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Focus Helps Idaho Champ
By Paul Ramsdell, PNGA Media
 If you're looking for an example of someone who focuses only on the
tasks at hand during tournament golf, then Ben Weyland might be your best
role model.
In winning the Idaho Amateur, the 19-year-old never looked at a
scoreboard. He did such a good job his caddy/girlfriend Sarah Hulse had to
tell him after his last putt dropped that he had actually won.
And he focused so well on his next shot all day that he didn't even
realize until afterward that his father, Paul Weyland, was in the crowd
after driving nearly 850 miles overnight to be there.
And Weyland barely bothered to notice that his nearest competitor, local
favorite Rick Carosone, was making miraculous par saves from trouble and
enough birdies to take the lead on the back nine at Pinecrest Golf Course in
Idaho Falls.
"I just focus on my own game, my own shots," Weyland, of Middleton,
Idaho, said after his 68-64-72--204, 6-under on the 6,401-yard, par-70
course.
That's not to say he didn't enjoy it.
"It's awesome, it's incredible," said the youngest winner yet of the
Idaho Amateur. "I didn't expect this. I just came out here to have some
fun."
What also was incredible was the trip his father took to be there, and
then stay out of sight until Ben was coming off the 18th green to accept
congratulations.
"I was very surprised because he lives in Bellingham, Washington. I just
was talking to him on the phone yesterday."
Paul Weyland began the trip at 8 p.m. Saturday night, and made it to
Idaho Falls for the 2:30 p.m. Sunday start of the final round. It was well
worth the effort.
"I can't keep from crying," he said.
"He's had so much success on this golf course," he said. "This is both
of ours favorite golf course."
That is even more the case now.
"I'm proud of myself that I pulled it off," Ben said of his one-stroke
victory over Carosone, which came when Carosone posted a bogey on the 17th
hole.
"Now I have a little more confidence in myself. It's a
good confidence-builder for college golf."
Carosone took second after his 69 left him at 205, 5-under. He had the
lead at one point at 7-under when Weyland three-putted the 394-yard, par-4
13th hole for a double-bogey to fall to 6-under.
Carosone's approach on No. 15 went way right, leading to a bogey and a tie. Then his
drive on the 405-yard, par-4 17th got caught in the trees on the right and
he had to punch out on his way to a bogey.
Weyland, meanwhile, steadied himself pars from the 14th hole to the
clubhouse.
Weyland graduated from Meridian High in the Boise area in 2003, and took
the past year off from school. He'll start his college career this fall at
Eastern Arizona College.
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