Yuthea Hem follows his drive Saturday on the second hole at Sunset Golf Course during the second round of the Mile High Banks Men’s City Championship. Jill P. Mott/Times-CallPublish Date: 7/12/2009
By Ray Sobczyk
© 2009 Longmont Times-Call
LONGMONT — Whether it’s on the golf course or in the world of war, good fortunes always seem to follow Yuthea Hem. It’s been that way his entire life.
With all that prosperity comes adversity and new challenges.
Entering Saturday’s second round of the Mile High Banks Men’s City Championship, Hem was tied for first place in the 1st flight. He carded a 67 at Twin Peaks Golf Course on Friday.
Things couldn’t have started off any better for Hem, who is competing in his first organized golf tournament.
Then came the narrow fairways and fast greens at Sunset Golf Course on Saturday, and Hem’s chances of claiming the top prize took a big hit.
He carded four double-bogeys and eight bogeys, and finished the second round with a 15-over 87. Hem is now 16 strokes behind leader Tyrell Elcock, who shot a 71 on Saturday.
Today’s final round — for all flights — is at Ute Creek Golf Course.
“I came out and played aggressive,” said the 35-year-old Hem. “I didn’t gameplan being this bad. I resorted back to hacking.”
Brad Adams, who played in Hem’s foursome, was there to support his opponent.
“Every time he stepped into the box, it was going right,” said Adams, who shot an 81. “I said, ‘Dude, forget about that. You have to focus on positive thoughts.’”
Adams is proof of that philosophy, too.
After a double-bogey on the third hole and triple-bogey on the fourth hole on the back nine of his round, Adams did the unthinkable. With his four iron, he sank a hole-in-one from 193 yards out on the par 3 No. 5.
“I don’t know how many times I’ve played that hole — maybe 100,” Adams said. “After coming off a triple (bogey) the hole before, I forgot about that, buckled down and focused.
“It was going right at the pin. ... I yelled, ‘Go in the hole!’”
In fact, Adams said his dad, Fred, aced the same hole in 1994.
“That’s what’s fun about this,” said Adams, who is in a tie for fifth place.
Meanwhile, don’t think Hem isn’t capable of rebounding. He’s been through too much turmoil in his life to give up in any situation — even in a golf tournament.
When Hem was 5, his family fled the war zone of Cambodia for the Philippines — where his parents, two brothers and sister would stay for the next nine to 12 months.
A longtime civil war, stemming from the Vietnam War, was in full effect in Cambodia. In order to survive, Hem and his family had to escape.
“I knew where and who we were running from. I didn’t know the extent of it — obviously, not to get killed — but you don’t grasp everything at 5,” Hem said. “You just know you’re in trouble. I was just tagging along.”
From the Philippines, Hem said, his family traveled to the Bronx in New York, where they stayed for a year. And they definitely experienced culture shock.
Hem said that for the first time in his life, he watched television, ate an ice cube, walked on concrete and saw tall buildings. Plus, he finally felt safe.
“We were never exposed to anything like that,” Hem said. “If it makes the Bronx seem safe, it must have been pretty bad.”
With relatives living in Longmont, Hem and his family made the journey to Colorado. He graduated from Niwot High School and now owns Daylight Donuts on Hover Street.
At the age of 18, Hem began taking up golf because of his friends’ interest. However, he didn’t start taking the sport seriously until 2004.
Hem said he couldn’t handle losing to his friends in a casual round of 18 holes, so it was time to bring out his competitive edge.
“I started reading books and learning the little nuances of golf,” said Hem, who has taken only one golf lesson in his life. “Once you play long enough, you hit a wall and say: ‘Why don’t I just do it? Competition is fun.’”
Make no mistake, though: Hem plays to win, and his competition plans on him bringing that attitude into today’s final round.
“If you’re not feeling the adrenaline and you’re not feeling some sort of nerves, than you’re not out here to win,” Adams said. “It’s the spirit of competition.”
NOTES: Jon Chavez leads the championship flight after two rounds. He stands at 141 for the tournament. ... Clint Dudley has a four-stroke lead for first place in the senior flight. ... Brian Adams shot a 63 at Sunset, and has a 10-stroke lead in the 2nd flight. ... Glenn Miyasaki and John Zielinski are tied for first in the 3rd flight. ... Don Arnold and Johathan Nichols are even for the lead in the 4th flight.
Ray Sobczyk can be reached at rsobczyk@times-call.com.
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