USGA Mid-Amateur Qualifier

The US Mid-Amateur qualifier was hosted by Wasatch Mountain Golf Course last Thursday, August 10th. With a field of 71 men and 4 women, there were only 3 spots for the men and 1 spot for the women. With a bright sun and light breeze, Marc Engellenner came to play finishing as the medalist of this event with an end score of -7 (65). Following Engellenner, Eric Ashcroft ended with -3 (69) claiming the second spot and a Eric Rustand with -2 (70) claiming the third spot. For the women’s division, with close end scores, Annette Gaiotti was able to come out on top as the medalist with +9 (81). We are very excited to see all the players who qualified in the US Mid-Amateur Championship. 

For men’s division results: click here

For women’s division results: click here

Last Chance State Amateur Qualifier at Glendale Golf Club

State Amateur Qualifier at the Links at Sleepy Ridge

The tenth qualifier was held at the Links at Sleepy Ridge in Orem, Utah. The 84 players competed in rainy conditions all day with the cut coming in at +2. Kenny Palmer took home medalist honors with -3 (69). There was a playoff at +2 for one spot and two alternate spots.

For full results: click here

By: Kallie Young

State Amateur Qualifying at Mountain Dell – Lake Course

We are on the 7th qualifier for the Utah State Amateur. This qualifier was at Mountain Dell Golf Course on the Lake Course on Wednesday, June 7th. 84 players battled through rain, wind, and a lightning delay. This produced a wide range of scores. 2 players shot under and took home co-medalist honors. Brandon Hargett and Sam Pelletier both shot an impressive -1 (70). The field preformed an well with the cut ending at +3. There were 12 spots with 2 alternates available for this qualifying tournament. There was a playoff with 5 players playing for 2 spots and 2 alternates.

For full results: click here

By: Zaria Thompson

Utah State Amateur at Soldier Hollow Golf Course

We are starting June with another qualifier for the State Amauteur. The sixth qualifier of the year took place at Soldier Hollow Golf Course on Monday, June 5th. Of the 84 competitors, nine were able to shoot under par. Peter Ouimette -3 (69) and Charlie Taylor -3 (69) took home co-medalist honors. The field performed well with the cut at +1. There were thirteen spots and two alternate spots available for this year’s State Amateur. There was a twelve for one playoff for one qualifying spot and two alternate spots. Nik Parcell made an eagle on the first playoff hole securing the last qualifying spot.

By: Kallie Young

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.

Roberta Scott outlasts Monica Hull in 19-hole final match to claim her second Utah Senior Women’s Amateur Championship

“This one is for my dad.”

Roberta Scott had a tear in her eye as she became emotional while accepting the trophy for winning the Utah Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at The Barn Golf Club. After going back and forth all day, Scott recorded a par on the first extra hole of the championship match against Monica Hull, securing her second championship win (her first came in 2007).

“My dad was incredibly influential in my life and one of my main mentors when it comes to golf,” said Scott, “He passed away earlier this year, so this is an emotional win for me.”

Scott’s win in the first extra hole was not without drama. Down one at the turn, Scott proceeded to win three of the five next holes to go two up with four holes to go. Hull then responded by reaching the green in two strokes on the par-five 15^th hole and then two-putting for birdie to win the hole. Hull then tied the match by getting up and down for par on the 16^th hole.

Scott and Hull split the next two holes to send the match to extra holes. On the match-deciding hole, which was a par-five, Hull found herself on the green in three strokes with a 25-foot downhill putt. Meanwhile, Scott hit her second shot underneath a pine tree about 40 yards from the green and faced a difficult lie with branches preventing her from making a full swing. After attempting to maneuver through the tree to see if she could get a club on the ball, Scott retreated to her cart and proceeded to throw her hat in frustration. After that, she proceeded to hit a beautiful punch shot which left her just off the green and only a few yards short of the hole.

“Throwing my hat was in response to a little bit of everything. Frustration, exhaustion, not to mention the tree branches trying to take my hat off anyway,” said Scott, “I loved the format of the competition but I’m certainly exhausted. I don’t think I’ve played 36 holes in one day in over 30 years.”

Following the punch shot, Hull left her birdie putt about 10 feet short and then Scott was able to get to about four feet from the hole. Hull then missed her par putt to the right of the hole and Scott was able to hole out to secure the win. When asked about the match, Hull was understandably disappointed but grateful for the experience.

“I only started playing golf about seven years ago. I’ve been fortunate to be able to play with awesome golfers like Annette (Gaiotti), Roberta and all my gals at Jeremy Ranch. They’ve all made me better as we battle and compete every time we play. It helps you in these moments…I love it,” said Hull.

To see full results for the Utah Senior Women’s State Amateur Championship, please CLICK HERE.

By Colin Clawson

McMullin and Gaiotti qualify at Jeremy Ranch for Women’s U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship

Park City residents Julie McMullin +9 (81) and Annette Gaiotti +13 (85) qualified for the Women’s U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship to be held at Berkeley Hall Club in Bluffton, S.C. After shooting 1-over on the front nine, McMullin was able to hold on through the back nine to finish as medalist. They will join 2017 champion Kelsey Chugg in representing Utah at the event. Both McMullin and Gaiotti will be participating in the event for their first time.

In addition to the ladies, a field of 71 men also competed to qualify for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship to be held at Sankaty Head Golf Club and Miacomet Golf Course in Massachusetts. Burke Spensky -3 (69), playing out of Idaho, finished as medalist. The cut came at -1 (71) with four players qualifying.

For full results:

Men’s: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/2888171

Women’s: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/2889094

Mark Owen Wins Doug Marriott Utah Senior Open

By Jesse Dodson & Christian Ledek

WENDOVER, Utah –  Mark Owen took advantage of the opportunity to compete in his first-ever Utah Senior Open at Toana Vista Golf Course in Wendover July 31^st-August 1^st and left as the champion.

The Utah Senior Open, which annually honors a Utah golf legend, this year being Riverside Country Club member Doug Marriott, is not an easy event to win. Some of the best golfers in Utah find themselves in this senior category, which makes for an extremely-competitive event.  Owen started hot with a bogey-free round of (-6) 66, providing a one-stroke lead over Steve Schneiter, a four-time Utah Senior Open champion, and Kirk Siddens, two very accomplished Utah golfers.

“I had a really easy round, didn’t even have a chance to make a bogey,” Owen said of the first round. “I made 6 birdies, no bogies.”

“Today was a lot different,” Owen continued. “The wind was different, little harder, different pins, harder pins. I didn’t hit is as good, scraped it around for one over.”

A final-round one over was all he needed to claim the 2019 Doug Marriott Utah Senior Open. He slimmed by with a one-stroke overall victory over amateur Steve Poulson at (-4) 72-68. Schneiter finished second in the Professional Championship flight and tied for third overall at two-under.

“Winning always feels great,” Owen said. “I don’t feel like a senior yet, 50 years old is not what it used to be. I guess it’s the new 30.”

The runner up and top amateur with rounds of 72 and 68 to shoot 4-under-par (140) was Steve Poulson (Bountiful Ridge GC).  His first round was where he saw the most trouble, shooting a bogey on 16 followed by a costly double-bogey on 17 that slowed the under-par pace Poulson was at.  He was successful and able to right the ship with his final round, carding a bogey-free round with 4 birdies.

View the full leader board and flights here: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/1840075

Photo credit:  Jesse Dodson/Fairways Media

Idaho State’s Tyler Erickson Wins Women’s Stroke Play at Soldier Hollow

MIDWAY, Utah – June 18th, 2019 – Idaho State sophomore Tyler Erickson was able to best a competitive field at Soldier Hollow, a course she had only played once before.  Erickson shot rounds of 77 and 73 for a total of 150 (+6) over the two-day tournament.  The wind played a major factor that prevented scores from going low, but Erickson was able to not let it have too much of an impact on her game.

“During my first round I was playing well, parring holes and I picked up a birdie,” Erickson said.  “The wind also picked up on the back nine and I made a few bogeys…but overall I felt pretty good.”

It looked as if the bogeys might continue for a minute as Erickson bogeyed the first hole of her second round.

“I started off with another bogey today,” Erickson said.  “I was able to clean it up and started making pars…I had an eagle putt on a par 5 that I barely missed and I played solid on the back nine.”

There wasn’t a way for the players to know where they were in the standings until they finished their round.  That can be tough, but Erickson didn’t let it have an affect on her.

“You have to stay focused out there,”  Erickson said.  “You have to focus on your game and not worry about what’s going on around you.”

She was able to do just that and capture her first UGA tournament victory.

Coming in tied second place with scores of +7 was Carissa Graft and Kerstin Fotu.  Rounding out the top 5 of the championship were Anna Kennedy and Bailey Henley at +8.

Winners of other flights: Flight 2 – Bailey Henley.  Flight 3 – McKenzie Schow.  Flight 4 – Karen Gardiner.

Full results here: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/1840131