Sydney Richards is teeing it up at the 120th Utah Women’s State Amateur golf tournament this week, and while she carries one of the most famous names in golf, she is actively choosing to forge her own path on the links. This isn’t just another player; she’s looking to go completely “unnoticed” until her game speaks for itself, carving out her own legacy.
Making a Name, Not Just a Legacy
This isn’t just some golfer showing up to play, this is Sydney Richards, granddaughter of Lynn and Ann Summerhays, and niece to former PGA Tour regulars Daniel and Boyd Summerhays. That’s a serious golf family tree right there! But here’s the kicker: Richards, a Farmington native, is making it clear she wants to build her own legacy. She’s transferring to Utah Valley University with a year of eligibility left, and get this, UVU’s own news release didn’t even mention her famous bloodlines. Richards herself told the Deseret News she’s “kind of grateful that no one really knows I am a Summerhays,” because it lets her make a name for herself without that pressure. She said she’ll “always be honored to be a Summerhays,” but it feels good to do it her own way, proving she can do “justice in my own little way” to that awesome legacy. It’s pretty cool, right? She’s already got the chops too, winning four individual tournaments at Southern Virginia University in the past three seasons and grabbing the USA South Conference’s Women’s Golfer of the Year award in 2026. This isn’t just talk, she’s delivering.
Return of a Champion and a Historic Field
Sydney isn’t the only Summerhays making headlines; her cousin, Grace Summerhays, a 2020 champion herself, is also in the field after a late addition. Grace has been battling wrist injuries and actually took nine months off to get healthy. Can you imagine that kind of layoff? This event is only her second tournament back, and she’s stoked to compete. “I am so excited to play Oakridge,” Grace said, calling it a “special place” for her family. She “can’t wait to hopefully make some more great memories there.” The field this year is absolutely massive, the largest in Utah Women’s Am history, with 81 competitors. You’ve got other major players like six-time champion Kelsey Chugg, defending champ Arden Louchheim, and BYU’s Whitney Banz and the Long sisters, Berlin and Aadyn. Plus, some incredible comebacks, including Stephanie Brockbank Belnap, who won in ’94 and ’95 and is back after stepping away from competitive golf for years. It’s gonna be a battle out there!
The tournament kicks off Monday with 18 holes of stroke-play qualifying. Only the top 32 golfers advance to match play, which starts Tuesday morning. The intensity ratchets up quickly with the Round of 16 later Tuesday, before the quarterfinals and semifinals on Wednesday. The championship match wraps everything up on Thursday. Who’s gonna make their mark this week? Sydney Richards definitely wants it to be hers, on her terms.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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