PROVO — BYU All-American golfer Daniel Summerhays announced Wednesday that he forego his senior season at BYU and turn professional. Summerhays made history last weekend when he became the first amateur golfer ever to win a Nationwide Tour event. A 6-under-par 278 gave him a two-shot victory at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational in Columbus, Ohio.
The first-place finish gave Summerhays the option of joining the Nationwide Tour for the remainder of the 2007 schedule and all of the 2008 season. He will make his professional debut at the Nationwide Tour Cox Classic at Champions Run Golf Course in Omaha, Neb. July 23.
"I feel it is the right time to take this step," Summerhays said. "Joining the Nationwide Tour is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My dream has always been to play on the PGA Tour and I feel turning professional is the right thing for me at this time in my career.
"I know it will take an enormous amount of effort and work but I am willing to do what it takes to make my dream come true," Summerhays continued. "I regret not being able to finish my eligibility at BYU but the experiences that the university provided me were priceless and have prepared me for this next stage in life."
Summerhays follows in his family's footsteps of professional golf. His brother, former PGA Tour member, Boyd Summerhays, currently plays on the Nationwide Tour with partial exemptions. He is the nephew of Champions Tour player Bruce Summerhays and the cousin of former LPGA Tour golfer Carrie Roberts.
Summerhays, who needs four classes to graduate, plans to complete his bachelor's degree in financial services from the BYU Marriott School of Management.