Arnold Palmer’s Grandson Looks To Find Success On Hooters Tour
- Reported by NGA Hooters Professional Golf Tour
The
proverbial adage an apple never falls far from the tree is one that
recently turned professional golfer Sam Saunders hopes is certainly
true. Saunders is the grandson of Hall of Fame golfer Arnold Palmer.
Saunders
grew up in Orlando, Florida and fell in love with golf when he was
between twelve and thirteen years old although he had been playing
since he was able to hold a club. He grew up a member of the famed Bay
Hill Golf and Lodge, owned by his grandfather and run by his parents.
“I
credit them with my development into the game of golf, they never
pushed me to play, I just fell in love with it in middle school,” said
the twenty-two year old.
“My
grandfather has been a huge influence on my golf game as well,” said
Saunders. “He has been working a lot with me on my swing and I truly
enjoy our time together.”
Growing
up in the shadows of a golfing legend hasn’t affected Saunders game
however. In high school, Saunders captured the Florida State High
School golf championship his junior year while attending Trinity Prep
in Winter Garden, Florida which led to him being named the State Player
of the Year. He also finished fourth his freshman year and runner-up in
both his sophomore and senior seasons.
After
a brilliant high school career, Saunders was ranked number-one in the
nation in Golfweek's junior rankings on June 4, 2006 after he captured
the FCWT National Championship at PGA National's Champions Course in
Florida by three strokes after a final round 65.
Saunders
enrolled at Clemson University and got off to hot start finishing in
the top ten in first ever collegiate tournament. That season his score
counted in twenty of the twenty-four
rounds he played leading into the NCAA Championship.
He
spent three seasons at Clemson University before dropping out of school
before his senior year to focus all his attention on preparing for a
career as a touring professional.
“It’s
a challenge that I have been looking forward to for a long time.” He
said. “I have always dreamed of playing golf for a living.”
Even
with a name like Palmer in your corner, players aren’t exempt from
going to PGA TOUR Q-School to make it to the PGA TOUR. Having never
gone to Q-School before, Saunders was forced to go through the
Pre-Qualifier to get to First stage and the former number one ranked
amateur player didn’t disappoint with rounds of 76-67-74-65 for a four
round total of two-over par 282, five shots clear of the cut line.
Saunders
failed to move past the first stage of qualifying to get to the PGA
TOUR but will now try to take the route that led PGA stars Chad
Campbell, Zach Johnson, Ben Curtis and Vaughn Taylor to the PGA
TOUR...The NGA Hooters Tour.
“I
decided to join the Hooters Tour for 2010 because I think it will be a
great learning experience for me,” said the former Clemson Tiger. “The
Hooters Tour simulates the PGA Tour events by playing four rounds each
week, is filled with great players and it will be a great venue for me
to improve my game.”
“The routing is great on the Hooters Tour as well and it fits in nicely with the PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour Schedules.”
After
a successful amateur career and a promising start to a pro career, what
can the golfing world expect from Sam Saunders in 2010?
“I
don’t know, my goal is to play well enough on the Hooters Tour to
improve my game so that one day I will playing at golf’s highest
level,” said Saunders.
The
NGA/Hooters Tour is the 3rd largest men’s 72-hole professional golf
tour in the country behind the PGA and Nationwide Tours, and boasts
alumni like 2009 British Open Champion, 2007 Masters Champion Zach
Johnson, 2003 PGA Champion Shaun Micheel, 2003 US Open Champion Jim
Furyk, 2003 British Open Champion Ben Curtis, British and PGA Champion
John Daly, Two-time US Open Champion Lee Janzen, British Open Champion
Tom Lehman as well as PGA Champion David Toms, Tour Championship winner
Chad Campbell and back to back Reno Tahoe Winner Vaughn Taylor to name
just a few. In all told, the NGA Hooters Tour alumni have an incredible
ELEVEN MAJOR championships to their credit. The NGA Hooters Tour has
helped more than 100 golf professionals acquire their PGA, Nationwide
and Champion’s Tour cards. In fact, 48% of the players that earned
their 2010 PGA Tour cards and 53% of the players that earned full
exempt status on the Nationwide Tour started their careers on the
Hooters Tour.
For more information about NGA Hooters Professional Golf Tour, check out our website at www.hooterstour.com or contact the Tour office toll free at 800-992-8648.