May Volunteer Spotlight - George Allen

By: Tanner Clegg, P.J. Boatwright Intern

Each month, the UGA spotlights one of our devoted volunteers to express our deep appreciation for all they do and to help you, our loyal members, become well acquainted with them. The month of May features one of the UGA’s men’s course rating volunteers, George Allen.

George was born September 6, 1947 in Salt Lake City. He grew up in the Sugar House area where he attended South High School. George went on to attend The University of Utah where he graduated with his Executive MBA.

He married his wife Sharon in 1969 and they have been together since for a total of 48 years. They have two boys and now enjoy having 12 grandchildren. He loves watching the game of golf grow especially watching his two sons and grandchildren continue with the sport he loves. George met his wife Sharon through their parent’s way back in 1968. A great Joy for George and Sharon has often been playing in a scramble with their sons Jeff and Colby.

During his professional career, George worked with two of the largest construction companies’ in the world. He worked for US West for 30 years before retiring at the young age of 53. After a two-year hiatus, he went to work for Bechtel with a several years stop between projects as a commercial appraiser with his son Jeff and finally retiring from Bechtel in 2014.

George started his association with the game of golf at the age of 12.  He would go over to Forest Dale Golf Club get a ball pass from the pro and look for golf balls in the rough to sell back to the golf club. He began playing the game at the age of 15 with his high school buddies. They played all the local courses and loved Bonneville. His love of golf has continued since then. He started his sons playing when they were 8 and 9 years old during the time Johnny Miller headed up Jr. Golf for Utah. In fact, his son Jeff got his first hole in one at the age of 10 at Mountain Dale Golf Course. George believes that the Junior Golf program is a great way to introduce golf to your children and grandchildren. They can play the many Utah courses where they are taught the rules of golf plus the opportunity to play for $5 a round.  

George has been a course rating volunteer for about five years. He joined the rating team with the influence of friends especially Dennis Wood who recruited him. He loves the opportunities that being a volunteer gives him to travel the state rating different courses, being able to spend time with friends, getting a better understanding of the complex course rating system, and helping others learn about the system.

George shared the following about the course rating system, “the system has many different aspects that work together to determine the difficulty of a course. These aspects allow each course to be played fairly by golfers at all different skill levels.”

The Utah Golf Association thanks its volunteers for sacrificing their time and energy to help the UGA fulfill its mission to promote interest in the game of golf by encouraging, organizing, supporting, sponsoring, and administering golfing activities and programs. If you are interested in volunteering for the UGA, contact Rules and Competitions Director Jacob Miller at [email protected] or 801-563-0400

May Member of the Month Challenge

By: Tanner Clegg, P.J. Boatwright Intern

In the month of April, our contest was regarding how the rules of golf have impacted your scores. For the month of May, we want you to create a rule that you would like to see implemented in 2019.

In March, the USGA and the R&A announced significant rule changes they are looking to add in 2019. Last month, we witnessed another rules controversy with Lexi Thompson at the ANA Inspiration. The U.S Open’s have had their fair share of rules issues as well. Needless to say, rules can be a sore area for any golfer.

Have fun with this challenge, you never know what the USGA will do! You can send your entire to [email protected] or post your entry on Facebook or Instagram. The winner will be announced around May 15 and will receive a prize pack courtesy of the UGA.

Ted McGregor - April Member of the Month

By: Tanner Clegg, P.J. Boatwright Intern

Congratulations to Ted McGregor for winning our April Member of the Month Contest. 

Our question this month was how have the rules of golf made a significant impact on a round of golf for you or your playing partner? Ted won with the following response: During the Senior Games in St. George, October 2016 – On #1 of SunBrook golf course, I hit it right down the middle. A small ditch (water hazard) was on the right side and then crosses the fairway. We could not find my ball. As I was going back to hit for a lost ball, I walked the opposite side of this ditch which was just mud. I noticed a hole in the far bank the size of a golf ball. I looked into this hole and saw my ball with my two purple dots. I spoke with my playing partners and we declared that it was in the hazard even though embedded. I took a plenty and dropped behind the ditch. Following the round, I checked with Reed McArthur, the local professional, before turning in my card. He said that was the correct ruling. I ended up with the Golf medal for my age group however I wanted to just pull out the ball and play from the spot directly above where it was because it was past the margin of the hazard with no penalty. 

Here are a few question and answers to help you get to know Ted a little better:

What’s your home course-  Eagle Mountain, Brigham City, Utah

What do you do for a living- “Bet on the golf course” just kidding. Retired after 41 years in law enforcement. Retired as Director of Public Information and Education for UTAH Highway Patrol

What's your favorite golf course- Out of state: Old Course St. Andrews, In state: Jeremy Ranch

What's your funniest golf memory-   When I was about 16 years old I missed a hole in one. It went into the Weber River at Schneiter's Riverside golf course. It shot back out of the water, hit a tree that overhung the green, rolled along a branch then dropped on the lip of the hole. My buddies were yelling that doesn't count if it drops in. We waited the ten seconds but it did not drop in.

What are your hobbies- golfing, grandkids, Harley Davidson riding, camping, boating skiing water/snow

What is your favorite quote and who said it- “We are differences, for respecting differences, for allowing differences, for encouraging differences, until differences no longer make a difference”       -Jonette B. Cole

Why are you a UGA member- to support the game of golf and to enjoy the friendships of other players I meet. I enjoy the excellent benefits of the UGA

Check back May 1st for our next contest!

Gaiotti and Kham-One Team Up to Claim the Second Women’s Title of 2017

Day 1 had perfect conditions for low scoring with temperatures in the low 70’s and very little wind. St. George Golf Club was in great condition and many teams took advantage of the easier shots found at the course to place themselves in a great position for day 2.

Gaiotti and Kham-One jumped on these conditions with 78 combined stableford points to take a 6-point lead over Nyhus and Betley going into the second day. Gaiotti posted six birdies on her card to help her shoot a tournament low, 70 with her partner posting a +5, 78 with 3 birdies on her score card. Those birdies would prove to be the difference in scoring with each one being worth 4 stableford points.

Day 2 proved to be more of a challenge for the ladies. Not only was the course long and narrow, but the winds were also gusting throughout the morning making holes play harder than usual. The leading groups found the course to be harder than usually, but were still able to post low scores with Nyhus shooting a low of -1, 72.

Nyhus and Betley struggled throughout the day to make moves to overcome Gaiotti and Kham-One but found themselves still 10 points shy at the end of the day.

Wallin and Stone claimed flight two with 89 points, Gardiner and Amidan claimed flight three with 80 points, and Ellason & Olsen, Tammie and Olsen, Linda & Bowen claimed flight four with 54 points.

With this being a PPR event, Naomi Soifua and Sue Nyhus remain at the top of their respected PPR section.

View full result HERE

The UGA tournament season will continue next with the Utah Senior State Amateur Qualifiers beginning May 15 at The Ridge. 

Four Cougars Named to WCC All-Academic Team

By: Alexa Anderson, BYU Golf SID

SAN BRUNO, Calif. — Lauren Atkinson, Kendra Dalton, Brooklyn Hocker and Rose Huang were named to the 2016-17 West Coast Conference Women’s Golf All-Academic Team, according to a release posted by the WCC on Tuesday.

In order to be considered for the men’s and women’s golf WCC All-Academic teams, student athletes must own a minimum 3.20 cumulative grade point average in the semester prior to the award given. Individuals must also have at least sophomore athletic standing, with at least one year in residence complete at the nominating institution.

Dalton and Hocker received their second-straight honor, as both were also named to the 2015-16 WCC Women’s Golf All-Academic Team. Atkinson and Huang both earned their first appearance, with Huang posting the highest GPA turned in by a women’s golf student athlete in 2016-17 with 3.92.

Along with the four Cougars, six other individuals received the honors: Annie Freman (Santa Clara), Emily Laskin (San Francisco), Kristin Le (Santa Clara), Alison Lillie (San Francisco), Ciera Min (Gonzaga) and Katherine Zu (Pepperdine).

2016-17 WEST COAST CONFERENCE WOMEN’S GOLF ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

Name

School

Class

GPA

Major

Lauren Atkinson

BYU

Sr.

3.61

Genealogy

Kendra Dalton

BYU

Jr.

3.50

Business

Annie Freman

Santa Clara

Sr.

3.29

Accounting

Brooklyn Hocker

BYU

Sr.

3.82

Exercise & Wellness

Rose Huang

BYU

So.

3.92

Food Science

Emily Laskin

San Francisco

Jr.

3.83

International Business

Kristin Le

Santa Clara

Jr.

3.56

Business

Alison Lillie

San Francisco

Sr.

3.83

International Business

Ciera Min

Gonzaga

Sr.

3.51

Psychology

Katherine Zhu

Pepperdine

Jr.

3.56

International Studies

Elijah Turner Cards Two-Day 140 to Win Fox Hollow Am

By Megan Terry, Programs Administrator

Lone Peak High School’s Elijah Turner earned his first Utah Golf Association Player Performance Rankings (PPR) event win by carding a two-day total 71-69—140 at the 2017 Fox Hollow Amateur.

Following the first round, Turner’s 71 placed him second on the leader board behind 2016 Utah Four-Ball Co-Champion David Jennings, who carded a first-round score of two-under 70. The high school athlete posted a 35 going out and an even-par 36 coming in.

During the final round of the competition, Turner overtook Jennings after a solid birdie streak on the back nine. After posting a 36 on the front, Elijah birdied four of his first six holes on the back to shoot three-under 33 on the back and claim the Men’s Division title by three strokes over BYU’s CJ Lee.

In the Senior Division, Scott Fairbanks posted rounds of 82-71—153 to earn the victory by five strokes over Floyd Baldwin.

CLICK HERE to view complete results. 

Utah Golf Foundation’s 2017 Veterans on Course Season Kicks off at Rose Park

By Megan Terry, Programs Administrator

Rose Park Golf Course hosted the Utah Golf Foundation’s first Veterans on Course event of the 2017 season. Fifty military personnel from all over Utah gathered for the opportunity to learn more about the greatest game ever played with fellow veterans.

Veterans on Course (VOC) was started by the UGF in 2016 as a pilot program to provide instruction and playing opportunities to military personnel of active or veteran status free of charge. Each event consists of lessons from PGA Professionals, a nine-hole scramble tournament and a social gathering with a guest speaker following play. The 2017 season schedule includes nine on-course events, six in Northern Utah and three in Southern Utah. Details for each event can be found at utahgolffoundation.org.

The event began at 2:45 p.m. with putting, chipping and long-game lessons from Derek Schmehl, Rose Park Assistant Professional Phillip King, Rose Park Apprentice Sean Pressey, Bonneville Head Professional Steve Elliot and Nibley Park Teaching Professionals Zach Bowcut and Monica Vigil. The veterans visited each station for 20 minutes before the scramble tournament shotgun start at 4 p.m.

Despite strong winds, the veterans enjoyed their time together playing nine holes and listening to U.S. Army E-5 Sergeant Dennis Brunetti speak during the social gathering.

“The event was a day to remember,” expressed Brunetti. “There was a lot of camaraderie, and that’s something difficult to find today. To come together is very rewarding and should be treasured and cherished.” 

CLICK HERE to donate to the Utah Golf Foundation's Veterans on Course program. Visit utahgolffoundation.org to learn more about UGF initiatives. 

UVU MGolf: Utah Valley Moves up to Finish 13th at El Macero Classic

By: Jason Erickson, UVU Athletics

EL MACERO, Calif.—The Utah Valley University men's golf team finished 13th at the El Macero Classic at El Macero Country Club in California after shooting a final-round 23-over-par 311 for a three-round score of 87-over-par 951 (320-320-311).
 
The tournament marked the final tune-up for the Wolverines before heading to Mesa, Arizona for the Western Athletic Conference championship, April 27-30.
 
The Wolverines finished 13th at the El Macero with a three-round score of 87-over-par 951 (320-320-311). UVU finished ahead of Fairleigh Dickinson at 90-over-par 954. Seattle U won the tournament with a score of 30-over-par 894.
 
Gabe Lysen led the Wolverines with a three-round score of 22-over-par 238 (81-80-77). The freshman recorded his lowest round of the tournament with a final-round 5-over-par 77 on Friday to tie for 60th on the individual leaderboard.
 
Ariel Elftman-Hanson tied for 62nd with a three-round score of 23-over-par 239 (83-79-77). Elftman-Hanson also registered his best round of the tournament on Friday with a final-round 5-over-par 77.
 
Blair Bursey finished in a tie for 64th with a three-round score of 24-over-par 240 (81-82-77). JT Timmons (77-81-83) and Cedric Laverdure (81-80-80) each tied for 66th at 25-over-par 241.
 
Utah Valley now has a week off to prep for the WAC Championship, April 27-30, at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona.

Hicks and Costello Each Record Hole-In-Ones at Hawkeye Invitational

By: Dameon Myres, Associate Director of Communications U of U Athletics

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Utah men's golf team is currently in a tie for eighth-place following a round and half of play at the Hawkeye Invitational that is being held at Finkbine Golf Course.
 
Second-round action was halted due to a couple of weather delays throughout the day and the majority of players managed to get through half the course before dark. Players will resume second-round action Sunday morning, beginning at 8:30 a.m. CT and will follow with the final 18 holes.
 
Utah carded a 5-over par (293) and was in a tie for sixth-place with both Iowa State and Missouri-Kansas City after the first round. Through 11 and 12 holes of second-round play, the Utes had dropped into a tie for eighth-place with a score of 8-over par.
 
Midway through second-round play, No. 12-ranked Texas Tech leads the field at 9-under par, while Kansas follows at 6-under par and Iowa sits in third-place at 4-under par.
 
Senior Gentry Hicks carded a 1-under par (71) through the first round and currently sits at -2 under par overall through 11 holes played in the second round. Hicks recorded the first hole-in-one of his career, registering an ace at the par-3, 206-yard No. 4 hole.
 
Freshman Jordan Costello is at even par through 11 holes of the second round. He carded even par (72) through the first 18 holes, which included registering his first career hole-in-one. Costello aced the par-3, 195-yard No. 17 hole Saturday morning.
 
Hicks and Costello become the first pair of Utah players to register a hole-in-one in the same round of a tournament. In fact, this marks the second and third hole-in-one for a Utah player this season. Sophomore Nathan Wunderli registered an ace at the Duck Invitational just a few weeks back.
 
Prior to this season, Utah had just two hole-in-ones recorded over the last nine years. This marks the first season in school history that a Utah squad has tallied more than two aces in a single-season.
 
Kyler Dunkle carded a 3-over par (75) in the first round and will head into the rest of tomorrow's action at 4-over par, while Mitchell Schow takes a total score of 6-over par into play tomorrow after carding a first-round 3-over par (75), as well.
 
Wunderli rounds out Utah's scoring at 7-over par through the first round and 11 holes of the second round. The sophomore posted a 3-over par (75) in the first round and is 4-over par in the second round.

Utah Golf Closes Regular Season with Ninth Place Finish at Hawkeye Invitational

By: Dameon Myres, Associate Director of Communications U of U Athletics

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Utah men's golf team closed out the 2016-17 regular season with a ninth-place finish at the Hawkeye Invitational that was being held at Finkbine Golf Course. The Utes combined to card a three-round total of 17-over par (293-290-298=881) on the weekend.
 
Utah completed the second round earlier this morning after play was halted yesterday evening due to darkness. The Utes carded a 2-over par (290) and was alone in sixth-place, but a final-round 10-over par (298) dropped the squad back three places for the ninth-place finish.
 
“We didn't have our best this week,” said Utah head coach Garrett Clegg. “Our struggles were mostly off the tee. We have been playing really solidly as of late and unfortunately, we had a rough day today. We made a move at the end of our second round and I thought it would spark a run for us heading into the final round, but unfortunately it didn't.”
 
Senior Gentry Hicks led the way for the Utes, posting a three-round score of even par (71-71-74=216) and finishing in a tie for 11th place. Freshman Jordan Costello registered a top-30 performance with a combined score of 3-over par (72-72-75=219) and tying for 26th place, while sophomore Kyler Dunkle finished in a tie for 34th place with a score of 5-over par (75-73-73=221).
 
Freshman Mitchell Schow finished in a tie for 51st place with a score of 9-over par (75-74-76=225) and sophomore Nathan Wunderli posted a score of 15-over par (75-78-78=231) to finish in a tie for 71st place.
 
“Gentry had another solid tournament this week,” said Clegg. “Jordan battled really hard to get the most out of his game, but he just never got any momentum going. As a team, we have a lot to work on in the week ahead as we prepare for the Pac-12 Championships.”
 
Despite the ninth-place finish on Sunday, Utah still managed to register one of its best regular seasons in recent years, collecting five top-three team finishes and seven top-10 individual performances. Utah's five top-three performances are most in a single-season since at least the 1989-90 season.
 
Along with the seven-different top-10 individual performances on the season, three Utah golfers came away with a hole-in-one in tournament-play. Wunderli managed to record Utah's first hole-in-one since 2012 when he aced the par-3, 228-yard No. 2 hole at Eugene County Club back on March 28.
 
Meanwhile, Utah had never had more than one player record a hole-in-one in the same tournament prior to this weekend until Hicks and Costello both recorded aces in first-round action yesterday morning. Hicks registered an ace at the par-3, 206-yard No. 4 hole, while Costello holed-out the par-3, 195-yard No. 17 hole, giving Utah three players with a hole-in-one during the same season. Prior to the 2016-17 season beginning, Utah golfers had registered just two hole-in-ones since 2008.
 
The Utes will have just under two weeks to prepare for the upcoming Pac-12 Championships, which will take place Friday-Sunday, April 28-30, at Boulder Country Club. Colorado will host the event.