After freak injury at NCAAs, Gregory Solhaug advances at 2023 U.S. Amateur

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo. — When you step on a tee, it goes through your shoe and into your foot, you sort of make a name for yourself.

That’s what Gregory Solhaug did at the NCAA Championships in May. Walking off the 11th tee box during the second round, a tee somehow broke through his shoe and went into his foot. He was forced to withdraw after the freak accident, though there wasn’t any long-term damage. He was back at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, the next day to support his Oregon teammates, though on crutches with his foot heavily wrapped.

“I definitely got a lot of questions,” Solhaug said while laughing. “Super random. Unlucky. It’s hard to believe it could be something like that.”

U.S. Amateur: Photos from Cherry Hills

The injury only kept Solhaug, from Norway, away from competition for two weeks. Even with the time off his feet, it didn’t restrict his golf game, as he advanced to the Round of 32 at the Amateur Championship in Europe three weeks later. And that came after he was walking for only four or five days before teeing it up again, he said.

Solhaug is in the Round of 32 again, this time in the 2023 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club. In the third match off Wednesday morning, Solhaug took control quickly, becoming the first Round of 64 match to wrap up, winning 5 and 4.

Oregon’s Gregory Solhaug is at the course today. If you remember, he had a tee go almost all the way through his foot Saturday. He’s doing well and should be able to walk on it again in two weeks, he said #NCAAGolf pic.twitter.com/YQ9nR3WF7I

— Cameron Jourdan (@Cam_Jourdan) May 28, 2023

“I started off pretty well getting 3 up after three,” Solhaug said. “Made a couple of mistakes after that but won three more holes on 9, 10 and 11.”

All in all, Solhaug, who’s set to begin his senior season at Oregon this fall, won eight of the 14 holes he played Wednesday, advancing to Thursday morning’s Round of 32. He’ll face off against No. 48 Matthew Sutherland from Fresno State.

“I have to be a bit more aggressive in match play,” Solhaug said. “Just making sure we stick to the game plan. It’s important.”

Although many people came to know Solhaug because of his injury, he’s hoping to wow them with his golf came via a deep run in the Mile High City.