Black Desert Resort to host LPGA in 2025

Black Desert Resort Golf Course in Ivins, Utah, near St. George, proudly announces being named the future host of an LPGA Tour competition in 2025. With emerald fairways carved amid ancient black lava fields and surrounded by Southern Utah’s stunning red rock mountains, this Tom Weiskopf championship 18-hole golf course offers an unparalleled experience and presents an incredible opportunity for LPGA Tour athletes, the best female golfers in the world, to showcase their power and dedication in a new light.

“We are thrilled to welcome Black Desert Resort into the LPGA family as a tournament partner and title sponsor,” said Ricki Lasky, LPGA Chief Tour Business and Operations Officer, on Tuesday at an announcement event at Black Desert. “This spectacular venue will undoubtedly provide an incredible test to our LPGA Tour athletes. We also greatly appreciate the dedication of the Black Desert Resort team to elevating the stature of the women’s game by making this partnership a key element of their corporate platform as they welcome golf fans to their venue for the first time this week.”

Click here to read more from the LPGA TOUR.

Looking ahead to the Salt Lake City Amateur

Salt Lake City’s revered Bonneville Golf Course is approaching its 100th anniversary, and no player in modern history owns a distinction quite like Justin Shluker’s.

Shluker last summer became the first golfer in 56 years to win both the Richard C. Kramer Salt Lake City Amateur and the Salt Lake City Open. Bruce Summerhays, who went on to win three PGA Tour Champions titles, was the most recent player to do so, and even that achievement comes with a qualifier. The SLC Open in those days was played at a different course.

“I feel like I can hit my driver straight most days and the par-5s (at Bonneville) are super getable, (so) you just have to score that way,” – Justin Shluker.

So the 28-year-old Shluker, a former Sonoma State golfer from Park City High School, will begin a double defense of his titles this weekend at Bonneville. The SLC Amateur, renamed in memory of Kramer, Bonneville’s longtime head professional and a member of the Utah Golf Hall of Fame, is a 36-hole event scheduled Saturday and Sunday.

2021 SLC Amateur champion, Cooper Jones.

Lone Peak High School star Cooper Jones, who missed the 2022 SLC Amateur because he was competing in U.S. Open final qualifying, won the 2021 event at age 17 (as the youngest winner in tournament history). Jones is entered this weekend, although he conceivably could find a spot in a U.S. Open field as the first alternate from a local site at Farmington, Utah.

Last year, Shluker shot a pair of 67s for a 10-under-par total and three-stroke victory over Utah Golf Association veteran Ryan Brimley. Shluker posted 67-65 in August to win the SLC Open over Casey Fowles and Mark Owen, two of Utah’s top PGA club pros.

Conflicts with Monday’s final stage of U.S. Open qualifying again will take away about a half-dozen would-be contenders, including Utah Junior Golf Association stars Peter Kim and Parker Bunn, but the SLC Amateur always produces a worthy winner. Shluker would love to keep his streak going at Bonneville, where he feasted on the four par-5 holes in both of last year’s victories.

“I feel like I can hit my driver straight most days and the par-5s are super getable, (so) you just have to score that way,” he said.

Click here to read the 2022 Richard C. Kramer Salt Lake City Amateur tournament recap.

Kurt Kragthorpe is a senior writer for Fairways Media, publishers of Fairways magazine and Fairways 18 digital magazine. Photos courtesy of Fairways Media/Randy Dodson. www.fairwaysmag.com

Gaiotti/Cone, conquer Toana Vista at Women’s Four-Ball Championship

Perennial Utah Golf Association champion Annette Gaiotti was seemingly unfazed while playing the Toana Vista Golf Course for the first time and with a new playing partner as she added another UGA title to her win column.

Gaiotti and family-friend Lindsay Cone took home UGA medals as the overall gross champions of the Utah Women’s Four-Ball Championship in West Wendover, Nevada May 25th, with a 36-hole score of (-2) 71-71 – 142, five shots clear of the runner-up team of Nuny Kham-one Khamken and Beatrice Peck.

Lindsay Cone

“This is really a tough course and we’ve never played it before,” said Gaiotti. “I wish we had played a practice round. This is the first tournament we have ever played together. We have only played five times together, including this week, but we played well.”   

Gaiotti now owns a dozen UGA championship titles but this is her first Four-Ball win saying that typically the event doesn’t match up with her spring playing calendar.

The team of Nuny Kham-one Khamken and Beatrice Peck finished as runner-up at the Utah Women’s Four-Ball Championship at West Wendover’s Toana Vista Golf Course.

Rounding out the overall gross top 5 were Deborah Midgley/Karen Mitchell (+14) 158 who won the Flight 1 net division, Leslee Adamson/Lisa Johnson (+30) 174 and Brenda Paris/Lisa Eixenberger also at (+30).

Gaiotti now looks ahead to the Utah Senior Women’s Amateur, a championship she has won seven times, including last year at Salt Lake City’s Bonneville Golf Course.

“I would really like to win the Senior one more year,” said 70-year old Gaiotti.

The 31st Utah Senior Women’s State Amateur will be played September 20-23 on the Lake Course at Wasatch Mountain State Park.

Up next on the UGA’s Women’s championship calendar is the Mary Lou Baker Open at Springville’s Hobble Creek Golf Course, June 2-3.

Click here for the Utah Women’s Four-Ball Championship final leaderboard.

Former Ute Ties for Medalist at Bonneville State Am Qualifier

By Max Butcher

The third qualifier of the year took place at Bonneville Golf Course on Thursday, May 25th. With a strong field of 84 players, two golfers were able to better the rest. Former University of Utah golfer Oscar Maxfield -5 (67) and Thomas Young -5 (67) tied for medalist honors. Overall the field performed well as 9 of the 12 qualifiers shot a round under par. There were 12 spots available and 2 alternates for this year’s State Amateur, there was 7 for 1 playoff at +1 (73).

For full results, Click Here.

State Amateur Qualifying at Logan River Golf Club

by Maya Renteria

Logan River Golf Club hosts the 2nd State Amateur Qualifier

The second qualifier of the year took place at Logan River Gold Club on Tuesday, May 23rd. With 84 players two golfers were able to come out on top. Yinxuan Wu -4 (67) and Parker Bunn -4 (67) tied for medalist honors. With a tough field of players, Wu and Bunn were able to stand out and achieve the lowest scores. The next lowest score was U.S. Open Local Qualifying Medalist Peter Kim at -3 (68).

There were 13 spots available and 2 alternates for this year’s State Amateur, there was 9 for 1 playoff at +1 (72).

For full results, Click Here.

Akina claims first UGA title at Utah Mid-Amateur Championship

Coming on the heels of a U.S. Open local qualifier and just a few months after his 25th birthday, BYU golfer Keanu Akina added a Utah Golf Association championship title to his resume with a 5-under par performance in the 54-hole Utah Mid-Amateur Championship at Hubbard Golf Course.

36-hole leader Devin Tovey.

Akina’s 211 total on rounds of 73-71-67 was three shots better than runner-ups Derek Penman and Jack Holmgren. Last year’s Salt Lake City Amateur and Open champion Justin Shluker finished tied for fourth place with 36-hole leader Devin Tovey and Gage Christensen (playing on his home course), at even par 216.

It’s been a busy 10 days for Akina, competing in the U.S. Open local qualifier in Wyoming May 10, followed by the NCAA Morgan Hill Regional where his BYU teammates fired a 4-under-par 284 in the final round at The Institute Golf Club on Wednesday to earn a trip to the NCAA Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club next week.

After completing some late-night homework assignments, the BYU junior was on the tee early Thursday morning at Hubbard for his opening round of the Mid-Am.

“I didn’t play good at all,” he said. “Coming off of like four hours of sleep, so yesterday was just a long day for me. I didn’t feel great. But last night, I got to sleep good and I just felt good all day today. Mainly, my short game was better, I was probably a little more focused.”

With the win Akina received an invite from UGA Executive Director Easton Folster to compete on Utah’s Pacific Coast Amateur team and an exemption to the 125th Utah State Amateur to be played at The Country Club in late June.

Utah Mid-Amateur champion Keanu Akina shot (-5) 211 with rounds of 73-71-67.

“Right after Nationals, I’ve got the U.S. Open Regional. I haven’t got my assignment yet but my first pick is Washington. Then I’ll go back to Hawaii for an event there and then I’m going to think about coming back to Utah for the State Amateur. I could just stay in Hawaii with my family for another month or I can come back and play.”

Brigham Gibbs earned low senior player honors at the Mid-Amateur Championship at (+6) 222.

This year’s low senior medal was awarded to Brigham Gibbs. Gibbs shot (+6) 72-75-75 – 222, one shot better than 2022 Senior Player of the Year Shane McMillan and Brett Hess.

This year’s Mid-Amateur Championship wasn’t without issue. Golf course staff and tournament officials acknowledged a few final round front nine hole locations were not cut where previously marked by UGA officials, causing some frustration from many players.

Click here for final leaderboard results.

Story and photos by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson.

Road to The Country Club Begins at Fox Hollow

by Colin Clawson

Road to The Country Club Begins at Fox Hollow

The first qualifier for the 125th Utah State Amateur is in the books with 12 individuals punching their ticket to The Country Club in June. Alpine Country Club Member Ryan Barber finished as medalist at -4 (68) carding two eagles and three birdies.

With the championship field being cut to 156 players for this year and beyond, many suspected that it would take a much lower number to qualify than in year’s past. That proved to be true with the cut coming in at +2 (74).

The 125th Utah State Amateur is being held June 26-July 1 at The Country Club in Salt Lake City.

For full results, CLICK HERE.

Field Set for 36th Utah Mid-Amateur Championship at Hubbard GC

by Colin Clawson

Field Set for 36th Utah Mid-Amateur Championship

The newly expanded Utah Mid-Amateur Championship field is set after 3 qualifiers last week. The UGA held 3 qualifiers for this event for the first time in history while expanding the field to 84 players.

Qualifying started with two separate fields at Stonebridge GC; one in the morning and one in the afternoon. In the morning qualifier, Jack Holmgren (-2) 70 finished as medalist with 22 players qualifying and the cut coming in at +6 (78). In the afternoon qualifier, Joshua White (-4) 68 was medalist with 22 players qualifying and the cut coming in at +6 (78).

The final qualifier was held at Fox Hollow GC with Brady Stanger firing (-3) 69 to finish as medalist with the next best score coming 5 strokes back at (+2) 74. 22 players qualified with the cut coming in at +6 (78).

The championship is set to be held at Hubbard GC on Hill Air Force Base on May 18-19. Players will play 36 holes on Thursday the 18th with a cut to the low 40 and ties for the final round on Friday the 19th.

Notable players in the field include BYU Golfer Keanu Akina, 2022 Salt Lake City Amateur & Open Champion Justin Shluker, and Former State Am & Mid-Am Champion Darrin Overson.

For the championship webpage, CLICK HERE.

Johnny Miller Named 2023 Bob Jones Award Recipient

The United States Golf Association has selected Johnny Miller as the recipient of this year’s Bob Jones Award, the association’s highest honor that recognizes character, respect and a commitment to sportsmanship in the game of golf.

“Johnny’s contributions to our game are significant, and honoring him with the Bob Jones Award reflects everything he means to the game and everything the game means to him,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA.

Miller, best known as a player, broadcaster and course designer, was known throughout his career for his commitment to fair play and excellence – the same traits embodied by the award’s namesake. Bob Jones was a nine-time USGA champion whose integrity and spirit are considered the gold standard in golf. The award has been presented annually by the USGA since 1955.

To read the complete USGA story, click here

The U.S. Open & U.S. Women’s Open head to California

The 11th hole of The Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles , Calif. on Friday, June 26, 2015. (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

USGA Championship Season is underway with local and sectional qualifying for the U. S. Open Championship to be contested at famed Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course.  A record number of over 10,200 contestants are vying for a chance to tee it up alongside the world’s greatest in June.  While my GHIN says I’m eligible, I am not among those with the dream.  My U. S. Open experience is more of the fantasy kind.  Bob Casper and I along with others in the golf media were privileged to attend U. S. Open Media Day at LACC on Monday, May 1st.  These are days when I feel like I’m treated better than I deserve.  A locker with my name on it, gifts, food and of course a chance to play a one of the most revered courses in the country.  Think of it like a tour pro for a day experience.

The USGA held a press conference where we heard from USGA executives, LACC representatives and local government officials including the mayor of Los Angeles.  With the Open coming to LA for the first time in 75 years, there is a real excitement among all represented parties.  A couple of noteworthy items this year include expanded media coverage with 49 total hours dedicated to covering the championship across NBC, Peacock, Golf Channel and the all new USGA App.  Golf fans will celebrate this:  The USGA announced fewer commercial interruptions and promos which will make for an improved viewing experience.

Utah’s Real Golf Radio hosts Bob Casper (L) and Brian Taylor.

With limited space and wanting to showcase the North Course in its most natural state, there will be fewer grandstands and corporate hospitality structures protecting the natural beauty and sight-lines of the grounds.  With this will come a limited number of fans onsite each day with a max of 22,000 which is significantly less than the 40-50,000 onsite at other larger venues.

LACC’s North Course will arguably be the toughest walk on tour as players traverse the steep slopes around the barranca that weaves in and through the George C. Thomas Jr design.  For this 49-year-old, the walk wore me out!  The course went through a restoration process by architect Gil Hanse and team which opened the current layout in 2010.  USGA Chief Championships Officer and former BYU golfer John Bodenhamer says he wants a course that requires players to get every club in their bag dirty.  The North Course is certainly that.  Very few flat lies, well-positioned bunkers with gnarly deep fescue waiting to swallow errant shots, sticky Bermuda fairways and fluffy rough and we haven’t even made it to the greens yet.  The golf course will play long at over 7,400 yards, but will feature the widest fairways you’ll see at a U. S. Open.  

The North Course keeps you entertained with a variety of holes from long uphill par 4s like the 18th hole framed by the stately clubhouse, to a rare setup of 3 par 5s and five par 3s on the par 70 layout.  The par 3s can play from 300 yards to just 80 yards.  There’s even a drivable par 4 where Your’s Truly managed to find the putting surface off the tee.

At the end of the day I was equally thrilled and worn out by the challenge of one of the greatest courses I’ve ever played.  I can’t wait to see how the best players attack a course most will be seeing for the first time in June.  I’d say those few tour players who competed on the Walker Cup team back in 2017 at LA North (Colin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Champ) may have a significant advantage with some prior course knowledge.  I had a chance after the round to shake hands and get a picture with one of my childhood sports heros, Laker’s star James Worthy.  He was playing with USGA President Fred Perpall and ESPN anchor Stan Verrett.  President Perpall said it best that the game of golf brings together people from all backgrounds and inevitably creates new friendships.

If you’re curious, or care, I shot 79 and edged my cohost by a shot on the par 70.  It truly was a golf experience of a lifetime.

The 18th hole of Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif. on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

Day two of our fantasy golf trip took us to Pebble Beach, site of this year’s U. S. Women’s Open. Pebble Beach is one of my favorite places to play golf. USGA CEO Mike Whan called it “America’s Scotland where God just intended golf to be played.”  It’s Pebble.  It’s iconic.  It’s a national treasure.  And now, for the first time in U. S. Women’s Open history, it will host the national championship.

This media day felt different.  Gathering in the Visitors Center just above the lodge, I was taken back as some of the greats in women’s sports entered the room.  Brandi Chastain of U. S. World Cup and Olympic soccer fame, Kristi Yamaguchi, two-time Olympic gold medal figure skater and Morgan Pressel who qualified for the U. S. Women’s Open at the age of 12, went on to a major championship career and now is the lead golf analyst for NBC’s women’s coverage.  The program featured a roundtable discussion with these three champions commenting on the significance of the Women’s Open being held at a venue like Pebble Beach. The whole room felt the power of Chastain’s emotional recall of her days at “The Crosby” with her grandfather and how much it will mean to take her own grandchildren to the same course to watch the best women in the world this July.

Nick Price was quoted as saying “it matters to the players where they win their championships.”  The USGA has made it their recent focus to provide iconic venues for the women’s game as they have done for the men’s.  Pebble Beach has signed on for four Opens including this year’s which will be contested July 6-9.

Real Golf Radio hosts Brian Taylor (L) and Bob Casper on the 18th green at Pebble Beach.

 If you’ve never been to a Women’s Open, go.  If you’ve never seen Pebble Beach, go.  Take your daughters, your family and enjoy the 4th of July week at Pebble Beach and witness this historic occasion.  Presell said “A legacy win at a venue like Pebble Beach will transcend time.” You can be there and witness it.  Annika Sorenstam will play on a special exemption as will So Yeon Ryu, the 2011 champion from the Republic of Korea. Paula Creamer and Christi Kerr are both trying to qualify.  Everyone wants to be a part of this historic Open.

Of much lesser import, Bob got the better of me at Pebble.  The extremely windy conditions favored a better shot maker like Casper.  We hit everything from pitching wedge to 8 iron on the 100-yard par-3 seventh hole directly in the strong, cold wind. Its always a thrill to go around what I consider the most beautiful property in America.  Not even a disappointing 85 could dampen the thrill of playing Pebble Beach.  The scores were the only reality in this golf fantasy. 

I’ll be comfortably back behind a microphone in June and July watching the pros turn their dream into reality chasing a national championship.

Story and photos courtesy of Brian Taylor, host of Utah’s Real Golf Radio.