WASHINGTON CITY — Competitors at the 19th annual Utah Long Drive State Championship were treated to perfect weather and conditions Saturday at Coral Canyon Golf Course.
A long drive championship event in Colorado might have contributed to a smaller field of golfers in Washington City but that didn’t stop big hitters from putting on quite a show.
“I was supposed to go to Colorado for the worldwide drive this weekend, but nope,” Mark Lawrence told St. George News.
The resident of Roy, Utah said he’s participated in several Utah state championships over the years.
“The course is amazing, but the people, the way Devin (Dixon) runs it, it’s absolutely fantastic,” Lawrence said. “This is so much fun. It’s just a great time.”
Dixon, host of The Drive on The Fan Sports Network, was host and master of ceremonies. And he showed he can swing a driver, too, beating Lawrence to win the 40+ age division with a drive of 328 yards.
But Lawrence rallied to win the 50+ division with his long ball of 344 yards.
“Amazing golf courses out here,” Lawrence said. “The courses are beautiful. Where do you get a view like this?”
Lynn Ray has been to several Utah long drive championships, coming to St. George from Southern California.
“The main reason I come up here is it’s a lot of fun,” Ray said. He is known on the circuit as “Capt’n Crush.”
“I really enjoy the guys I’ve met over here over the last 10, 12 years,” he added.
Ray, holder of multiple Guinness long golf records, said his best finish was at Coral Canyon four years ago when he won the 40+ and 50+ divisions and finished second in the open division.
“I hate to say this, but I have a lot of people I know in Southern California that are moving here,” Ray said, adding that St. George is at the top of his list for retirement destinations because of the quality of golf that is available year-round.
Ray finished third in both the 40+ and 50+ divisions with drives of 311 and 320 yards, respectively.
A four-man scramble 18 hole tournament started the event Saturday morning, held to benefit the boys and girls golf teams at Desert Hills High School.
Noah Christensen, a rising senior, said that the benefit helps the Thunder get team bags and equipment. He said the scramble was a success.
“We had a lot of people come and play. It was a really good fundraiser,” Christensen said.
The Thunder are currently putting in a lot of practice rounds already this summer.
“We have a really good team and a fun team,” Christensen said. “I just want to compete with them and have fun.”
19th annual Utah Long Drive State Championship, Coral Canyon Golf Course
Final Results:
Men’s Open: 1. Kauner Kay (412 yards) 2. Triston Gardner (387) 3. Chase Hope (379) 4. Chad Klein (378)
Men’s Amateur: 1. Chase Hope (370 yards) 2. Kauner Kay (365) 3. Cobe Reck (346) 4. Logan Leavitt (340)
40+ : 1. Devin Dixon (328 yards) 2. Mark Lawrence (321) 3. Lynn Ray (311) 4. JW Horsdley (308)
50+ : 1. Mark Lawrence (344 yards) 2. Jason Russo (323) 3. Lynn Ray (320) 4. Jason Kay (315)
60+ : 1. Gregg Walker (305 yards)
Boys 14U: 1. Trey Amico (285 yards) 2. Landon Amico (267- gave his brother a 55 yard handicap)
Girls 17U: 1. Lucy Dixon (255 yards)
Boys 17U: 1. Crew Christensen (342 yards) 2. Metz Leavitt (340) 3. Weston Andelin (336) 4. Noah Christensen (315)
Photo Gallery
Chase Hope (left) and winner Boston Dixon with their putting trophies at the 19th annual Utah Long Drive State Championship, Washington City, Utah, June 10, 2023 | Photo courtesy Marco Leoni for the St. George News
Kauner Kay (middle) had the longest drive at the 19th annual Utah Long Drive State Championship, Washington City, Utah, June 10, 2023 | Photo courtesy Marco Leoni for the St. George News
The Desert Hills boys golf team at the 19th annual Utah Long Drive State Championship, Washington City, Utah, June 10, 2023 | Photo courtesy Marco Leoni for the St. George News
Trey Amico (left) and Landon Amico at the 19th annual Utah Long Drive State Championship, Washington City, Utah, June 10, 2023 | Photo courtesy Marco Leoni for the St. George News
Lucy Dixon at the 19th annual Utah Long Drive State Championship, Washington City, Utah, June 10, 2023 | Photo courtesy Marco Leoni for the St. George News
Gregg Walker at the 19th annual Utah Long Drive State Championship, Washington City, Utah, June 10, 2023 | Photo courtesy Marco Leoni for the St. George News
Mark Lawrence (left) and Jason Russo at the 19th annual Utah Long Drive State Championship, Washington City, Utah, June 10, 2023 | Photo courtesy Marco Leoni for the St. George News
Mark Lawrence (left) and Devin Dixon at the 19th annual Utah Long Drive State Championship, Washington City, Utah, June 10, 2023 | Photo courtesy Marco Leoni for the St. George News
Kauner Kay (left) and amateur champion Chase Hope at the 19th annual Utah Long Drive State Championship, Washington City, Utah, June 10, 2023 | Photo courtesy Marco Leoni for the St. George News
Devin Dixon, host of The Drive on The Fan Sports Network, shows his form at the 19th annual Utah Long Drive State Championship, Washington City, Utah, June 10, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Spencer Wallace, former Dixie State (Utah Tech University) golfing standout, tees off at the 19th annual Utah Long Drive State Championship, Washington City, Utah, June 10, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
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