BYU's Summerhays Turns Pro

Much to Buddy Marucci's chagrin, BYU All-American Daniel Summerhays has decided to turn pro.

After winning the Nationwide Tour's Children's Hospital Invitational at Ohio State's Scarlet course last week, Summerhays said he was undecided whether he would remain an amateur in order to play on Marucci's U.S. Walker Cup team or turn pro before the biennial event. The victory gave him a 60-day window where he could turn pro and join the Nationwide Tour.

But he didn't wait long to make a decision.

"I would have loved to play in the Walker Cup," Summerhays said. "But when things went so well in Columbus, I had to sit back and take a look at what was best for my career. I don't know what playing in the Walker Cup could have done for my career that winning on the Nationwide Tour didn't do last week. My value to sponsors is probably higher right now than it would have been if I waited almost two months to play in the Walker Cup."

Summerhays, who plans the final seven credits he needs to get his degree from Brigham Young via online studies, will make his professional debut at the Cox Classic in Omaha next week.

-- John Antonini