In just four short years, the Gus Paulos West Ridge Open has made a name for itself by becoming the second richest tournament on the local professional golf circuit with $15,000 awarded to the winner. The only problem is, the way the tournament is going the name may have to change to the Ray Cragun Open.
For the second straight year, Cragun flew up from New Mexico and defeated the best of Utah's professionals at West Ridge Golf Course and was on a plane back home before the official awards ceremony was completed.The 39-year-old left-hander shot a 3-under-par 68 Sunday, which coupled with his 72 of the previous day gave him a 140 total and a 2-stroke victory over amateur Mark Davis and a 3-stroke win over fellow professionals Steve Schneiter and Mike Malaska.
Cragun was the only golfer in the field to break par for the tournament under tough conditions that included a constant wind, tall rough and slick greens. While a lot of golfers moaned about the conditions, Cragun had nothing to complain about.
"Personally I like this golf course," he said. "It's a bear of a golf course, but generally I like a course where par is a good score."
Cragun also likes a course that favors straight hitters with a good short game, which describes him to a T. While other golfers struggled on the tricky, contoured greens, Cragun excelled.
He didn't have a three-putt and made three monster putts that made the difference in his victory. Besides two-putt birdies at 3 and 6, Cragun sank 25-foot birdies at 8 and 14 and rolled in a 45-footer at 194-yard par-3 16th hole, which clinched his victory.
At the time he led first-day leader Kim Thompson by two shots after Thompson birdied at No. 15. But Thompson missed the green left and double-bogeyed and trailed by five when the hole was over. "To make a 2 there today was really great," said Cragun.
Schneiter, who is playing as well as any Utah professional this year, had his opportunities, but three three-putts for bogeys on the final six holes doomed his chances. Thompson, who had a first-day 70, played well except for the par-3s where he was 7-over par Sunday with a triple bogey, a double bogey and two bogeys.
Davis also had a chance to win, playing several hours before the leading pros who were paired together. Davis, a former professional, finished with a double-bogey at 16 and a bogey at 18, three shots that could have given him the victory, but no part of the $15,000. He argued for the chance to play with the leaders, but for some reason, tournament officials said no.
For Cragun, who is a teaching professional at Roswell Country Club, the $15,000 was the largest of his career in a regular tournament (he once won $19,000 in a Skins Game). He'll play in the New Mexico Open this week, where the first prize is just $9,500.
Recently turned professional Jon Wright finished at 146, while four pros, Blair Phillip, Roy Christensen, Kury Reynolds and Todd Meyer tied at 147.
Cedar City's John Evans won the senior division and the $2,500 first prize with a 157 total, two better than Lanny Nielsen and Kean Ridd.
Flight winners were Jerry Peterson in A Flight, John Pearson in B Flight and Dennis Bishop in C Flight.