Fishburn Captures First 2 UJGA Tournaments

The Ogden Golf and Country Club member who recently urged Patrick Fishburn to try out his driver, may now have a little more difficult time getting the club back. Fishburn, a 16-year-old Fremont High School sophomore, discovered the 6-degree borrowed Alpha driver straightened out his drives and allowed him to hit "a ball that bored through the air," he said. But, even more important, the club was instrumental in helping Fishburn win back-to-back tournaments in the Johnny Miller Division.

Although the driver was working well for Fishburn in the Preview at The Ledges, he also gave credit to his putter for shooting the only sub-par round in the invitational tournament that heralded the start of the Utah Junior Golf Assn. golf season. His chipping and putting prowess became even more of a factor the following day in the Southern Utah Junior Classic at Southgate Golf Course in St. George.

Fishburn, who plays in the UJGA's top division, said his driver wasn't nearly as straight at Southgate, and in fact, he thought he might have hit his drive out of bounds on the No. 6 par 5 hole. He found the ball barely in bounds and hit his second shot to within 8 feet of the hole. His putt for eagle was just what he needed to jump-start his round and bolt him for the second day into first place. Fishburn secured his first-place finishes in the Johnny Miller Division with a 69 at the Preview and a 66 at the Southern Utah Classic.

The Preview also pitted the top golfers in the Belle Fellows and Boys 15-18 First Flight Divisions. Players qualified for the Preview based on their play during the season in 2008.

Lea Garner, a 15-year-old Washington Terrace girl took first place in the girls division, while Matt VanLeeuwen captured the Boys 15-18 First Flight title. The Preview was the first tournament in the older age division for Garner.

While the Preview was an invitational tournament, the following day's tournament at Southgate was open to all divisions in the Zions Bank Championship Series.

Other winners in the Southern Utah Classic and their respective divisions were: Tara Green, Belle Fellows Division; Brian Schwerin, Boys 15-18 First Flight; Kendrik Gibson, Boys 15-18 Second Flight; Austin Banz, Bruce Summerhays Division; Rich Davis, Boys 13-14 First Flight; Jaece Stokes, Mike Reid Division, and Monica Yeates, Judie Ahrend Division.

-- Terri Ellefsen

Preview Results

Southern Utah Classic Results