Thursday, September 2, 2010
UGA Tournament of Champions Celebrates 25th Anniversary

My how time does fly!

 

In researching the history of the UGA Tournament of Champions it has been discovered that the tournament this year marks the 25^th anniversary of the event. The tournament began in 1986 and has been held at Wolf Creek Resort every year since.

 

There have been many highlights, one of the most significant being the achievement by Steve Poulson in 2007 when he qualified to play in all four divisions and won them all. He won the men’s tournament and club division and also won the senior tournament and club divisions. He shot 69-70-139, which at the time was the second lowest 36-hole score posted in tournament history.

 

The lowest score in tournament history was shot by Steve Newren in 2002 when he shot back-to-back 66s to break the tournament record at that time by seven shots. His 18-hole score of 67 in 2001 tied the tournament record set by Andy Miller in 1997, but the next year he shot a 66 in the first round and duplicated it again the next day for a 36-hole tournament score that will probably never be broken. Dan Horner shot a 66 in 2004 to tie Newren for the 18-hole record.

 

Last year Kirk Siddens shot 67-71-138 to card the second best 36-hole score in the history of the event. He won both the tournament and club divisions and will be returning as the defending champion in both categories again this year.

 

Although accurate records are not available Siddens has probably played in more Tournament of Champions than any other player. Steve Poulson probably ranks right up there with him, and of course, Todd Barker has been on the scene plenty of times as well.

 

The tournament expanded to include women in 1993 and added senior men in 1998.

 

Tom Johnson is the only person to win back-to-back men’s titles, doing that in 1996 and 1997. Steve Poulson has won the most total titles, twice in the men’s tournament division, four times in the men’s club champions division, twice in the men’s senior tournament division and three times in the men’s senior club champions division for a total of 11 titles.

 

In the men’s tournament division Johnson and Poulson are the only players to win the title twice, and it remains one of the few tournaments that Todd Barker hasn’t won.

 

Stephanie Brockbank-Belnap won the first three women’s titles. Those who have won twice include Sue Nyhus, Joyce Billings, Rachel Newren, and the current defending champion Echo Thatcher.

 

In the short history of the senior division Brent Tidwell and Steve Poulson are the only two to win the title twice. Poulson is the defending champion this year but will not be playing because of back problems.

 

The tournament will be held Friday and Saturday, September 10^th and 11^th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tournament of Champions History

Men’s Division

Year       Tourney Division                 Club Division

1986        Kurt Bosen, 147                                    Tom Bashford, Barn, 159

1987        Brett Taylor, 142                                   Pete Randall, Logan G&CC, 153

1988        Doug Roberts, 151                               Jerry Rose, HVCC, 158

1989        Eddie Heinen, 146                                Kenny Thomson, Valley View, 148

1990        David Summerhays, 145                      Kurt Bosen, Bountiful, 146

1991        Doug Bybee, 141                                  John Van Vleet, Wolf Creek, 147

1992        Rob Despain, 141                                 Randy Robertson, Southgate, 147

1993        Jerimie Montgomery, 142                    Ken Cromwell, Barn, 147

1994        Chris Myrick, 142                 Steve Poulson, Bountiful, 144

1995        Russ Madsen, 143                               Chris Dahlberg, Ogden G&CC, 146

1996        Tom Johnson, 143                                Scott Hurst, Ogden G&CC, 146

1997        Tom Johnson, 139                                Steve Poulson, Wingpointe, 143

1998        Kirk Bowler, 140                                   David Booth, Glenmoor, 146

1999        Chris Moody, 145                                Mike Jorgensen, Cove View, 146

2000        Jeff Jolley, 143                                      Vince Aoki, Rose Park, 143

2001        Luke Swilor, 143                                   Barry Schenk, 147

2002        Steve Newren, 66-66-132                     Dave Pickett, 143

2003        Corey Matthews, 71-71-142                Steve Poulson, Bountiful, 144

                (Playoff-Nick Mickek)

2004        Dan Horner, 66-75-141                         Ben Aguayo, Eaglewood, 67-74- 141

                (Playoff/Aguayo)

2005        Steve Poulson, 71-71-142                    Brock Griffith, Oquirrh Hills, 76-68-144

2006        Andrew Barton, 71                               Kirk Siddens, 71  

                (Playoff/Siddens)

2007        Steve Poulson, 69-70-139                    Steve Poulson, 69-70-139

2008        Nick Killpack, 74-67-141                      Kyle Chappel, Cove View, 146 (Playoff-Jeff Jolley)

2009        Kirk Siddens, 67-71-138                       Kirk Siddens, Wingpointe, 138

2010

 

                                                                Women’s Division

1993        Stephanie Brockbank, 158                  Genean Bang, Oakridge, 173

1994        Stephanie Brockbank, 161                  C.J. Fish, Bountiful, 162

1995        Stephanie Belnap, 144                         Gwen Adams, 168

1996        Sue Nyhus, 147                                    Wendy Compton, 166

1997        Sue Nyhus, 147                                    Julie McMullin, Park City, 153

1998        no champion                                         Julie McMullin, Park City, 155

1999        Jamie Stephenson, 156                        Julie McMullin, Park City, 152

2000        no champions

2001        Joyce Billings, 160                               Wallace Hamerton, Jeremy CC, 161

2002        Joyce Billings, 167                               Joyce Billings, 167

2003        Annette Gaiotti, 163

2004        Dee Price, 85-90-175 (Only four players entered)

2005        Rachel Newren, 73-74-147

2006        Rachel Newren, 71

2007        Annette Gaiotti, 80-76-156  Layne Sheridan, 80-85-165

2008        Echo Thatcher, 155                              Annette Gaiotti, 160                            

2009        Echo Thatcher, 156

2010

                                                                Senior Division

1998        Jim Jensen, 144                    

1999        Steve Dalberti, 155

Dick Peaock, 155

2000        Brent Tidwell

2001        no champion

2002        Dave Pickett, 143

2003        Steve Watts, 147

2004        Rich Gibbons, 71-82-153

2005        Mike Hacker, 73-83-156

2006        Brent Tidwell, 76                                  Brent Tidwell, 76

2007        Steve Poulson, 69-70-139                    Steve Poulson, 69-70-139

2008        Brent Marriott, 144                               Steve Poulson, Bountiful, 144

2009        Steve Poulson, 144                              Steve Poulson, Bountiful, 144

2010

 

 

 

T of C Records

36-Hole Score-

132- Steve Newren, 66-66-132 (2002)

138- Kirk Siddens, 67-71-138 (2009)

139- Steve Poulson, 69-70-139 (2007)

 

18-Hole Score

66- Steve Newren, 2002, 2002; Dan Horner, 2004

67- Andy Miller, 1997; Jeff Jolley, 2000; Steve Newren, 2001; Kirk Siddens, 2009; Nick Killpack, 2008; Nick Nelson, 2007; Ben Aguayo, 2004