Wetterich captures Classic

SANDY — Even though the final results may appear otherwise, Brett Wetterich's one-shot victory Sunday at the Envirocare Utah Classic at Willow Creek Country Club was never really in doubt.

Wetterich started the day with a two-shot lead and finished with a one-stroke triumph over the fast-closing pair of Franklin Langham and Ryuji Imada.

Well, there was a little doubt when Wetterich's approach shot at No. 18 came up short of the green. That left him him with a tricky, uphill 25-foot putt from the fringe that broke about 6 feet.

However, Wetterich putted the ball up to within a foot and tapped in for the victory, which earned him $81,000 and a nice new trophy for his mantel.

"I didn't want a 4-footer, that's for sure," he said of his final putt. "That was just the right length."

Perhaps the most important part about Wetterich's win was that it vaulted him into the top 15 on the Nationwide money list at No. 14 with $179,101.

If he can stay in the top 15 through the end of the season, the 31-year-old Floridian will earn an exemption on next year's PGA Tour. And if history holds true, Wetterich will be on the big Tour next season and likely do very well.

The Utah Classic has a history of producing champions who have done well on the PGA Tour, beginning with John Daly back in 1990. Last year's Utah Classic champion, Zach Johnson, has won already on the PGA Tour and ranks among the top 25 money winners after finishing third in the Buick Classic on Sunday.

"That's not bad company," Wetterich said.

Wetterich, who is known for his long driving — he ranks second on the Nationwide Tour with a 316-yard average — said the key to his fine play this week was putting. He changed his stance slightly before the week began and putted well all week.

"That's why I'm sitting here, because of the way I putted this week," he said. "When I started making them Thursday, I knew it was going to be a good week."

Wetterich knocked in birdie putts on the first two holes Sunday before falling back with bogeys at 3 and 9 to make the turn at 15-under for the tournament. That put him just one shot ahead of his playing partner, Chris Sessler, who was playing steady through the first 12 holes.

However, the wheels came off for Sessler after hitting into the bunker at No. 13. He barely got out and ended up with a bogey. At the next hole, he hit his drive out of bounds left and took a triple bogey. He also bogeyed the 15th and 17th holes to finish with a 77 after going 6-over on the final six holes, dropping from second into a tie for 30th at 280.