SANDY — The Hidden Valley Country Club hosted the 5th annual high school All Star Invitational Golf Tournament Tuesday pitting over 50 of the state's best boy and girl golfers competing for educational prize money.
The boys' battle came down to two Lone Peak High School stars, Joe Parkinson and Garrett Fotu, with Parkinson taking the 1st place medal and the $250 first prize. Fotu collected $100 for 2nd place and Nick Booth of Copper Hills also was awarded $100 for third place.
For 27 holes, Parkinson shot 102, Fotu, 103, Booth 110 and Dixie's Connor Van Gilder carded 113 to earn a 4th place medal.
Fotu shot 68 on the first 18 and Parkinson 70. The field was cut to the lowest 15 golfers and nine more holes were played. Fotu and Parkinson were paired together in the final group and a head-to-head battle ensued.
Parkinson came out hot and birdied the first three holes. But the duo was even going in to the final hole, where Parkinson hit a 3-iron 235 yards on the green about 25 feet from the hole.
Fotu took three shots to get on about 20 feet away. Parkinson went first. "I tend to get nervous, " he said, "and I left it short."
Fotu barely missed and tapped in for his par. Parkinson had a five-footer for a birdie and the win. "It was a tester," he said.
The two friends were asked about their rivalry afterwards.
"We have known each other since elementary school," said Parkinson, "so it was kind of a casual thing."
Fotu's drives were anything but casual. On the 411-yard 6th hole, he blasted one about 30 yards to the right of the green but was nearly pin high.
Just to prove that was no fluke, on the 402-yard 8th hole he drove the green landing some 30 feet from the pin and two-putted for birdie, setting up the tie match and the final hole scenario.
The girls only played 18 holes and Park City's Sami Crouch carded a 78 to pick up the $250 check. Skyline's Nicole Gaddie shot 80 and won $100 and Courtney Smith of Ogden shot 84 and collected $100. Fremont's Ali Cluff shot 91 and was awarded a 4th place medal.
"My short putts were terrible but my 10 footers were good," said Crouch.
Gaddie said the undulating greens caused her downfall. "I just couldn't get a feel for the greens," she said.
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