~~~ Tournament Recap ~~~

Wow!  Probably one of the most exciting days in the competitive history of the Golfweek Amateur Tour – Salt Lake.  A hole in one; a 7-hole playoff; and tons of great golf on a very difficult tract.  The semi-private, Wolf Creek Resort in Eden, Utah gave us exclusive access for just the second time in eleven years.  55 players took advantage as we awarded 5 flight champions and handed out over $3000 in tournament winnings.

First, the big news that Van Mortensen used a Callaway Epic pitching wedge from 148 yards on the steep downhill par-3 6^th hole to record his second lifetime Hole-In-One.  This is the first Ace on our local tour since Scott Weber recorded one, 4 years and 1 day ago, on the 2nd hole at Crater Springs GC.  The Ace triggered our 50/50 Stand Up 2 Cancer, Hole-In-One Contest.  The pot contained $1646, which will be split evenly, with Van Mortensen and SU2C each receiving $823.  We will make the donation to the charity, as we do each season, at the 2020 National Championships in Hilton Head Island, in October. 

Champ Flight contained the biggest drama of the day, as rookie, Tanner McMillan playing in his first event on Tour, led for most of the day and posted a 69 (2 under).  Daniel Meaders, trailing by 1, hit his approach to the very difficult 18^th green to about 28 feet, while McMillan looked on from beneath the porch, just steps away from the back of the green.  Meaders hit his fast, big breaking putt and would drain it center cup with pace while exclaiming, “WE’RE OFF TO A PLAYOFF BABY!!!”   Meaders tying 69 would indeed earn him a playoff, which would end up being the longest in local tour history.  Meaders and McMillan went back to the first tee and would eventually find tying pars on holes 1, 4, 8, 9, despite both players having birdies putts that lipped out.  Pars again as they played hole #1 for the third time, this time from the white tee box, as twilight began in earnest with the sun fully behind the mountains in the West. A sixth playoff hole, this time on the par 5, 2^nd…found both players on in 2.  Meaders would putt first from 9 ½ feet and drilled his eagle putt center cup!  McMillan from 8 ½ feet, drained his eagle well, letting out an equally loud, “LETS GO!!!”.   To the 7^th playoff hole, the par-4 3^rd, the players teed off from the white tee box.  At 356 yards, both players drives ended up about 30 yards short of the green, but McMillan’s ball travelled about two yards further, into thicker rough.  That may have proved to be the difference as McMillan would be unable to hit the green with his approach.  Meaders calmly two-putted from about 18 feet.  McMillan gave his 10 foot par putt plenty of effort, but it just slid off to the right, giving Danny Meaders his 6^th win of the 2020 Season! 

David Harrison (76) won his second event on tour, and first this season, winning by 5 shots as one of only four players in the field to break 80.  Brandon Ballif (81) continued his great season with a runner-up finish.  Tour newcomer, Brennan Diaz (85) playing in his first event finished in 3^rd place.   Season standing leaders, Jeff Clifford and John Gordon saw no change at the top, as both players added 200 points to their totals, with Clifford maintaining a small 210 point margin.

A first time winner on tour in B-Flight, as Joshua Henshaw (81) used a front side 38 to win by 4 strokes.  James Dean (85) followed up his major victory with a 2^nd place finish.  Van Mortensen (86), Fred Meaders (86), and Kris North (86), all finished in a tie for 3^rd place.  Mortensen took the scorecard playoff over both Meaders and North with a better back 9,  41 over 42, 46.  James Dean overtakes Luke Barritt by 41.5 points atop the season B-Flight standings, which boasts another handful of players in striking distance as the season turns to Thanksgiving Point GC.

Shawn Hammer also won his first event on tour, posting a steady 43-43-86.  Playing in the same group was Brian Robbs (89), who took 2^nd place.  David North continued his solid play, taking 3^rd place and rounding out the C-Flight money line.  North’s finish chips away at the season lead of Casey Bice. 

D-Flight also saw a first time winner in Brandon Kitchens (96), in just his second season on Tour.  Mark Miller (97) had a chance to tie Kitchens on the 18^th green, but left his putt inches short and would settle for a tie for 2^nd place along with Matt Walden (97).  Miller would beat Walden on a scorecard playoff with a better back nine, 45:47.  Michael Collins continues to lead the D-Flight season standings, but has been idle the last two events as the lead has shrunk considerably.           

Closest to the Pin overall winners were Danny Meaders (4^th – 5’5”), Van Mortensen (6^th – 0’0”), Garrett Danielson (8^th – 4’5”), Brandon Kitchens (13^th – 3’6”), & Danny Meaders (16^th – 19’8”).