Golf: Clay Ogden, Steve Schneiter qualify for Utah Championship

Two local golfers were among the four qualifiers at Tuesday's qualifying tournament for the Nationwide Tour's Utah Championship, which will be played Thursday through Sunday at Willow Creek Country Club in Sandy.

Clay Ogden, who grew up playing Glen Eagle Golf Course, fired a 10-under-par 62 at his former home course in Syracuse on Tuesday to secure a spot in the tournament, along with Sandy's Steve Schneiter, who shot a 63. The other two spots were claimed by Chan Kim of Gilbert, Ariz., who set a competitive course record with a 12-under-par 60, and Scott Parel of Augusta, Ga., who shot a 63.

For most Nationwide tournaments, 14 players qualify for the main tournament, but because the PGA Tour is currently in the middle of the FedEx Cup series with limited fields, it has cut the qualifier spots in the Utah Championship by 10 to allow players from the tour to enter.

Among the players competing in the $550,000 tournament for the $99,000 first prize this week are the leading money winner Chris Kirk and several players with PGA Tour experience, including former PGA champion Rich Beem, Bob May, Ken Duke, Jonathan Kaye, Frank Lickliter, Paul Stankowski, Mark Brooks, Kirk Triplett, Jeff Quinney and Andrew Magee.

Farmington native Daniel Summerhays is trying to secure a spot on next year's PGA Tour, and a good showing this week will go a long way towards achieving that goal. Summerhays ranks No. 15 on the Nationwide Tour money list and needs to finish the season in the top 25 to make the big tour.

Other local players competing are Tony Finau, who received a sponsor's exemption, and local PGA pros Ryan Rhees, Nic VanVuuren and Casey Fowles.

Among the former champions playing this week are Brendan Todd (2008) and Craig Kanada (2006).

Play gets under way Thursday morning, with 18 holes each day until the tournament wraps up Sunday afternoon.

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