both players and coaches. Among its initiatives are the Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Ranking, the HBCU Coaches Summit presented by Bridgestone, the Pathway to Progression HBCU Performance Day presented by Bridgestone and two new collegiate golf tournaments – the Bridgestone HBCU Invitational and the Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational.”
The PGA Tour’s Pathway to Progression, founded in March of 2023, “aims to support the identification and development of junior and collegiate golfers from historically underrepresented communities. Now in its third year, the Collegiate Ranking, in partnership with the APGA Tour, provides transitional support for the top five Black senior collegiate golfers as they begin their professional golf careers,” it was reported, at www.pgatour.com.
Ramsey said: “This event means a lot to us. It helps ensure that everyone has an opportunity for advancement, for earning enhanced competitive opportunity. We can't do this without the help of Bridgestone, through our Bridgestone Collegiate Development program. We thank Bridgestone and thank our partners at the GCAA. Also, we'd like to thank Silverado Resort for hosting us this week.”
Individually, Yuma Iwai of Nihon University (Japan), Bradley Sawka of Connecticut and Ting Wei-Hsieh of Sam Houston tied for second. Iwai shot 69-74-67 – 210, Sawka shot 70-69-71 – 210, and Hsieh shot 65-74-71 – 210.
Tying for fifth were Sebastian Sandin of Texas El Paso, 72-71-69 – 212, and Ashton McCulloch of Michigan State, 72-69-71 – 212.
Tying for seventh were three players: Gene Chaikangwal of Sam Houston, 74-71-69 – 214; Peter Kim of BYU, 71-71-72 – 214; and Gregory Odom of Howard, 72-68-74 – 214.
In 10th place was Max Brenchley of BYU, 70-74-71 – 215.
Jones had four birdies and a bogey in Round 1. He had six birdies and a bogey in Round 2. He had five birdies, three bogeys and a triple bogey in Round 3.
“This event was sweet. The golf course was great. Obviously, a Tour venue,” said Jones. “Golf felt really easy (Monday,). I didn't miss very many shots.”
Jones got off to a very good start in the final round, as he was 3-under through five holes.
“But then a little bump in the road. I struggled a little. But because of the lead I had, I knew I just needed to kind of stick with it and just get back to my golf. So that felt good, to sneak the win out by one shot,” said Jones.
“Coach Miller, strategic-wise, was calming me down after those mistakes and just giving me the reassurance that I'm here for a reason. I'm in the lead for a reason. So just to finish strong and he helped me out with that.
“It was a great tournament. The fairways were super tight with long rough and then the greens are fast. So, you had had to be hitting the driver well. The greens were super pure – perfect speed for making putts. So, if you did hit a good shot, it was good to capitalize on it. It was a good test.”
It’s the first collegiate win for Jones, who is from Highland, Utah. He’s a four-time 6A All-State player, the 2021 Utah Golf Association Player of the Year, and the 2021 Utah Junior Golf Association Player of the Year.
“It's good to get a collegiate win. Hopefully I can carry this on to the postseason,” he said.
Miller, who played four years of college golf for BYU, was following Jones during the final round.
“Usually, you get in that position 2, 3, 4 or 5 times, and finally, you get your win,” said Miller. “But for him to just play so well, coming down the stretch the last four or five holes, to win the tournament, it's really exciting. It builds confidence in his game. And it gives more and more confidence to us as coaches to have him in the lineup.”
Miller won a CIF Northern California title at Justin-Siena.