Pimm rides birdies to 1-shot Provo Open lead

PROVO — Dustin Pimm's game plan for playing the Reserve at East Bay Golf Course seems to be working pretty well.

"Thank goodness for the par-5s here," said Pimm after his second-round, 6-under 66 on Friday that has him entering today's final round of the 70th Provo Open with a one-shot lead. "I'm just trying to birdie the par-5s and play the par-3s and par-4s smart and not make any mistakes."

So how did Pimm do on East Bay's five par-5s on Friday? He eagled the 13th and made birdie on No. 1, No. 12 and No. 16. He would have birdied the other par-5, No. 9, had he been able to make a four-foot putt.

"Even though I missed that putt, I still putted really well today," said Pimm.

The former Utah Ute, who will hit the road next week for a regional U.S. Open qualifier, also made birdie on the par-4 No. 2 and par-3 seventh hole. His only bogey was on the par-3 11th, a hole he also bogeyed in his opening-round 65 on Thursday.

"Winning this tournament (and the $3,200 first-place check) would be a pretty big deal for me and give me a lot of confidence heading into that qualifying tournament," said Pimm, who has not won since turning pro early last year.

Joining Pimm in today's final group — which tees off at 12:30 p.m. — will be former PGA Tour player Boyd Summerhays, who shot his second straight 66 to trail Pimm by one at 132 for 36 holes. Zach Johnson added a second-round 68 to his first-round 66 to grab the third spot in the leader group, three shots behind Pimm.

Colby Meyers, Tony Finau, BYU freshman-to-be Zac Blair and Southern Utah's Nathan Page are at 9-under par 135. Clark Rustand, Chris Moody and first-round leader Joseph Summerhays are at 136, five shots behind.

At 137, six shots back, are Mark Owen, Chris Gresh, two-time champion Steve Schneiter and former Utah Open champ Clay Ogden.

"I put myself behind the eight-ball early with a couple of bogeys, and I hit one in the water on No. 12 (his third hole) and was trying to get back to even-par all day," said Ogden, who rolled in a 12-foot birdie on his final hole to fire an even-par 72 on Friday. "I'm probably going to have to shoot a 62 on Saturday."

To stay on Pimm's heels, Boyd Summerhays needed a strong finish. After turning the front side at even-par 36, he closed with a 6-under par 30 on the back nine — with birdies at No. 11, 12, 16 and 18 and an eagle three on the par-5 13th.

Some notables who missed the cut, which came at 1-over par 145 for the low 40 professionals, were defending champion Tom Costello and bomber Gipper Finau, who both finished the first 36 holes at 2-over par 146.

The amateur cut came at 151. In that battle, Blair and Page have a five-shot lead over Hobble Creek's Tyler Weight and Utah Valley's Nick Nelson.

E-MAIL: jimr@desnews.com