Ever since John Daly won the initial tournament in 1990, the Nike Utah Classic has made a habit of finding future golf stars.
Ted Tryba won in Utah in 1991 and just this summer claimed his first PGA win. Jeff Woodland, Sean Murphy and Chris Perry, the past three winners, have all earned their way onto the PGA Tour and been successful. And last year's runner-up, David Duval, has already set a record for most money won by a PGA rookie.Another future star could be crowned in Provo this week when the Nike Utah Classic is played Friday through Sunday at the Riverside Country Club. The only problem is, no one knows who the future stars will be until perhaps 1998. You just have to trust that you're seeing the some of the best golfers of the next decade.
All of the top Nike players are entered this weekend, including the top six money-winners - David Toms, Jerry Kelly, Chris Smith, Tom Scherrer, Allen Doyle and Hugh Royer III, who have accounted for 11 Nike victories among them this year. In fact out of the top 50 money-winners, only one is missing and he ranks well down the list.
Besides the up-and-comers, the Nike event will feature several players with PGA Tour experience such as Tim Simpson, Buddy Gardner, Clarence Rose, Rex Caldwell, Sam Randolph, Willie Wood, John Schroeder and Clark Burroughs, who missed winning last month's Utah Open by one shot. Steve Brodie, who has played on both the PGA and Nike Tours and who calls Provo his home, is also entered.
Several local pros have earned spots in the tourney, including Steve Schneiter, Spence Ahrend, Matt Johnson, Kirk Abegglen, Kent McComb, Chris Jones, Milan Swilor, Tracy Zobell, Henry White, Jimmy Blair and Kim Thompson. Also, two local teenage amateurs have been given exemptions into the tourney - 16-year-old Boyd Summerhays of Farmington and 17-year-old Scott Hailes of West Bountiful - because of their accomplishments on a national scale this summer.
Others with local ties include former Weber State golfer Greg Whisman, Edward Fryatt, who played at BYU for a year and Jeff Thomsen of Boise, who often playes in Utah tournaments.
On Saturday there will be a slight conflict with the BYU-UCLA football game down the street. But since the game doesn't begin until 5 p.m., the tournament is offering half-price tickets to anyone who would like to stop at the golf tournament before heading on down to the game.
The tournament is worth $200,000 overall with $36,000 going to the winner.