Stan Utley
Encyclopedia
Stanley Frank Utley is an American
professional golfer
who has played on the PGA Tour
and the Nationwide Tour
.
Utley was born and raised in Thayer
, a small town in southern Missouri
. He 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. He turned professional in 1984 and joined the PGA Tour in 1989.
Utley's sole PGA Tour victory came in 1989 at the Chattanooga Classic
. He lost his PGA Tour card in 1992 and decided to play on the Nike Tour (now known as the Nationwide Tour
). In the 1990s, he played primarily in this venue.
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. Golf Digest
has called him one of America's 50 greatest teachers. He also holds the PGA Tour record for fewest putts in nine holes, with six at the 2002 Air Canada Championship
.
Utley was elected to the University of Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995, the first golfer ever chosen. He is a man of strong Christian faith. He and wife, Elayna, have a daughter and a son. They live in Scottsdale, Arizona
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
who has played on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
and the Nationwide Tour
Nationwide Tour
The Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level...
.
Utley was born and raised in Thayer
Thayer, Missouri
Thayer is a city in Oregon County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,243 at the 2010 census. Its original name was Augusta.Thayer is considered a railroad town, as it was laid out in 1882 to be a division point. Currently, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad travels through...
, a small town in southern Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. He attended the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
where he was a distinguished member of the golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
team, a three-time all-Big Eight
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
selection and two-time All-American. Utley led Missouri to the Big Eight Championship in 1984. He also led the Tigers
Missouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of the University of Missouri, located in Columbia, Missouri, United States...
to two NCAA appearances where they placed 13th and 14th respectively, in 1983 and 1984. He turned professional in 1984 and joined the PGA Tour in 1989.
Utley's sole PGA Tour victory came in 1989 at the Chattanooga Classic
Chattanooga Classic (PGA Tour)
This article is about the former PGA Tour event, for information on the Nationwide Tour event, see Chattanooga Classic.The Chattanooga Classic was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1986 to 1992...
. He lost his PGA Tour card in 1992 and decided to play on the Nike Tour (now known as the Nationwide Tour
Nationwide Tour
The Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level...
). In the 1990s, he played primarily in this venue.
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. Golf Digest
Golf Digest
Golf Digest is a monthly golf magazine published by Condé Nast Publications in the United States. It is a generalist golf publication covering recreational golf and men's and women's competitive golf. Condé Nast Publications also publishes the more specialized , and Golf World Business. The...
has called him one of America's 50 greatest teachers. He also holds the PGA Tour record for fewest putts in nine holes, with six at the 2002 Air Canada Championship
Air Canada Championship
The Air Canada Championship was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1996 to 2002. It was played at the Northview Golf & Country Club in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1996 as the Greater Vancouver Open...
.
Utley was elected to the University of Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995, the first golfer ever chosen. He is a man of strong Christian faith. He and wife, Elayna, have a daughter and a son. They live in Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
.
PGA Tour wins (1)
- 19891989 PGA TourThe 1989 PGA Tour season was played from January 5 to October 29. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Steve Jones and Tom Kite won the most tournaments, three, and there were nine first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament...
Chattanooga ClassicChattanooga Classic (PGA Tour)This article is about the former PGA Tour event, for information on the Nationwide Tour event, see Chattanooga Classic.The Chattanooga Classic was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1986 to 1992...
Nationwide Tour wins (3)
- 1993 NIKE Cleveland Open
- 1995 NIKE Louisiana Open, NIKE Miami Valley Open