Rookie Pro takes the Lead at the
2009 Siegfried and Jensen
Utah Open
Steele Dewald, a rookie pro
who graduated from Arizona State University
earlier this year is at the top of the leader
board of the 83rd Siegfried and
Jensen Utah Open. Playing in the morning flight,
Dewald posted 66 Friday at
Oakridge Country Club.
Dewald's -6
under round is one stroke ahead of three others
at -5, 67 including past champions Mike Malaska
and Steve Runge. Malaska won the Utah Open in
1974 at Ogden Country Club as an amateur and
Runge captured the state championship in 1997 at
Willow Creek Country Club.
Zac Blair,
this year's Utah State Amateur champion is the
low amateur at -4, 68. Joining Blair in the
third place position are pros Nick Killpack,
Dustin Pimm, Steve Schneiter and current
Colorado Open champion Derek Tolan.
Boyd Summerhays, last year's
runner-up, finished the day at -3, with a host
of others including amateur Joe Parkinson who
had it to -5, and a chance to catch Blair but
slipped to -3 after a double bogey on 17.
Champions Tour professional and
former Utah Open champ Jay Don Blake finished at
-2, 70 along with 2007 champion Clay Ogden and
1981 champion Jimmy Blair.
Second round action begins
Saturday at 7:30 a.m. The low 60 scores
and ties will make the cut and move on to the
final round Sunday at Oakridge CC. The $20,000
first place check will be awarded to the
champion near the 18th green at the
conclusion of play Sunday. Admission to the 83rd
Utah Open is free to the public. The golf course
at Oakridge CC is in fantastic condition and the
clubhouse setting is one of the best in Utah for
watching tournament golf.
