PROVO — He went from No. 1 in the nation to a guy without a place to compete.
BYU’s Peter Kuest, one of the most talented college golfers in at least a decade to play for the school’s storied golf program, doesn’t know what to do with his spring, if not summer.
He returned for his senior season to get a degree and play on a senior-laden BYU golf team that had a chance to annex another league title and make a run at an NCAA championship. He was personally led to BYU by hall of famer and retired TV golf analyst Johnny Miller.
Now, there is no spring season, no league title to chase and the NCAAs are canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Yes, he’s part of the club where athletes across the world are tuned and ready and left wanting. Kuest doesn’t have a home for his 69.73 scoring average per round.
Just a few months ago, Kuest finished the collegiate golf season as the nation’s No. 1 ranked golfer after a collegiate tournament at Poppy Hills. That’s a lofty accomplishment.
“It’s disappointing to have the season end,” said Kuest on Monday.
“The game was just getting back to where it was in the fall. The whole team was getting that way. We were starting to build up some momentum and it is a bummer to have it all come to a stop.” — BYU golfer Peter Kuest
“The game was just getting back to where it was in the fall. The whole team was getting that way. We were starting to build up some momentum and it is a bummer to have it all come to a stop.”
Kuest finished T3 and T5 in his last two tournaments this winter and still had the Goodwin at Stanford, the Western Intercollegiate, and defense of his Cougar Classic title at Riverside in April ahead of him before heading to Henderson, Nevada, for the WCC championships followed by the NCAA regionals in May.
All gone. Done.
Kuest said trying to find some competition now is tough because events are being canceled almost daily, including Utah Golf Association events locally. It’s a sport where even the PGA Tour has shut down and the first major of the season, the Masters at Augusta in April, has been postponed.
“So, I’m just working on my game and trying to get in better shape,” he said. “I’m going to California for a little while to play there for fun, but no tournaments. I’m working on a few things to play in May.”
One of those events could be on the Canadian Tour if it doesn’t get canceled and he can get in.
The whole deal has BYU golf coaches and players scratching their heads, just like everyone else in America.
This was supposed to be a special season for the Cougars, who won the William H. Tucker in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to start the season. In that event, Kuest shot a whopping 16 under par with an opening-round 63. The Cougars then won the Jerry Pate Intercollegiate and finished second at the Pacific Invitational and Saint Mary’s Invitational.
The Cougars started winter semester with their No. 2 player Rhett Rasmussen ineligible due to academics, which he just fixed in time to play at the Lamkin Classic, the latest outing.
Kuest is a unique talent with a long, smooth, powerful swing. He can drive it over 340 yards on a regular basis and his irons are deadly. He turns par-5s into routine birdies and when he’s on, there’s nobody better in the college game. If he doesn’t finish in the top 10 of an event, it is news.
“Peter is dedicated to greatness,” said BYU director of golf Todd Miller.
“His goals and his relentless effort to achieve them inspire the team. He is the most talented player I’ve ever coached. There are some players that are good playing with their friends, some can really compete the first couple of rounds of the tournament, but Peter is one of the few that is better when it’s all on the line. He can close on the final round and will usually increase his lead.”
Head coach Bruce Brockbank and Miller, like coaches across the country, are beside themselves over cancelations because of the athletes. “I feel horrible for our seniors, Peter, Rhett, Kelton (Hirsch), Chad (Hardy) and Spencer (Dunaway),” said Miller.
Kuest and his posse. Just another set of victims of the end of games this spring.