3 share Utah Open first-round lead

FARMINGTON — They aren't eligible for the $20,000 first prize, but a couple of local amateurs find themselves atop the leaderboard after the first round of the Siegfried & Jensen Utah Open.

Brandon Kida, an 18-year-old from Layton, and Cameron Crawford, a 22-year-old from Sandy, each shot 6-under-par 66s on Friday at rainy Oakridge Country Club to join Colorado pro Nick Mason as first-round leaders.

A rain delay of one hour and 40 minutes stopped play late in the afternoon, which left 24 players still on the course when play was suspended at 8 p.m. However, the regularly scheduled tee times shouldn't be affected because the 24 golfers will be able to finish their rounds while the other golfers tee off.

Four players are a stroke back at 67, including Clay Ogden, the 2007 champion; Nibley Park pro Mark Owen; and Colorado pros Patrick Grady and Derek Tolan.

Defending champion Nathan Lashley is in a group of seven at 68 that includes local pros Dustin Pimm; Chris Moody; and Jimmy Blair, the 1981 Utah Open champ.

Among the five golfers tied at 69 are 2002 champion Boyd Summerhays and amateur Zac Blair.

Kida, a senior at Layton High School who just turned 18 a couple of weeks ago, said the key to his round was "fairways and greens" and said he didn't putt exceptionally well.

He had a chance to take the lead after the morning round, heading into his last hole at 6 under par. However, he made bogey at the final hole when he hit it in the trees right and couldn't get up and down from a bunker.

Crawford also had a chance to finish at 7 under, but he bogeyed No. 17 just after the rain delay. At 18, he had a 10-foot birdie putt that lipped out.

"I've been playing really well lately," said Crawford. "I hit a lot of fairways and rolled in some putts today."

Mason had a strong finish, going eagle, par, birdie, birdie on his final four holes.

"My ball-striking was very good," said Mason. "The key to this course is playing the par 5s, and I played them well today."

With 68 players at 1 over par or better, the cut to 60 players is expected to come around 145 or 146 today. Of the players still on the course, Brad Stone had the best score at 1 under through 15 holes.

e-mail: sor@desnews.com

Siegfried & Jensen Utah Open

At Oakridge Country Club, Farmington

Friday's first-round scores

(24 golfers did not finish first round)

(a-denotes amateur)

66 — Nick Mason, a-Brandon Kida, a-Cameron Crawford

67 — Mark Owen, Clay Ogden, Patrick Grady, Derek Tolan

68 — Vincent Johnson, Dustin Pimm, Chris Moody, Nathan Lashley, Steve Runge, Jarett Hamamoto, Jimmy Blair

69 — Chadd Cocco, Tim McKenney, a-Zac Blair, Boyd Summerhays, Andrew Hoffer