Bruce and Joe Summerhays faced Dustin Volk and Pete Stone in the championship match of the Utah PGA Four-Ball Championship held on June 27th at Jeremy Ranch Country Club. The final match guaranteed a return to the winner’s circle for one of the former champion teams.
Throughout the afternoon, following the morning semifinals, the teams of long-time Section members seemed destined for a prolonged battle. Each team had won only one hole through the front nine. Team Summerhays won the par-4 5th hole when Joe made a 15-foot birdie, putting his team 1-up. Volk tied the match on the par-3 8th by sticking his tee shot just 2-feet from the hole for an easy birdie.
The match remained tied until the par-4 15th, where all four players had birdie opportunities. Volk remarked to Stone, “One of us has to make these.” Bruce Summerhays in jest responded, “I’ll do my best,” and then sank a 20-foot birdie putt to give his team a 1-up lead with three holes to play.
The sides then matched birdies on the par 5 16th and pars on the par 3 17th for the Summerhayses to remain 1-up heading to the uphill par 4 closing hole. Hitting one of his best drives of the day, (Joe Summerhays and Volk played the “senior tees” while Bruce and Stone played back one tee box), Joe had just a wedge into the forward hole location. After Volk’s and Stone’s birdie attempts missed, the Valley View Professionals conceded Summerhays’ putt to end the match with a 2-up win for the Summerhays brothers.
To reach the final match the Summerhayses defeated defending champs Tracy Zobell and Ryan Rhees 3 and 1. Team Volk/Stone overcame Davis County Golf coworkers Zach Johnson and Kaden Jones 4 and 3 in semifinal matches played earlier that morning.
A total of 55 teams entered the championship this year with several top teams receiving byes in the opening round of 64.
Utah PGA Tournament Director Aaron Goodman said, “The Four-Ball Championship is one our team events that has continued to grow in popularity and participation. Having the rounds scheduled and at different high-end courses has been really fun. Thank you to Valley View, Davis Park, Thanksgiving Point, and Jeremy Ranch Country Club for hosting this year’s championship.”