Monthly Archives: July 2022

PGA Life member and former PGA Tour member Jeff Brehaut goes wire-to-wire with rounds of (-8) 67-69 to win the 2022 Kelly Woodland Utah Senior Open at Toana Vista Golf Course in West Wendover, Nevada July 27-28.

“I kind of persevered today,” Brehaut told Paul Pugmire on the Utah Golf Radio Podcast. “I couldn’t get my driver going where I wanted it, but I chipped in twice today. That doesn’t happen all that often. I just hung in there and kept grinding.”

Brehaut credits his putter and short irons in breaking away from the field for a three-stroke victory. Dave DeSantis (-5) finished runner-up and winner of the Super Senior Division, while Paul Phillips (-4) finished third.

Brehaut spent seven years on the PGA Tour, competed in the 2022 US Senior Open and recently won the Arctic Circle Senior Open at Mountain View prior to his win in Wendover.

He currently travels back and forth between California and Utah to see family and continue his teaching career.

“I get asked all the time if I miss California and I (jokingly) say, ‘no.’ My wife and I love it here.”

Low amateurs for the event include David Booth and Jon Rhodes who both finished (-1) 143 for the event.

Though great golf was played and a tournament was completed, the event was centered around long-time PGA Professional and The Barn Head Professional Kelly Woodland, the Utah Senior Open honoree.

Thank you to the Woodland family for allowing us to celebrate and remember Kelly’s life, one that impacted everyone at the event and more in Utah golf.

Thank you to the Toana Vista staff and Wendover Hotels & Casinos group for always being gracious hosts.

FULL RESULTS

Joe Summerhays didn’t waste much time after turning 50 late last season to win his first Section senior event. From 32 to one, Summerhays outlasted them all in the Utah PGA Senior Match Play Championship, winning the semifinal and final matches at Alpine Country Club July 14^th.

Summerhays defeated Todd Meyer 3&2 in the semifinal and Matt Johnson 6&5 in the final. The common denominator between both matches? A lot of birdies to start each match.

He birdied the first three holes in the semifinal match against Meyer to build a quick lead and birdied three of the first five holes against Johnson, which was part of the game plan going into Thursday’s matches.

“It’s important for me in match play to get out ahead,” Summerhays said of his hot starts. “That’s how I play best, I struggle when I’m behind. When I do that I feel more comfortable.”

As a relatively new senior in the Section, this is Summerhays’ first attempt at the Senior Match Play Championship.

“It’s fun to win a match play tournament because it’s tough to win, each match is crazy different. It’s a good accomplishment.”

On his way to the title, Summerhays defeated Kevin Connole, Scott Brandt, Eric Nielsen, Meyer and then Johnson.

Johnson, a PGA Life Member, made it to the championship match after defeated defending champion Mark Owen in 20 holes.

Johnson birdied holes 17 and 18 to force the playoff and then the second playoff hole to earn a spot in the final.

Summerhays will compete in the remaining Section events, including the Utah Open and Section Championship, and then he’ll set off to various state opens and PGA Champions Tour Q School to try and earn some status on the senior tour.

Thank you to Stonebridge, Willow Creek and Alpine for hosting the 2022 Senior Match Play Championship!

Full Bracket

Riverside Country Club Teaching Professional Matt Baird and Thanksgiving Point Head Professional Tele Wightman team up every year to win the Utah Section PGA Four-Ball Championship, and on June 30^th at Jeremy Ranch Golf & Country Club in Park City, Utah, they finally did.

From 32 teams to one, Baird and Wightman faced Park Meadows Country Club Professionals Nick Owen and Steve Patterson, first time Four-Ball Championship finalists, and outlasted them 3&2 – with a chip-in eagle from Baird to finalize play.

“This one is really special,” Wightman said. “We’ve been playing together for a long time and have always wanted to get a win in this. We’ve just never been able to get over the hump, each year ended in tough losses. We were able to find a way to keep winning and advancing this year. Today was so fun.”

Through 16 holes, Baird and Wightman had seven birdies, one eagle and a lone bogey. Owen and Patterson put up quite a fight of their own with four birdies and an eagle, but could never quite find the lead.

“It was fun today for the two of us because we both played great, especially when one of us were out of the hole,” Baird said.

“My chip-in was honestly set up with Tele’s great bunker shot to a couple feet from the hole,” Baird said of his eagle on 16, which ended the match, even though Owen had a knock-in for eagle as well. “That actually freed me up. I used my sand wedge to be a little more aggressive and it came off right on line.”

Baird and Wightman’s path to the championship included wins over Devin Dehlin/Matt Johnson, Allen Enochson/Jared Barnes, Ryan Rhees/Tracy Zobell, Mark Owen/Steve Schneiter and then the championship match at Jeremy Ranch.

Thank you to Charley Carlson for his continued sponsorship and support of the Spring Pro-Pro and Four-Ball Championship. And thank you to Ogden Country Club, Thanksgiving Point, Valley View and Jeremy Ranch for hosting matches along the way.

Click here for the Four-Ball Bracket.

Click here for Photos.