Stan Utley
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Stanley Frank Utley (born January 16, 1962) is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour, and Champions Tour.
Early life and amateur career
Utley was born and raised in Thayer, a small town in southern Missouri.
Utley attended the University of Missouri where he was a distinguished member of the golf team, a three-time all-Big Eight selection and two-time All-American. Utley led Missouri to the Big Eight Championship in 1984. He also led the Tigers to two NCAA appearances where they placed 13th and 14th respectively, in 1983 and 1984.
Professional career
In 1984, Utley turned professional. In 1989, he won the PGA Tour's Chattanooga Classic on a sponsor exemption, earning membership on the tour. He lost his PGA Tour card in 1992 and decided to play on the Nike Tour. In the 1990s, he played primarily in on this tour. Utley holds the PGA Tour record for fewest putts in nine holes, with six at the 2002 Air Canada Championship.
As his touring career was winding down, Utley began to develop new career strategies for taking advantage of his reputation as one of the best chippers and putters in the game. He began a transition into teaching and writing with special focus on his specialty - the short game. Utley has risen to prominence as one of the best instructors in golf. His list of current and former students on the PGA, Korn Ferry, Champions and LPGA Tours includes Jay Haas, Sergio García, Joaquín Niemann, Scott Langley, Kevin Streelman, Scott Piercy, Paige Mackenzie, Amanda Blumenherst, Darren Clarke, Brandt Jobe, Rocco Mediate, Alex Norén, Inbee Park, Paul McGinley and Bill Haas. In addition, he still plays sporadically. Utley made his Champions Tour debut when he qualified for the 2012 Toshiba Classic.
Personal life
Utley is a man of strong Christian faith. He and wife, Elayna, have a daughter and a son. They live in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Awards and honors
- Golf Digest has called Utley one of America's 50 greatest teachers in their annual poll of more than 1,500 teaching professionals from around the country. He ranked 20th on the 2019-2020 list.
- Utley was elected to the University of Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995, the first golfer ever chosen.
Professional wins (7)
PGA Tour wins (1)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 27, 1989 | Chattanooga Classic | −17 (69-66-64-64=263) | 3 strokes | Canada Ray Stewart |
Nike Tour wins (3)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jun 13, 1993 | Nike Cleveland Open | −17 (69-69-68-65=263) | 3 strokes | United States Jerry Kelly |
| 2 | Mar 26, 1995 | Nike Louisiana Open | −20 (70-70-66-62=268) | 2 strokes | United States Keith Fergus |
| 3 | Jun 11, 1995 | Nike Miami Valley Open | −20 (71-62-66-65=264) | 4 strokes | United States Jon Hough, United States Steve Jurgensen |
Nike Tour playoff record (0–1)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999 | Nike South Florida Classic | United States Curt Byrum | Lost to par on first extra hole |
Other wins (3)
- 1986 Kansas Open
- 1988 Missouri Open
- 1989 Missouri Open
Results in major championships
| Tournament | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Open | CUT | CUT | 61 | |||
| PGA Championship | T49 | CUT |
Note: Utley never played in the Masters Tournament or The Open Championship.
CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" = tied
See also
External links
- at thePGA Tourofficial site
- at theOfficial World Golf Rankingofficial site