April is a special month for golfers, mostly because the playing of the Masters at Augusta National, but also for the beginning of a new golf season in Utah. The Utah PGA Spring Pro-Pro, presented by Charley Carlson and hosted by Ogden Country Club signifies that the season is in full bloom.
Davis Park Head Professional Zach Johnson and new Assistant Professional Caiden Jones teamed up to win the Pro-Pro with a Fourball score of (-10) 62, which included eight birdies and an eagle.
“We both chipped in for birdie,” Johnson said. “Caiden made an awesome eagle, made some birdies and good par saves when I was in my pocket. It was a good team effort.”
Jones, who started the PGA Professional Golf Management program in January, couldn’t have started his Utah Section playing career any better.
“We hammed-and-egged it pretty good,” Jones said. “This is my first Section event, it feels great to come out on top. I have to thank Zach for getting me out here.”
Salt Lake Golf Academy Professionals Tommy Sharp and Corey Badger finished runner-up with a (-9) 63 while Eagle Lake Professionals Eric Bumstead and Joe Summerhays finished third at (-7) 65.
Southgate Professionals Eron Deming and Tyler Dalton finished first in the net division with a (-12) 60.
Per tradition, the Spring Pro-Pro acts as a seeding round for the Utah Section PGA Fourball Championship. In true Utah Spring form, the first and second rounds of the Fourball Championship, scheduled to be played April 12th at Ogden CC, were postponed due to snow.
Johnson & Jones will take the first seed. Johnson won the 2021 Fourball Championship alongside Hubbard Golf Course at Hill Air Force Base Director of Golf Shawn Edwards. He’ll look to defend this year with Jones.
Before golf was played, we had the opportunity to meet as a membership for our Spring Meeting, hoping to set us off on right foot for the 2022 season. After the meeting, out newest Class-A Member Xena Motes was presented her membership plaque. Motes is the head professional at Hubbard.
Thank you to Charley Carlson for supporting the Utah Section and the Spring Pro-Pro every year and thank you to Craig Sarlo, Bob Wallis and the Ogden Country Club staff for hosting our membership.