Wright's familiarity leads to S.L. Amateur win

It was only appropriate that the turning point in Jon Wright's victory in the Richard C. Kramer Salt Lake City Amateur Sunday afternoon at Bonneville Golf Course came at the 457-yard No. 14 hole.

Wright grew up just a sand wedge away from the hole on the easternmost part of the course and said he had played the hole "thousands of times."

He sank a short birdie putt at 14 to grab the lead for the first time in the tournament, then added an eagle at 16 and a birdie at 17 to cap a two-shot victory over defending champion Tommy Sharp.

"It's cool to finally win this," said the 38-year-old Wright, who works as a commercial real estate developer in Salt Lake. "I've been playing this tournament since I was 12 or 13, but could never shoot low enough."

Wright was in battle all day with Sharp, first-day leader Herb Lyons and former champion Steve Poulson. The four players were in the final group of the day and going into 14, Poulson stood 6-under par for the tourney, a shot ahead of the other three.

With his drive in the right rough, Wright had to hit over some trees, but he made it look easy, sticking his wedge within five feet. When he sank the putt and Poulson bogeyed, the lead was Wright's to keep.

"That was kind of the turning point," Wright said. "I know once I got up there I could take advantage."

After another mammoth drive at the 520-yard 16th hole, Wright hit a pitching wedge from 151 yards five feet away and sank the eagle putt.

Then at No. 17, Wright made a 12-foot birdie putt to push his lead to three and it didn't matter when Sharp sank a 30-foot birdie putt at 18. Wright's 67 Sunday gave him a 136 total, while Sharp shot his second straight 69.

Poulson finished third at 140, while Guy Child came in at 141 and Lyons was in a group of four at 142 with a final-round 75.

"I play twice a week tops," said Wright, a member at the Salt Lake Country Club. "For me to win, I have to hit it like I hit it today, long, and hit the greens in regulation. And I made some putts today. "

Wright was lucky just to be playing in the tourney, period. He had forgotten to enter the popular tournament and called head professional Steve Elliott Friday night to see if there were any cancellations.

Late Saturday morning after a couple of players withdrew, Elliott called Wright to tell him to hurry up to the course if he wanted to play.

"I was literally mowing my lawn when he called," he said. "I've got to thank my wife for finishing the lawn."

After the victory, Wright was presented with the trophy from Kramer, the longtime pro at Bonneville, who at the age of 90 still takes scores and helps with the running of the tourney.

"It's so cool getting the trophy from Dick," Wright said. "I used to work for Dick when I was a kid."

Wright was a professional for several years and tried to qualify for the PGA Tour nine times. He played in his last professional event in 2003 and regained his amateur status in 2006.

Flight winners were Russ Hook at 146 in A Flight and Mac Machan at 149 in B Flight.

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