by Brady Bingham
Brady Bingham is a sports writer for the Ogden Standard Examiner and a frequent contributor to Fairways

Fall - November - 06
Pete Stone Captures the Utah Open

“All right. It’s a 3-hole tournament. I like my chances,” the 24-year Bountiful resident and freshman professional convinced himself.

At stake on that August 27th afternoon was a victory at the Siegfried and Jensen Utah Open (a tournament he grew up watching his father Brad Stone, the longtime professional at Davis Park golf course, play) a $15,000 winner’s check and an exemption into the Nationwide Tour’s EnergySolutions Utah Championship.

But Stone, despite posting a Utah Open record 9-under-par 63 in the second round and building a big final-round lead, was feeling a bit tight after former Southern Utah star Zach Johnson had climbed all the way back to tie for the tournament lead at 14-under-par.

“I had to get rid of what had just happened, take a few deep breaths and settle down,” Stone said.

The few moments of composure – along with a final-hole pep talk from his caddie/father – was all Stone needed to close with a birdie on the final hole, post a final-round 1-under-par 71 at TalonsCove, and win the Utah Open by one shot at 15-under-par for the tournament.

At the 18th hole, Stone looked over his ball in the rough approximately 195 yards from the green. As he pulled out a 7-iron, Stone’s father leaned in and said, “Just go win it.”

Stone hit the shot within seven feet of the pin, then confidently stood over the putt and knocked down the tournament winner.

“Telling me to go win … that was probably the best thing my dad has ever done on the bag,” he said. “I know he was a wreck. He gets so involved and he wears it on his sleeve.”

Stone defeated Johnson, who finished at 14-under-par with a 4-under-par 68 on Sunday, by one stroke. “I’m happy with the way I played,” said Johnson, gracious in defeat. “I’d rather get beat by a birdie than not be able to sleep all night.”

With the win, Stone accepted the automatic exemption into the EnergySolutions Utah Championship. “Hopefully this means I can make that jump to the next level,” Stone said. “I know it gives me a lot of confidence in myself.”

After the first round, it appeared everyone would be chasing former Utah State University star Todd Tanner the rest of the tournament.

His sizzling 7-under-par 65 in challenging weather earned him the lead in the clubhouse when play was suspended for darkness with more than 50 golfers left on the course. The first round was delayed twice due to dangerous lightning and rain.

“I was looking back to last year when I started with a 71. It felt like I was playing catch-up the rest of the way” admitted Tanner, who finished tied for sixth in 2005. “It’s nice to start good and be out on top.”

But Tanner failed to sustain his momentum in the second round, posting a miserable 4-over-76 and falling out of contention. He finished at 8-under-par, seven strokes back.

There was a four-way tie for third place between Oscar Alvarez, Kim Thompson, Ryan Rhees and Barry Schenk. West Point’s Clay Ogden defeated Nick Van Vuuren in a two hole playoff for the low amateur honors.