After all the ups and downs and twists and turns produced over the last few holes of the Salt Lake City Amateur Sunday evening, most observers could only shake their heads and mutter, "That's golf."
In one of the most topsy-turvy golf events ever seen in Utah, Ryan Job won the annual Richard C. Kramer City Amateur trophy by beating Pete Stone in a two-hole playoff that was anything but routine.
"My nerves are shot," said the 41-year-old Job, who survived a horrible tee shot on the first playoff hole and two-nerve-wracking putts to claim his second City Am win (he also won in 1995).
Job had looked like a sure winner as he stood high above the No. 9 green (finishing hole) watching Stone needing to chip in for birdie from 30 yards away to force a playoff. Amazingly, Stone did just that, landing his ball on the green and rolling it nearly the length of the green into the cup.
Then on each of the playoff holes, it looked like Stone had a huge advantage and was going to win, only to see Job twice come back with clutch putts, first with a six-footer to stay alive and then a 20-footer to win it.
Both players shot 7-under-par 65s Sunday to finish at 134, three shots ahead of first-day leader Marty Jacks and two-time City Am champ Doug Bybee.
On the first playoff hole, Stone drove within 70 yards of the green par-5 hole, while Job jacked his drive left into some trees just left of the tee, only to see his ball trickle down onto the ladies tees about 50 yards ahead.
However, Job didn't panic and knocked a 3-wood up near Stone's ball and then landed a wedge six feet left of the hole.
Stone's chip rolled back off the green, but his next chip from 20 feet lipped out. When Job sank his 6-foot slider for birdie, it was on to the next hole.
They played neighboring No. 9 hole and again Stone had the edge with a straight drive, while Job hit it right, behind some trees. Job's approach hit a tree, leaving him 40 yards short of the green, while Stone hit the green about 50 feet from the hole.
When Job hit onto the green 20 feet short of the cup, it looked like all Stone needed to do was two-putt for the victory.
But there was one last twist to come. After Stone's long putt ended up six feet short, Job's hard putt hit the back of the cup and fell in for par. Then Stone, whose putt suddenly became much more difficult, slid his putt past the hole, leaving Job the victor.
"I knew I had to make that putt," said Job. "I think it jumped about three inches."
After seemingly having the tournament in the bag a couple of times, perhaps it wasn't surprising the 21-year-old Stone made a beeline for the parking lot and wasn't available to talk about his round.
Stone has several top-five finishes already this year with a win at the Glendale Amateur. Job called Stone "definitely the best player out there right now."
Jacks, who shot a 71 after his 66 the first day, said his putter failed him and he "hit some wayward shots and the wrong time."
Kevin Soderquist finished fifth at 140, while former City Am champs Kirk Siddens and Rich Rawdin joined Ed Ingram and Richard Dibblee at 141.
Flight winners included Roni Fox in A Flight with a net 132 and Geoff Turner in B Flight with a 130.
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