Peters Township golfer qualifies for amateur championships
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Connor Schmidt of Venetia has again qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championships to be held August at Pinehurst.
Connor Schmidt listens to instructions from David Kuhn as he works on his putting in preparation for the U.S. Amateur Championships to be held Aug. 14-20 in California.
Pick a sport, any sport, and Connor Schmidt of Venetia could play it and play it well. It’s in his genes.
His mother, Aimee, played basketball at Carnegie Mellon. His father, Ralph, played baseball for George Mason. His brother, Tyler, also excels on the diamond, competing currently at the University of Rochester.
While he dabbled in those activities as well as soccer before enrolling in high school, the 2016 Peters Township graduate, who stands 6 feet, 5 inches tall, exhibited a disposition for golf. His scholastic coach, David Kuhn, recognized it from the moment Schmidt tried out for team.
“Connor is a thoroughbred. A once-in-a-lifetime,” Kuhn said. “He’s talented. He has length and height. He’s physically and mentally gifted. He’s dedicated. He has a great work ethic and he enjoys golf.”
Schmidt enjoys the game so much he eats, sleeps and drinks it.
“He’s a golf-oholic,” said Kuhn, noting his practice routine. Schmidt usually plays or practices 5 to 7 hours a day and gets some sleep.
“My parents don’t see a lot of me,” he said.
With any luck, family and friends may get a glimpse of him on television next week because Schmidt has qualified for the 117th U.S. Amateur Golf Championship set for Aug. 14-20 in California. He made the 312-player field by tying for first place at a section held July 18 at Grove City Country Club. The 36-hold qualifier was one of 100 held across the United States and internationally.
Playing in a field of more than 70 golfers, Schmidt tied Brett Young of Bethel Park for first place by shooting a 7-under-par 137. Because the top two finishers qualified there was no playoff.
“We both were playing great golf that day,” Schmidt said. “I was hitting it long and straight off the tee and not making big mistakes. I knew I had to keep my composure and I did. I’ve been playing great all summer.”
Indeed, Schmidt also had a Top 10 showing in the West Penn Amateur Championships. He also tied for 11th at the Eastern Amateur, a worldwide event, played in Portsmouth, Va.
For Schmidt, it’s just been a continuation of success started in high school, when he led the Indians to back-to-back WPIAL team championships and won the 2015 PIAA Western Regional title. A sectional champion, Schmidt ranks second in school history for scoring average and owns the course record of 29 for nine holes at Frosty Valley Golf Links. During his recently completed freshman season at Drexel University, Schmidt had three top 10 finishes as a rookie, including placing third at the Matthews Collegiate Invitational, where he set the school record low for 36 holes with a minus-7. He owned a 73.9 stroke per round average-best ever by a freshman. Plus, he was Drexel’s top finisher at the CAA championships.
“I did well my freshman year. I was successful,” he admitted. “Obviously, you look to win but as a freshman I was happy with my results. I know I will win in the future.”
Schmidt would not predict a win in his future at the amateur championships. While Kuhn added that a golfer’s true purpose is to “shoot his best against par and the course, he agreed with his pupil’s objective to make the cut for the final 64. At the amateur championships, all golfers will vie in the first two rounds of stroke play at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. and the Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles. All subsequent match-play rounds will be contested at the Riviera, which has hosted one U.S. Open and two PGA Championships
“It’s a great opportunity for me,” Schmidt said. “I’d like to make the cut. I think I deserve to be in the final. I think I can compete.”
Schmidt has certainly put in the time and effort, not to mention shot the scores. Throughout his career, 50 percent of his high school matches have been under par. His best score ever was a 66 and in qualifying for the amateur Schmidt had rounds of 69 and 68, both under par.
Because of his height, Schmidt is capable of driving the ball far. But, he is also adept at putting and chipping. He noted that the top-level amateurs all have those skills.
“Ten-thousand people like me can hit it well and play good golf,” he said. “The difference between winning and losing is so close. What separates you is your ability to finish. Who can put the ball in the hole. Who can make the clutch putts.”
Schmidt is not only grateful to Kuhn, he is thankful for the help Carmen Costa has provided along with golf professionals like Matt Kluck from Mt. Lebanon and Dan Ruffing of Upper St. Clair. Ruffing owns Frosty Valley Golf Links, where he is employed and enjoys all the benefits of being a member.
By his senior season at Drexel, he plans to lead the Dragons to the top.
“Get to NCAAs as a team and as an individual. Our team is up and coming and the program has added good recruits that by my senior year we should be a very good team and possibly able to compete for a national championship.”
Within five years, Schmidt will have a degree in business, specializing in supply chain management and analytics, but he hopes to be putting for dough. He has not ruled out a stint on the pro tour.
“I would love to do that but it’s not my main goal,” Schmidt said of golf. “It’s year to year to get better. Improve a little bit and get better every year. In golf, you can always continue to take steps, learn how to score lower and play better. But the important think is to have fun. I’m still having so much fun out there.”