Troy Szabo
PERSONAL – Troy lives in Sacramento, California with his wife Jen. He’s got three children who are all out of the house – Son Jesse (28), Daughter Hanna (21), and Daughter Tori (19). Troy is the CFO and a partner at the law firm Kennaday Leavitt, PC, where he’s also a health attorney that represents health care plans when the feds and state knock on their doors or hospitals sue for not getting paid enough. Troy played a little golf in high school (sucked) then took it up again in his 20s (still sucked) then on and off for years (sucked less) then has played often the past 101years (sucks less).
TIE TO THE MONTEMAR – I met Troy somewhere between the 4th and 6th holes at Haggin Oaks golf complex. It was in the early days of Covid, we got along well, and when we finished the round we decided to play again soon. We did and I quickly learned that just about any time I needed a playing partner Troy was always down to play golf. I could call him at 11am on a Tuesday and he’d be at the course by noon, occasionally answering a quick phone call from one of his clients. At the time we were really close in skill level (he’s gotten better and I’ve gotten worse) and we had a lot of closely contested skins and match games. Shortly after I introduced him to another golf buddy of mine, Mike Meyer (future Montemar player and best player I’ve ever played with), and, like Troy, Mike was always down to play any time and anywhere. The three of us played quite a bit of golf during covid and Mike and Troy now play together more than I play with either of them – work and kids do that I guess. Troy is a great guy who’s fun to play with and always down for a few side bets. Another great addition to the Montemar.
ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MONTEMAR – In addition to the balls and hat, Troy is working on more prizes. He also added three new members to the tournament who all seem like great guys – Bob Manzer, Kirk Whelan, and Sean Story.
WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN IN 2023 – If Mike Meyer was in this tournament and on Troy’s scramble team, Troy’s chances of winning would be much better. Even so, Troy is a competitive guy and paid his fees the second he realized he got points for them. His handicap will put him as either the last player in the first group or the first player in the second and I have no idea which place I’d rather be. His age and wisdom should be an advantage. As some of us younger guys are wondering how late Cheetahs stays open, Troy will probably be sound asleep or mentally visualizing every shot for the next day. He’s got the game to do some damage on the course and will probably earn himself some par 3 points. He only knows a few guys in the tournament and that could also work as a great advantage come draft day.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN 2023 – If memory serves me right, Troy opened up the 2023 Montemar shotgun start at TPC Scottsdale with a triple bogey on 17. I believe he said he was on the green and accidentally putted one into the water. If you were there, and remember that pin placement, you could see how that could happen. I watched Sunday at the Waste Management this year and our pins last year were in tougher spots than they gave to the PGA Tour. He must have let that triple bother him because, after a bogey on 18, he managed to have his second triple in three holes on the relatively easy first. After his 7 over start he turned back into Troy and played pretty solid the rest of the way, carding an opening round 92. His division didn’t do him any favors either. Starting 7 over through three with the big boys is a sure recipe for losing points. He got it together on Saturday and Sunday though and did some damage on the par 3s as well. By the time we finished on Monday, Troy had finished in 8th place, good for the second highest point total amongst the 2023 rookie class.
WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN 2024 – Mike Lee is doing Pinehurst with his men’s club this summer and this means Troy Szabo enters the 2024 version of the Classic as the leading returning point getter amongst the sophomore class. He’s got payment points for sure, but the most dangerous thing he’s got going for him in that inflated handicap. Putting the ball off the green last year may not have been so bad after all. This handicap will put Troy in a division with mortals like myself and he can do some damage in that scenario, especially if he happens to shoot one of his tournament special 76s. We almost got Michael Meyer to the tournament this year, and if that would have happened, Troy would probably be my darkhorse to win this thing. He’ll need to improve his scramble team and hope the draft goes well in order to have the opportunity to squeeze that jacket on come Monday.
ODDS TO WIN – 27-1
FUN FACT – Troy competitively races 18 foot Hobbie Cat Catamarans and his daughter can out-drive him. That last part isn’t a knock on him – he hits the hell out of it for an old guy – but a testament to his daughter.
MONTEMARS PLAYED – 1 (Scottsdale – 2023)
MONTEMAR ROUNDS PLAYED – 3 (TPC Scottsdale, TS-Piipaash, TS-O’Odhaam)
LIFETIME POINT TOTAL – 300.5
JACKETS WON – 0
TOP 3 FINISHES – 0
TOP 5 FINISHES – 0
TOP 10 FINISHES – 1 (8th, 2023- Scottsdale)
RECORDS – 0
TOURNAMENT HANDICAP – 20
INVITED BY – Oliver Kenyon
PLAYERS INVITED - 3 (Bob Manzer, Sean Story, Kirk Whelan – 2023. )
PRIZES DONATED – Last year he came through with some good stuff. Hopefully he does so again.
