Todd Barker lays claim to first ever senior title

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Todd Barker has been one of the top amateurs in Utah for years, winning nearly every big amateur local event, including the State Amateur in 1997 and five Salt Lake City Amateur titles.

Now he's doing the same as a senior golfer.

The 56-year-old Barker captured the UGA Senior Match Play title with a 5 and 4 victory over Bill Pizza on Friday morning at Talons Cove Golf Course.

"I needed to get a senior championship under my belt," said Barker. "I just played solid all week."

Barker, who is the course superintendent at Fore Lakes Golf Course in Taylorsville, won five matches against a talented field. He never trailed in any match, and he birdied the par-5 No. 1 hole every day.

Barker put the hammer down early again Friday, winning three of the first four holes. After the birdie at No. 1, he won No. 3 with a par and then nearly had a hole-in-one at the 137-yard, par-3 No. 4 hole, where he hit his wedge just three inches short of the hole. He also birdied Nos. 7 and 9 to make the turn 5-up.

"I started driving it well, and that was the key," Barker said.

Pizza, a 54-year-old who plays out of Willow Creek Country Club, won his only hole of the day at No. 10 when Barker bogeyed. But Barker came back with a birdie at No. 11 to get back to 5-up then made three straight pars to close out the match at No. 14.

"Todd played very well, and I didn't have my 'A' game today," said Pizza, who also lost in the finals last year, to Ben Maddox.

Barker was the 14th seed in the 32-man field for match play after shooting a 73 in the qualifying round on Tuesday. He beat James Burckle, Paul Cannon, Ruben Escobedo and Steve Borget before the finals.

Dick Peacock, 76, of St. George won the Super Seniors division (65 and older) for the second straight year with a 2 and 1 victory over Dennis Wood of Lehi.

After getting 2-down after two holes, Peacock stormed back to win four of the next seven holes, including birdies at Nos. 4 and 9. Both players birdied No. 13, and both added one more bird before Peacock closed out the match on No. 17.

"I lucked out," said Peacock, who carries a 2 handicap. "I guess everybody feels sorry for me."

The net division winner was South Jordan's Dan Riddle, who defeated Kerry Coop 4 and 3.

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