Standing tall at over six feet with an athletic build, Noah Kent, an Iowa sophomore and U.S. Amateur semifinalist, is the epitome of the modern golfer.
His performance at Hazeltine National, where he made six birdies and an eagle in his quarterfinal match, has propelled him to within one win of securing a spot in the 2025 U.S. Open and likely an invitation to Augusta National.
Interestingly, Kent’s journey to golf was not straightforward. Growing up in Naples, Florida, he was deeply involved in hockey and only casually played golf, despite his father’s participation in the U.S. Junior Amateur and his stepfather, Dana Fry, being a golf course architect. However, it wasn’t until high school that Kent began to take golf seriously.
“I was a hockey player,” Kent recalls. “I quit hockey at 14. I played golf, like my whole family was around it, but I didn’t start taking it serious until freshman year of high school.”
The reason for the switch?
“Hockey was getting to the point where you could hit people, and I was like, I didn’t want to be in a wheelchair,” Kent candidly admits.
His statement is particularly intriguing given his imposing stature, more suited to a football player than a golfer.
One of Kent’s mentors, John Harris, who won the U.S. Amateur in 1993 and was a star hockey player at the University of Minnesota, remains a close influence on Kent. Despite his powerful build, Kent’s high school years saw him experience a significant growth spurt, which perhaps contributed to his decision to transition fully to golf.
As he continues to advance in the U.S. Amateur, Kent’s opponents may be relieved that golf, unlike hockey, does not involve physical contact. Otherwise, Kent might already be holding the Havemeyer Trophy.
