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Show H 1985 13, June rlpt, Sltaimslbery When the 85th U.S. Open opens play Thursday at the Oakland Hills Country Club course in Michigan, one of the best golfers in the state knows he came within one stroke of y trip. making the But the current Stansbury Park golf pro Jimmy Blair knows there cross-countr- will be other tournaments and future success on the pro circuit. Going into the last hole in the qualifying round in Los Angeles, Blair was playing the 18th hole conservative and just when he thought he had it made, a bogey pushed him from the qualifying 156 players to first alternate. "I should have made the U.S. Open, Blair noted, "I thought I had it made and tried to play the last hole safe. And as happens quite often when you try to play a hole safe, your thinking is not so good and I made a bogey. Still the Jeremy ld Ranch resident is not going to let it bother him. He knows there are many more tournaments down the line. Blair has had quite a successful stint on the amateur and pro golf circuit scene since enrolling at BYU in 1973. In 1973 he won the Utah State Amateur, in 1974 and 1976 won the WAC championship and has won every major tournament in Utah except the City Parks Golf Championship which Blair will attempt in the first week of August. Not only has he won numerous tournaments in Utah, but out of state as well. In 1981 he captured the Utah Open, 1983 the Colorado Opoen, 1979 and 1983 the Idaho Open, back to back titles in 1983 and 1984 the Wyoming Open in '80 the South Dakota Open and a few other tournament crowns that arent quite as large. Golf Pro Jhist Misses So far this year, his achievements include his chapter golf tournament in St. George and the Siz-zlOpen a month ago. Blair considers his experience as one of his strengths on the course. bury Park under managerowner Dave Bingaman. His previous work experience er before Stansbury included working Tm more experienced than my contemporaries, Blair noted. Tve been playing a lot longer than most of my counterparts. And I'm intelligent on the golf course. Another key asset to the Stansbury park pro is his driving. Yet, he said it is his weakness putting that kept him from playing in the 85th Open with the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Johnny Miller and Fuzzy Zoeller. "I drive the ball real well, hit short irons reasonably well, chip all ' right and have an adequate putter at best, Blair said. When asked about the phrase, "Drive for show, putt for dough, he stated, "Half of that is true. You putt for dough but driving is as important or more important than putting. But you've got to have both of them. If you dont have them both, you could be in a little bit of trouble. The weakest point of my game, which was proven on the tour, is my putting along with my long iron play. There is no real way to categorize that. But my putting compared to the tour players is far below average. Blair stated that because of his weakness, it has effected his success in tournaments. "Sure, that's why you're talking to me today, Blair noted about his near miss of the Open. "If I can build up my putting to compete on a national level, Fll be all right. If I can build it up to the quality of the putters out on the tour, I can compete out on the tour. But if I don't build it up or get stronger from 10 U.. Open Bid Jimmy Blair, the Stansbury Park golf pro, just missed qualifying for the 85th U.S. Open at Oakland Hills Golf Course by one stroke. Blair Is the first alternate of the tournament which begins play Thursday in Birmingham, Michigan. (Photo by Nick Drake) feet and in, I cant compete. Although he has only been on the pro circuit for a year, Blair still ponders a future on the PGA Tour. "I think so, he noted about a future on the tour links. "Ive improved every year. I enjoy playing. I dont know how much of this I created but what I dont like is traveling. I would much rather stick around and watch Ladell Anderson and LaVell Edwards coach their basketball and football teams. If anything will hinder the future on the links, he stated his dislike for travel could be the number one obstacle in his way. to go Tve never beem a d die-har- SOTG ViyjQ out and pound the pavement for months at a time. You need to be out (on the tour) at least for four weeks at a time. Last year the most time I was gone was seen seven days in a row, he said. "Im sort of a homebody. I like Utah. And ever really anticipate leaving." "If I can maintain my lifestyle the way I have it now and compete thats fine. But I wont change my lifestyle to try to enhance my golf competition. Blair is quite satisified right where he is, living with his wife, Cindy, of one year at Jeremy Ranch and working as a golf pro at Stans-- . for Ernie Schnieders Course in Ogden from 1977 to 1981 and as an assistant gold pro at Jeremy Ranch from 1981 until this year. "I enjoy it here. I enjoy the work. This is actually more of a challenge for me than anything. Not only does he work as a golf pro but also tends the greens, .works on fairways, etc. Blair said a better title could be assistant green supervisor. Yet, he doesnt mind the hard labor and relishes the additional task. . Tm learning out here from Dave. You couldnt buy this kind of experience, he explained. "What Im learning in a year, because Daves letting me and helping me, would normally take five to 10 years. This is going to be real beneficial to me in numerous ways. One of the ways, is that he is planning on breaking ground for a golf course in Ogden and his know-eldgexperience and golf background will pay huge dividends when the time rolls around. Another reason Blair enjoys the opportunity to be involved with Stansbury is he feels in years to come it could be one of the best courses in the state of Utah. "What Dave is doing out here is literally amazing. You need $400,000 to run a golf course of this size and hes getting by on half of that, noted Blair. "And all the revenue he produces is in green e, fees. He stated it is going to take time to construct and maintain one of the best courses in the state. "You just dont turn a golf course around in a year, two or three years. Golf courses are five to 10 -- year projects." T think in two to three years from now youre going to see an excellent golf course. From what people have said that Ive been in contact with, they say its getting better and better every year. And this year is no exception. "Right now its probably one of the best, Blair said. "If you had this course up in the Salt Lake Valley, it would be the most popular course in the valley. The location makes it less known, less accessible, but weve got, contrary to what was printed in another paper, some of the finest greens in the state. "These greens are as good as any that Ive putted in the state. The layout and fairways are fine. The whole golf course in general, weve got a long ways to go but well get a lot done this year. This is a fine, fine golf course. The people in the know would have the insight this is a good course by playing it, he noted. "But the success to any golf course is maintaining it. And weve got a lot of people working hard to keep it up. Richard and Janice Jack-so- n are managing the shop and course. Henry White, Kelly Stone, and Brian Lewis have been working hard on the course. We only have six pieces of equipment when most Plus they golf courses have have the bodies to fill them all." Blair stated he would like to invite the public to come out and give Stansbury a shot and see what they think for themselves. He noted they are currently having a June special where every weekday golfers can hit the course for $10 all day which includes green fees, carts and even buckets of range balls. He said there is an unlimited amount of holes for the $10 fee. 20-3- 54.05 Rebate EDAEJS 10.00 BA(SCX YOUR COST AM E)IL!LAB5 AFTER REBATE 44.05 37.40 Rebate -- 3.00 AFTER REBATE Model 1010 Electric TVimmerWeeder CflXiflip lauent you done without Thro long enough? FATHIRS DAY SPECIAL Laker guard Earvin "Magic Johnson has had his eye on the NBA championship title for the past year after last year's collapse In the finals. Johnson led the Lakers to a NBA title Sunday with another of his patented e performances. Johnson recorded 18 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds as Los Angeles downed In the Boston Gardens to clinch the NBA title. 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Pitt sank the shot with number five wood on the par 3 150 yard hole number five. The witness was Carolyn Dow, |