Jun. 19, 2010
Republic news sources

Former Arizona State golfer Kendall Critchfield shot a tournament record 197 to win the 66th Arizona Open at Desert Mountain's Apache Course on Saturday in Scottsdale.

Critchfield played brilliantly, bolstered by a 5-under 31 on the front nine and an 8-under final-round 64 to win the Arizona Open in only his second attempt.


His three-day total was 19 under par.

The Gateway Tour player, where he is a four-time winner, beat Scottsdale's Curt Byrum, the defending champion and 18- and 36-hole leader, by 3 strokes.

Scottsdale's Braxton Marquez was third at 13 under.

Boyd Summerhays of Scottsdale; David McDaniel, an amateur from Tucson; and Craig Hocknull from Gilbert tied for fourth at 11 under.

Critchfield holed his fourth shot on the 52nd hole, a pitch shot from below the green, for a tournament-changing birdie, giving Critchfield a 2-stroke cushion with two holes to play.

"The shot was a pretty standard pitch," he said. "I stole one there. I was just trying make par and get it close. Then I heard it smack the pin and go in."