Tradition is what best describes the Ute Mountain Oil Classic.
Six local oil field workers gathered in the late 1980s and decided to start up an amateur golf tournament. They wanted a proper title for an annual golf classic. The oil workers got it with their trade and the name of the scenic peak southwest of town that symbolizes Cortez. Ute Mountain.
The first-ever Ute Mountain Oil Classic began in 1989, and 22 years later, as they say, the rest is history.
Weve gotten such a good response on it. The people make it great, said Jim Milligan, Ute Mountain Oil Classic tournament director. Our sponsors, Steve Keetch, hes one of the main ones. The Shriners have grown (their donation) over 22 years from a couple hundred dollars to this year, its going to be $13,000.
A tournament high of 188 golfers played in the 22nd edition of the Ute Mountain Oil Classic on Saturday. Milligan said around 30 golfers had to be turned away this year. Many who play in the tournament are returning amateurs ready to get their 18-hole fix at Conquistador Golf Course.
With a competitive entry fee and the opportunity to play on the pristine fairways of championship style, par-72 golf course, the Ute Mountain Oil Classic looks prime for at least another 22 years.
Its a lot of fun. You get to meet a lot of competitors and visit with them. Its a great tournament, said Randy Curtis, of Cortez, who has played in every Ute Mountain Oil Classic. I dont see an end to it. Its great fun. Everybody seems to have a great time. There were 47, four-person scramble teams that competed in two flights. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. Prizes were donated by the Conquistador Golf Course Pro Shop and Steve Keetch Motors donated a brand new Chevy Camaro for the hole-in-one prize.
All tournament proceeds are donated to the Escalante Shriners Club for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Activity. According to Milligan, $13,439 was raised.
The team with a winning score of 60 were Glenn Stewart, Stephen Gray, Frank Cain and Gary Rogers. They each won $100 gift certificates to the Conquistador Golf Course Pro Shop.
Arron Nelson, Steve Gomez, Mike Nelson and Mindy Rosenbaugh placed second shooting a 62, and took home $75 Pro Shop gift certificates.
Jim Stephens, Gaylen Garrison, Larry Don Suckla and Sam Barrett shot a 63 to win $50 gift certificates at third-place.
It was Ryan Maley, Robert Nelson, Jared Zion and Bob Brown who came in fourth at 63 to claim $25 gift certificates.
The next Conquistador Golf Course tournament will be the annual Pinto Bean Classic on the weekend of Aug. 20-21. It is the largest tournament of the year hosted at Conquistador.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at [email protected]
