News

Pimm Edges Schneiter for Rocky Mountain Open Title

By Patti Arnold
Sunday, August 21, 2011
 
It was a great day for Utah pros in the Enstrom Rocky Mountain Open at Bookcliff Country Club in Colorado.
 
Dustin Pimm had a bird’s-eye view of what he needed to do on the golf course Sunday afternoon. By playing in the final group, he kept an eye on fellow Sandy, Utah, golfer Steve Schneiter in the final round of the Enstrom Rocky Mountain Open at Bookcliff Country Club.
 
“That was the great thing. The holes are so close to each other, I could see what they were doing,” Pimm said. “I kind of knew where Steve was the whole time. I thought every putt he made was for birdie, so I kept telling myself, ‘Need birdie, need birdie.’ ‘’
 
And an eagle along the way sure doesn’t hurt.
 
He eagled the 546-yard, par-5 first hole, his 10th hole of the round. That pulled him within one stroke of Schneiter, who made the turn at 16 under and started his back nine with a birdie to go to 17 under.
 
“I made the turn and I really wasn’t hitting it all that good,” Pimm said. “I just told myself, ‘just swing. Don’t think about it, just swing.’ “
 
The leaders played the back nine first, so they could finish on No. 9, in front of the clubhouse, where a good-sized gallery watched the final drama play out. With two holes to go, the boys from Sandy were both 18 under.
 
“I saw Steve just keep inching ahead of me and on 16, I said, ‘OK, just be aggressive and go after the flag.’ Luckily the putts kept dropping,” Pimm said. “It was fun to feel the adrenaline.”
 
Schneiter’s approach on the final hole had the gallery in awe. His shot from the left side of the fairway stuck on the ridge of the two-tiered green. Unlike most shots that hit that spot, it stayed put instead of rolling down to the lower tier, and he made the putt for birdie to go to 20 under.
 
Pimm drove the ball to the right side in the fairway and studied the approach for a moment. His
wedge landed well above the ridge, just below the hole. He made his birdie putt, pumping his fist after forcing a playoff.
 
“It was really fun after I made my putt on 16,” Pimm said. “I knew I’d be (first or second), maybe get into a playoff and see where we finish. It was more than I expected this week.”
Unlike the match-play approach that played out over the final few holes, Pimm put the playoff away early.
 
Schneiter’s tee shot sailed right and landed behind a tree. His second shot went out of bounds to the right, and he was forced to take a drop. His approach landed short of the green.
Pimm, though, put the ball right down the middle of the fairway and landed his approach within a few feet of the hole.
 
The birdie netted him his first professional victory and a check for $8,000.
 
Schneiter won $4,000 for second. Jordan Holley, Nick Killpack (also of Utah) and Riley Arp tied for third, earning $2,250 each, and 2010 champion Ben Portie was sixth, earning $1,750. Other Utah players in the money were Clay Ogden at 13 under, Jake Ellison at four under, and Nick Carter at one under,
 
Just after Pimm and Schneiter finished their playoff, Kyle Candlish of Rancho Murieta, Calif., defeated. Keith Humerickhouse of Gypsum in a playoff for the title in the amateur championship flight after both finished at 5-under 208. Scott Sullivan of Grand Junction was third at 2-under 211. The RMO title has Pimm, who wore a bright red shirt Sunday for his alma mater, Utah, ready for this week’s Utah Open in Salt Lake City.
 
 “I love Bookcliff Country Club,” the 25-year-old said with a grin. “I was 18 under here this week.”