Fairways • August 2011
Art City Amateur, a "Big Win" for Jensen
by Jim Rayburn

Carl Jensen is a pretty popular fellow. He's just one of those guys who is hard not to like. His pleasant personality is welcome pretty much everywhere he goes. Hobble Creek Golf Course is no exception.

With several high finishes at the Art City Amateur over the years, the folks up Hobble Creek Canyon have become quite fond of the Lehi accountant and his legendary long drives.

"It's a place where I've always felt comfortable," Jensen said.

This summer, however, Jensen found himself in unfamiliar territory. The locals were actually cheering against him for a change. It was understandable, considering one of their own – Hobble Creek club champion Shad Thomas - was in position to win the Art City for 35 of the tournament's 36 holes.

It's been nearly two decades since one of Hobble Creek's own has won the Art City. Thomas and young Colten Lamb, a starter at Hobble Creek, made an impressive run at the title this year, only to fall short in the end. But Jensen, with his father as his caddy, never let not being the gallery-favorite get to him. And with steady, confident and aggressive play from start to finish, he finally drove down the canyon road east of Springville with an Art City Am win on his credentials.

"Considering where I'm at in my life now, with work and family, this was a big tournament to win," Jensen said. "Honestly, I was starting to think I might not ever win again, so this was huge. This was a tournament I've always wanted to win. This might be my biggest win ever."

Some final-hole disaster on Thomas' part certainly didn't hurt, but Jensen won the tournament by one shot over Jared Overton and two over Lamb and Daniel Reid, by making a challenging birdie on his finishing hole.

Knowing he needed to make that birdie to avoid a playoff with Overton proved to be vital. "Even though I was behind most of the way I always had this feeling that I was going to get it done in the end. I just felt like this was my tournament to win," Jensen said.

Thomas' 4-under 67 on the opening day put him two shots ahead of Jensen, Joey Olson and Steve Poulson. Thomas' final-round strategy was to continue doing the things that gave him the two-shot lead.

"My game plan was to hit the ball as well as I can, and not fall back to them and make them catch me. Down the middle, hit greens and sink some putts were the thoughts in my mind," Thomas said.

He did exactly that to begin with, posting a 2-under 34 on his final-round front side to head into the final nine at 6 under par. But Jensen kept pace with a 34 of his own to remain only two shots back.

"I was consistent off the tee all weekend, but never really hit my irons that close. But I also didn't do anything to take any big numbers. So I really felt that in the end I'd be right there with a chance to win if I just stayed out of trouble," Jensen said.

And on the short and unforgiving par-4, 11th, Thomas made his first mistake – leaving himself a long and slick downhill birdie putt. He three putted for bogey. And when Jensen tapped in a 6-footer for birdie, there was suddenly a tie at the top for the first time at 5 under.

Actually, five holes ahead, Lamb was at 5-under as well after shooting a 3-under 33 on the front side and posting two more birdies on the back nine. He found a little trouble on No. 17, however, and made bogey and then left a short birdie putt on No. 18 hanging on the high side of the hole.

"I hit a good putt and thought I made it," Lamb said.

Back on the course Overton was making some noise of his own. Sitting at 4-under for the tournament he belted a monster drive on the par-5, 13th and had less than 100 yards to the pin for his second shot. He failed, however, to make birdie on the hole.

"I realized where I stood at that point and didn't respond very well," Overton said. But he did coming in, and with a two-putt birdie on the final hole his final-round 67 put him in the clubhouse at minus five – equal with Jensen and Thomas at the time. The two co-leaders, however, moved on top by themselves when both two putted No. 13 for birdie.

When Thomas' drive on the difficult par-4, 15th found the tree line to the right he had to settle for only his second bogey of the tournament. Jensen made the bogey less painful when he missed a 3-foot par putt on the same hole.

"I hit a really good chip and actually thought it was going to go in. But when it slid past I knew I had left myself a tricky par putt. Fortunately I was able to control my emotions and regroup for the next shot," Jensen said.

Jensen came back with a quality up-and-down par on No. 16, while Thomas bogeyed again when his chip from the fringe left him with a tough downhill par putt, which he missed – giving up the lead for the first time.

Hole No. 17, arguably Hobble Creek's toughest, doesn't surrender many birdies. Both hit perfect drives, and both left themselves makeable birdie putts. Jensen's attempt from about 15 feet uphill curled around the cup. With Thomas alone on the stage, he calmly rolled in his slick 10-foot birdie putt to catch Jensen and Overton once again at 5-under.

"I just had that feeling that he was going to drop that putt in, and he did it," Jensen said. "It really felt like a match-play battle, and I love that. That's when I play my best golf."

But Thomas' dream became a nightmare on the final tee box. On a hole that he birdies once or twice a week, he let one get away, and his lifelong dream of winning the Art City went with it. He pushed his tee shot on the roadside par 5 out of bounds right.

"I had hit my driver great all day long. So I got up and picked out that pine tree behind the green that I always aim at and didn't once think about that fence. But then I hit it and it just kept drifting right. When I saw it go over the wall, the wind went right out from beneath me," Thomas said.

Jensen, on the other hand, took the safe route and hit his drive left, almost into No. 11 fairway. With Thomas looking at a big number, Jensen might have played for par or bogey from there had he not been informed that Overton was sitting greenside ahead already in at 5 under.

"I realized then, OK, we need to make a birdie. And I thought going for the green there was my best chance to make a birdie," Jensen said.

From behind a line of tall pines, Jensen lifted a towering iron shot left of the green. He chipped uphill to about six feet past the cup, leaving himself a putt that is three putted as often as it is made. But Jensen wasn't letting this one slip away, and confidently rolled in the tournament winner.

"A downhill putt, right to left, I normally feel pretty comfortable with those kind of putts. And standing over a putt like that for a chance to win a tournament I really want to win, well that's just fun. And sharing it with my dad, well, there's nothing better," Jensen said.

Jensen, with rounds of 69-67, finished at 6-under 136. Overton (70-67) posted a 137, with Lamb (71-67) and Reid (72-66) at 138. Poulson (69-70) took fifth, while Thomas (with a triple-bogey 8 on the final hole) had to settle for sixth.

"At least I know now that I can get there," Thomas said. "I was in position to win the Art City. It was fun. It was a blast. I can't wait to get back into that situation again and see what happens next time."

Jim Rayburn is a frequent contributor to Fairways.