Stan Utley Golf player
Stanley Frank Utley (born January 16, 1962) 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.Utley made his Champions Tour debut when he qualified for the 2012 Toshiba Classic.