Dusty Fielding picked a good time to catch fire. Making his first appearance in the Utah Assistant PGA Championship, the former Utah Open champion stormed the Sunrise nine, his final round back nine at Stonebridge Golf Club with a 30 that included two eagles and two birdies—to reach 10-under par 134 and join a playoff with Spencer Wallace and Hayden Banz.
“I played pretty bad on Creekside nine to start,” Fielding admitted. “Even though I was even par, it felt rough. But I’ve played Sunrise side well, and I told myself I could make some birdies out there. Once I hit that second shot on No. 2 to set up eagle, everything kind of clicked.”
Fielding followed with birdies on the next two holes and added a second eagle at the last to get into the playoff. “I was just trying to stay calm and see if I could sneak into it,” he said. “Coming up 18, I knew Hayden [Banz] might birdie, so I just focused on making a good swing. I piped it, hit a perfect 5-iron approach, and got the eagle putt to drop.”
His eagle on 18 got him into the playoff and his same strategy carried over. Fielding once again pulled his TaylorMade Mini Driver he’s grown comfortable with this season from his bag, found the fairway, and left himself a chance to set up a birdie or better. After a nervy second that faded into the rough, he punched back into play and then calmly rolled in a tap in birdie to claim the championship.
It was a breakthrough not just on the scorecard, but mentally as well. Fielding has wrestled with expectations this season, especially at the Utah Open where he finished T47, but he came into Stonebridge with a different mindset. “I told myself to just enjoy playing again,” he said. “When I won the Utah Open years ago, I didn’t have big expectations. That’s when I play my best—when I stay patient and let the birdies come.”
For a player who’s seen peaks and valleys in his career, this victory has meaning. “To shoot 30 on the back nine, to get in a playoff, and then finish it off with a birdie, it feels really good.”
As he looks ahead to the Davis Park Open and Southern Utah Open he said, “I’ll remember the attitude I had this week. That’s how I need to approach it moving forward.”
As a level 1 assistant Fielding may not be eligible for the national Assistant PGA Championship, but that didn’t take away from the moment. He walked away with the Utah Assistant PGA trophy—and perhaps, renewed confidence in his game.
Spencer Wallace and Hayden Banz are also ineligible for national playing spots. Qualifying for the national Assistant PGA Championship at Stonebridge were Evan Wartgow at 9-under par, Dustin Pimm (-6) and Thomas Cook at (-5).
Utah Assistant PGA Championship final leaderboard.
Many thanks to Stonebridge Golf Club for hosting this year’s championship.