Brockbank adds Simon Kwon to 2023-24 roster

PROVO, Utah — BYU head coach Bruce Brockbank announced the addition of Simon Kwon to the 2023-24 BYU men’s golf roster, Friday morning.

"Simon is a great player and an equally good young man," said BYU head coach Bruce Brockbank. "He has proven that he can shoot good scores and win at the highest levels of golf and he will make an immediate impact for our team as soon as he steps on campus this fall."

Kwon will join the Cougar squad for the 2023-24 season after spending his first two years at the University of California, Berkeley. The rising junior will have two years of eligibility and will be able to play immediately upon transferring to BYU.

“Simon is a great addition to our 2023-24 roster,” said BYU director of golf Todd Miller. “He is the kind of young man that is always looking to improve both in the classroom and on the golf course. Our coaching staff and players are extremely excited to add his positive energy and relentless work ethic to the BYU golf family.”

As a sophomore for the Golden Bears, Kwon teed it up in nine events with a scoring average of 72.71. His best finish in 2022-23 came at the Alister Mackenzie Invitational at Sonoma Golf Club where he carded rounds of 69-73-70—212 for a 4 under total. His low 18-hole round of 67 came in the opening round of the John A. Burns Intercollegiate.

The transfer from Cal announced his commitment to BYU shortly after winning the 125th Utah State Amateur Championship last weekend. Kwon finished the 36-hole stroke play qualifying in a tie for fifth after rounds of 77-68—145 to earn the 7-seed in match play.

Kwon won his opening match over No. 58 Ryan Brimley 5 and 4 before advancing to the Round of 16 courtesy of a 2 and 1 victory over No. 26 Devin Tovey. Kwon met No. 42 Leo Torres in the Round of 16, who he finished off 4 and 3 to face off with No. 34 Josh Howe in the quarterfinals. He took care of Howe 5 and 4 to set up a match with 2008 Utah State Amateur Champion Dan Horner for a spot in the championship match.

In the 36-hole final, Kwon carded five birdies in the opening 18 holes to take a 4-up lead into the afternoon 18. After dropping three of the first four holes of the second round, Kwon won holes five, six, seven and eight to take a 6-up lead with nine holes to play. The rising junior closed out the match 6 and 5 to capture the 125th Utah State Amateur Championship.

"Coach Brockbank and I tried to recruit Simon out of high school, so it’s nice to get a kid you already wanted through the transfer portal," Miller said. "His performance at the Utah State Amateur Championship each of the last two years has been extremely impressive and it’s always good to have someone on your team that feels comfortable in match play."

Before playing his first two seasons of college golf at Cal, Kwon was also recruited by BYU, Utah, Pepperdine, USC and Notre Dame. He was a four-time 6A Utah All-State honoree, the 2021 High School Golf National Invitational medalist, the 2020 Utah Junior Golf Association Player of the Year, won three 6A Utah State Championships at Skyline High School with now BYU teammate Tyson Shelley and was named the Newcomer of the Year at Cal Berkeley in 2022.

Kwon is the grandson of BYU and World Golf Hall of Famer Johnny Miller, nephew of BYU director of golf Todd Miller and former BYU golfers Andy Miller and Scott Miller.