CEDAR HILLS, Utah — BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake, members of the football staff, players, alumni and media members gathered at the Cedar Hills Golf Club for the second annual Media Apprecation Golf Scramble on Monday.
"I have seen LaVell Edwards and how he had a great relationship with the media, and I thought that was something special," Sitake said. "When he was alive and I would talk to him, he would always tell me that the media was different, but he had a huge respect for the media that actually did it the right way — the professionals. That’s why we want to highlight you guys and show you appreciation and make you play golf on a hot day and hang out with us, and then ask me questions afterwards.”
Designed to be a relaxed, relationship-building activity for local media and the football program, the event featured 28 foursomes playing in a fun, 18-hole scramble-format golf tournament. After playing, attendees went to a luncheon provided by Tucanos. Sitake spoke briefly at the luncheon to media members, thanking them for their work in telling the story of BYU's football program, which enters its 100th season in 2024. Following the luncheon, Sitake, coaches and players participated in various interviews with the media at the event.
The alumni team of Blake Freeland, Baylor Romney, Dax Milne and Hank Tuipulotu won the tournament, shooting a 14-under-par 57 while the BYU Radio-sponsored team of Hans Olsen, Mitchell Juergens, Matt Jarvis and Jacob Murphy tied for second at 12-under 59 with the KSL Sports Zone team of Patrick Kinahan, Jake Hatch, Jake Scott and Alex Kirry.
BYU Football will participate in Big 12 Media Days in Las Vegas on July 9-10 before kicking off the season against Southern Illinois at LaVell Edwards Stadium on August 31.