Steve Brodie did it again.
The 27-year-old California native, who moved to Utah just two months ago, won his second pro tournament in as many weeks by capturing the First Security Insurance Open at Tri City Golf Course Sunday afternoon.Brodie fired a course-record-equalling 65 to finish at 136, three strokes better than amateur Jeff Kraemer and five better than the professional runner-up, Milan Swilor.
"It always feels great to win," said Brodie, who pocketed $1,500 for the victory. "I was able to salvage a pretty good round today."
Brodie, who played the Ben Hogan Tour the last two years, hadn't expected much of his game this weekend despite winning the Spanish Oaks Open last week with a pair of 65s. He had spent four days in Florida taking lessons from Peter Kostis and had his whole swing revamped. He figured it would take time to get used to his new swing.
He started the day three strokes behind Swilor and four behind Kraemer, a senior on the BYU golf team, after shooting a 71 on Saturday.
"I figured I was going to have to shoot low today to catch Milan - but I didn't plan on a 65," he said.
Brodie caught Swilor by the fifth hole after birdies at 2 and 5. He made two more birdies at 10 and 11, which put him 5-under for the tournament. He didn't know it at the time, but that put him in a tie with Kraemer, who had shot a 72 early in the day for a 139 total.
At the short 338-yard par-4 15th hole, Brodie hit a wedge for his second shot from 75 yards out. The low shot took one bounce and went into the cup for an eagle-2. He played the 519-yard par-5 16th hole conservatively, "to avoid a double bogey," hitting a 7-iron off the tee, an 8-iron for his second shot and a 9-iron for his third shot to the green and two-putting for par. He capped off his round by draining a 20-foot putt for birdie at 18.
Even though he was mostly worried about Swilor, Brodie was happy to find out he had beaten everyone, including the amateurs, when he finished.
"I wanted to win the tournament," he said. "That was the bigger thing to me. It's nice to win the money, but there's lots of ways to play for money."
It was a great day for BYU golfers. Besides Kraemer, Ryan Rhees tied for third at 141 with Swilor and amateur Todd Barker, Ramon Brobio finished sixth overall at 142, while Mike Weir and Eric Rustand tied for ninth at 144 after rounds of 67 and 68, respectively.
Jimmy Blair and Mike Malaska tied for seventh at 143.
Brodie, who will work at the new Mulligans Course in West Jordan when it opens in two weeks, will try to make it three in a row at the Rose Park Open Saturday.