Utah State Amateur: Scores may soar this year
Wolf Creek Resort: 150s might get you to match play
- July 6, 2005
EDEN - So, what is it going to be?
 Clark Rustand |
What will be the magic number that qualifies 31 of the state's best amateur golfers to join defending champion Clark Rustand for the match play portion of the 107th annual Utah State Amateur golf tournament?
Will it be 3-over-par 147, like it was last year at Jeremy Ranch, or closer to 157? After all, that is where the cut came the last time the tournament visited Wolf Creek Resort, back in 1984.
The venerable five-day tournament, which bills itself as the oldest continuously held tournament in the world, begins today at the vastly improved par-72 layout that sits in the wooded hills north of Pineview Reservoir. A field of 148 golfers begins play today in the first of two medal rounds (the other round is Thursday) hoping to make it to Friday's first round of match play.
Think you can shoot a couple of 75s and get in this year? Forget about it, says longtime amateur and tournament committee member Mike Jorgensen, who shot a 67 in Thursday's media day round but did not qualify for this year's event. He played in the 1984 tournament at Wolf Creek that Mark Davis won and the 1983 tournament, also at Wolf Creek, which was won by Glen Spencer. That year, the cut came at 154.
"The golf course is a lot easier than it used to be," Jorgensen said, predicting the cut to come at 147. "Plus, the field is much, much
better."
Seemingly every year, Utah Golf Association executive director Joe Watts and his committee say this is the best field in event history. This year, the numbers back them up.
More than half the players in the field have handicaps of zero or better, led by West High junior Tony Finau and former East High golfer Sterling Clark and their plus-3.6 handicaps. Clark and Zachary Johnson will play in the qualifying rounds, but will not play in the match play portion because they have qualified for the USGA Public Links Championship that begins Monday.
Rustand, who shot a 71 in Thursday's practice round, believes the cut will come at 149 or 150.
"The cut will be higher than usual because of the greens. These are really tricky greens," he said.
Although he says the course won't be tricked up, Wolf Creek pro Chad Stoddard predicts a higher cut - something like 151 or 152.
"We would like to see the course stand up to the good players," he said. "A couple of 74s or 75s will get you in. . . . We're not going to decide this thing on goofy pin placements and lightning-fast greens."
The 36-hole championship match is Sunday, and yes, tournament officials say there will be a final match this year, barring something totally unforeseen. Last year, of course, the tournament drew some national attention when finalist Todd Miller, shortly after beating Clay Bingham in a semifinal match, declared he would not play in the the Sunday championship match, citing religious reasons.
The other finalist, Rustand, was then declared the winner by forfeit. This year, every contestant that makes match play will be required to sign a form saying they will play in the championship match if they get that far.
For the only woman in the field, Annie Young, that's a reasonable goal. Young, who was known as Annie Thurman last year when she became the first woman to play in the State Am via an exemption from the UGA, qualified to play this year by shooting a 69 at Wasatch Mountain, where she was co-medalist with Rick Groendyke.
"I was just happy to be there last year," said Young, who recently married Caleb Young, a former classmate at Lone Peak High in Highland. "I've got some higher goals this year, as to how far I want to go."
How far?
"Top four would be great to get into," she said.
Then there's Rustand, who wants the satisfaction of winning the title outright after last year's debacle robbed him of that opportunity.
"I like the way I am playing. But I am worried about this lady right here," Rustand said, pointing to Young.
The 2003 champion at Thanksgiving Point, Tommy Sharp, is not in the field because he has turned professional and is working in Arizona. But the 2002 winner at Hidden Valley, Gregg Oliphant, is entered.
The list of favorites also has to include Art City Amateur champion Ryan Job and BYU golfer Clay Ogden, who has already won four tournaments this year. Utah golfer Dustin Pimm has done likewise, although one of those wins was in a team event.
Danny Summerhays, who won in 2000 at Oakridge Country Club and 2001 at Wasatch Mountain State Park, and returned just a few weeks ago from an LDS Church mission to Chile, will not play after breaking a toe playing volleyball.
Another top player, Steele DeWald, also withdrew after straining his left foot playing basketball.
Utah State Amateur ~ past champions
Here are the champions of the Utah State Amateur the last 25 years, and the course they won on:
2004 - Clark Rustand,
Jeremy Ranch
2003 - Tommy Sharp,
Thanksgiving Point
2002 - Gregg Oliphant,
Hidden Valley Country Club
2001 - Danny Summerhays,
Wasatch Mountain
2000 - Danny Summerhays,
Oakridge Country Club
1999 - Billy Harvey,
Hill Air Force Base
1998 - Darrin Overson,
Riverside Country Club
1997 - Todd Barker,
Alpine Country Club
1996 - Doug Bybee,
Hobble Creek
1995 - Jason Wight,
Logan Golf & Country Club
1994 - Jerimie Montgomery,
Ogden Country Club
1993 - Brett Wayment,
Park Meadows Country Club
1992 - Brad Sutterfield,
Hidden Valley Country Club
1991 - Doug Bybee,
Jeremy Ranch
1990 - Doug Bybee,
Alpine Country Club
1989 - Eric Hogg,
Riverside Country Club
1988 - Bruce Brockbank,
Oakridge Country Club
1987 - Bruce Brockbank,
Jeremy Ranch
1986 - Brad Hansen,
Jeremy Ranch
1985 - Steve Borget,
Riverside Country Club
1984 - Mark Davis,
Wolf Creek Resort
1983 - Glen Spencer,
Wolf Creek Resort
1982 - Steve Schneiter,
Alpine Country Club
1981 - Eric Hogg,
Hidden Valley Country Club
1980 - Erich Gott,
Riverside Country Club
About the tournament
WHEN: Today through Sunday
WHERE: Wolf Creek Resort, Eden
UP FIRST: Stroke-play qualifying today and Thursday
MATCH PLAY: Begins at 8 a.m. Friday
