Golf tournaments often have multiple interesting story lines.
The just-concluded Utah Open says “Hold my beer.”
Let’s start with the winner, Derek Fribbs.
The former Colorado Buffalo won the event at 23 under, three shots clear of T.K. Kim. Fribbs shot 66-63-64 in the 54-hole event, with the highlight of his weekend being his Sunday albatross.
From 215 yards out on the par-5 15th hole at Riverside Country Club in Provo, Fribbs ripped a 7-iron and holed it out for a 2. He told the Deseret News he “didn’t believe it until I officially went and got it out of the hole.”
If the name Derek Fribbs sounds familiar, perhaps it’s because you recall this wild story from June, in which a golfer was arrested after a fight broke out during the middle of a qualifier in Kansas on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Fribbs was more than a witness. He actually tried to break up the fight. The father of the fight’s instigator then began to use a putter to keep Fribbs from breaking up the fight.
When it came up during his post-round interview, Fribbs told the Deseret News: “At least I am the good guy in the story. I wasn’t beat up or arrested.”
Fribbs then hopped in a car, $20,000 richer after his win, and drove back to Colorado Sunday night with plans to catch a flight to Dallas for his next outing, a Korn Ferry Tour pre-qualifying tournament near Dallas.
Oh, and Fribbs turned 31 on Monday. Happy birthday, Derek.
But wait. There’s more to this Utah Open.
Tony Romo, the big-money NFL analyst for CBS, was in the tournament as well. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, who makes $17 million a year for his TV gig, opened with a 68, made the cut and tied for 42nd. Due to his amateur status, Romo could only accept $180 in merchandise credit to be used in the pro shop, according to the Deseret News. No word on what he splurged on.
There was a bit of history made at the tournament, too.
Brigham Young University golfer Kerstin Fotu, a 22-year-old junior-to-be, became the first woman to make the cut. And before you ask, yes, she was playing the same tees as everyone else on the 7,142-yard course. Fotu closed with her round Friday with three straight pars to make the cut on the number, beating close to 90 others in the process. She closed with a 76 on Sunday to finish 59th.
Among those to miss the cut was Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith, who posted not-too-shabby scores of 74-77. Smith calls Riverside Country Club his home course. The 42-year-old bought the Jazz in December.