Author: Kurt Kragthorpe
Tracy Zobell and Ryan Rhees played the last nine holes in 8-under par, rallying to beat Shawn Edwards and Zach Johnson 2-and-1 in the final match of the Utah Section Four-Ball Championship at Valley View Golf Course.
The event, sponsored by Charley Carlson, included 64 teams. The winners split a $3,000 prize on April 25 after three days of competition. Zobell and Rhees are longtime playing partners with the bond of working as head professionals in southern Utah County, Zobell at Gladstan Golf Course and Rhees at The Oaks at Spanish Fork.
Zobell and Rhees were 2-down after eight holes against Edwards, of Hill Air Force Base’s Hubbard GC, and Johnson, of Davis Park GC. Zobell responded with a 5-iron shot from 230 yards out of a fairway bunker, leading to an eagle on the par-5 No. 9. Rhees followed with a short birdie putt on the par-4 No. 10, then Zobell chipped in for an eagle on the par-5 No. 11 and the winning team was ahead to stay.
“All of a sudden, we’re back in it,” Rhees said.
“We were talking all week about how it’s such a momentum thing,” Zobell said. “Match play is all about momentum, on either side of it.”
Rhees’ birdie on No. 15 gave the team a 2-up lead, then he closed the match with a tricky, two-putt birdie from the back fringe on the par-5 No. 17. As a senior player, Rhees had a slight advantage by playing from the blue tees.
Zobell and Rhees had reached the finals with a 5-and-4 win over Seokwon Jeon and Taylor Laybourne. Edwards and Johnson were 5-and-4 winners over Matt Baird and Tele Wightman in the semifinals.