Author: By Scott Whittaker, Utah Section Executive Director
Joe Summerhays, the new head golf professional at Glen Eagle GC in Syracuse, UT celebrated the start of the 2014 golf season with a convincing win at the Nike Winter Classic. The Nike Classic has become the Utah Section PGA’s major championship tee-off for each new golf season.
The Nike’s unique Modified Stableford scoring system helps keep the “fun of competition” in our PGA Members games as they come out of winter. By design, contestants’ bogies don’t count against them and only pars, birdies, and eagles count for them. Summerhays’ 12 birdies over two rounds certainly helped him! They gave him a four point victory over 2nd place finishers Derek Fox (Rolling Green CC) and last years’ POY winner Chris Moody (Riverside CC). Past President Michael Bicker came from behind to capture the Nike Classic SR Title. Reigning Utah Section Super-Senior Champion Tom Rogers started the season off right by winning the Super-Senior title.
All the great shots of the event were not limited to the Nike Champions. Section Vice President, Chris Stover aced St. George Golf Club’s #12 hole. Super-Senior and recently retired John Evans proved his game hasn’t retired with him by acing Sun River’s #11 hole.
The Nike Classic Championship formula of warm off-season golf, great sponsors, multiple pro-pro formats, and great host venues seems to be working great. This was evidenced by the field of 116 players traveling to the St. George area to play golf and enjoy the annual meeting line-up. Nike celebrated their long, fifteen year relationship with this event by bringing in PGA Past President Jim Remy for a special presentation. Nike’s US Marketing Manager Kyle Freeman noted that “Utah’s Nike Winter Classic presents a unique venue that allows Nike to celebrate the great relationship they have with Utah Section Golf Professionals”.
Scott Whittaker, Utah Section Executive Director