Rain Complicates Student's Win
JIMMY HART Salt Lake Tribune
(published July 21, 2004)

The Professional Miniature Golf Association is still working to achieve the prowess of its worldwide cousin - the PGA Tour - but to those who competed at Golf in the Round, this is still golf.

Take away the long drives, most of the clubs and the dress code. Add a healthy dose of heckling, a completely open field of competitors and a course that was only semi-playable after a downpour, and you had the PMGA event that went on despite the elements Monday night.

University of Utah student Bryan James claimed the $150 first prize after shooting a 2-under-par 84.

The rain that fell in the late afternoon left the 36-hole course saturated with water, causing the surface react like a wet sponge in places. For instance, a "stagnant pond" that formed on the sixth hole caused a number of high scores and managed to bring down reigning PMGA champion Tom Frederickson in process.

Frederickson had to take the maximum six strokes on the hole and finished with an even-par 86, good for third place.

Jeffrey David Johnson finished in a three-way tie for seventh with a round of 92 that included three holes-in-one. Johnson might have been showing off a bit. His wife, Alissa, was also in the field.

"We're here to have fun and compete, but let's be honest, we're also here to win the pot," he said. Money-winning was not in the stars for the Sandy couple, however, as only the top three finishers received awards. But it was about more than just the money for this couple, who went "mini-golfing" on their first date.

Alissa, who's been competing for about seven months - her husband has been at it five months - didn't finish quite as high on the leaderboard, ending the night with a 117.
Actually, her name was at the bottom of the board. She received a prized PMGA logo ball after the first 18 holes for shooting a tournament high 20-over-par.

The reigning champion, Frederickson, was still in good spirits through the event, despite the third-place finish. He was in a good enough mood to provide his friend, Todd Jacobs, with some constructive criticism after Jacobs missed a shot on the 18th hole.

"Oh my goodness, that was the shank of the day. Did you see that? It's like the club face went 'Brrrrr,' " Frederickson chided.

PMGA tournament
Monday's Top Scores
84 - Bryan Jones. 85 - Erik Ingebrigtsen. 86 - Tom Frederickson. 88 - Dylan MacLeod. 91 - Mike Dean. 92 - Dave White, Jeff Johnson, Dan Wotherspoon. 93 - John Shaw.