Tony Finau Confronted by Protesters at Charity Event
Tony Finau, a prominent Utah sports icon and PGA Tour star, faced a challenging situation at his annual golf tournament and clinic held at the Oakridge Country Club in Farmington, Utah. About a dozen protesters confronted Finau, holding signs that accused him of failing to repay lenders, family members, and business associates who helped him become a professional golf superstar. The protest lasted for approximately 2.5 hours outside the club’s gates, with signs displaying messages such as “Keep Your Word,” “Tony Pay Your Debts,” “Tony Pay Your Family Back,” and “Tony Don’t Forget Uncle Toa.”
Rocky Bowlby, the protest organizer and former co-owner of Dental Select, claimed that no one knows the real Tony Finau. Another key individual, Molonai Hola, a former family friend and business associate of Finau’s family, has been seeking compensation through legal action for almost four years. Bowlby claims that Finau or his family members owe him more than $100,000 for loans, rent payments, cars, and travel to China, but he is not seeking legal compensation himself. Hola filed a lawsuit against Tony Finau in 2020, claiming over $600,000 is owed to him for financing the brothers’ pro golf careers from 2006 to 2009. He also seeks 20% of Finau’s tour winnings.
Tony Finau arrived at the event around 8:51 a.m., two hours after the protesters had gathered. He was driven in a vehicle by another individual and did not acknowledge the protesters as he looked on through a window. A jury trial for Hola’s case is scheduled to begin in September 2024 in Provo. Judge James Brady held a summary judgment review on July 22 regarding whether Hola’s “unjust enrichment” claim should include a percentage of Finau’s career earnings into perpetuity.
Other Legal Matters and Media Interaction
A second lawsuit filed by Utah County real estate developer David Hunter in May 2021 was dismissed due to statute of limitations issues on breach-of-contract claims. The dismissal was upheld by the Utah Court of Appeals and declined by the Utah Supreme Court. When Deseret News attempted to get comments from Finau regarding the protest, they were told it was a private event and asked to leave the property. Only credentialed reporters from entities like Golf Channel were allowed on the grounds during Monday’s event; credentials issued for other media outlets were valid starting Tuesday.
Chelsea Fairbourn referred all questions to Chris Armstrong and Jordan Snowie of Wasserman Sports and Talent Agency. Armstrong recently became president of hockey operations for Utah Hockey Club but remains minimally involved with representing Finau. He previously offered “no comment” when asked about responses from Finau.
Virginia Beach National Golf Club in Disrepair
The Virginia Beach National Golf Club has fallen into disrepair and requires millions of dollars in work to bring it up to standard. Several lakes on the property are in a “degraded” condition and need dredging and cleaning. The clubhouse has rotting eaves, fascia boards, mold, rotting baseboards, and a deteriorating ceiling due to leaks. The first wave of repairs will cost $1.4 million, with the total estimated cost for all structural repairs being $1.9 million. An additional $5.7 million is needed to bring all 11 lakes up to Virginia Department of Environmental Quality standards.
The golf course fell into neglect after a key economic development employee left in 2019. Pam Witham has been hired to oversee the Development Authority’s assets, including more than two dozen properties across the city. Discrepancies in procurement procedures for previous improvement projects were found, and semi-annual inspections by the city or authority were not conducted as required. Public Works had not provided annual lake inspections as they should have.
Virginia Beach National had a net income of $740,000 in 2023. Heron Ridge Golf Club, also leased from the Development Authority by the same private entity, had a profit of $669,000. The authority’s current balance for capital repairs at the golf course is $2.1 million. Money from previous land sales will fund the first wave of work. The course opened in 1999 on a former bean field with hopes of making Virginia Beach a renowned golf destination. The city paid $3.5 million towards building the $15 million course but later bought it for roughly $4.5 million in 2006 due to underperformance.
Repairs are prioritized, starting with replacing the clubhouse roof and gutters ($400,000) and new air-conditioning systems ($200,000). Additional funds are set aside for moisture damage contingencies. Improvement of a lake near the back of the property is estimated to cost $520,000. Other identified issues will be repaired as funding becomes available. An asset management committee was formed to help prioritize repairs based on recommendations from staff and operators.
Olympic Men’s Golf Competition
The Olympic men’s golf competition starts Thursday at Le Golf National in Paris. It is a 72-hole, stroke-play tournament featuring 60 players. Four American golfers are participating: Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, and Wyndham Clark. None of the U.S. players have previously played a tournament round at Le Golf National. Several players have experience from the DP World Tour’s French Open, including past champions Tommy Fleetwood (England), Alex Noren (Sweden), and Guido Migliozzi (Italy). Five European Ryder Cup participants from 2018 are in the field: Fleetwood, Noren, Rory McIlroy (Ireland), Jon Rahm (Spain), and Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark).
Le Golf National demands precision off the tee with punishing rough and plenty of water hazards. Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Collin Morikawa are among the top five favorites to win due to their playing styles. A power ranking lists the top 25 players aiming for gold, including Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark), Abraham Ancer (Mexico), Victor Perez (France), Matteo Manassero (Italy), and Jason Day (Australia).
Defending Champion and Notable Competitors
Xander Schauffele, the most recent gold-medal winner on the men’s side, returns to defend his title. Schauffele arrives in excellent form after winning his second major of the summer at the Open Championship. He aims to become the first back-to-back gold-medal winner in Olympic golf history. Other notable competitors include Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, Jon Rahm, and Joaquin Niemann.
Full List of Players by Country
The full list of players by country includes:
- Argentina: Emiliano Grillo, Alejandro Tosti
- Australia: Jason Day, Min Woo Lee
- Austria: Sepp Straka
- Belgium: Thomas Detry, Adrien Dumont de Chassart
- Canada: Nick Taylor, Corey Conners
- Chile: Joaquin Niemann, Mito Pereira
- China: Zecheng Dou, Carl Yuan
- Chinese Taipei: Kevin Yu, C.T. Pan
- Colombia: Camilo Villegas, Nico Echavarria
- Denmark: Nicolai Højgaard, Thorbjørn Olesen
- Finland: Sami Valimaki, Tapio Pulkkanen
- France: Matthieu Pavon, Victor Perez
- Germany: Stephan Jaeger, Matti Schmid
- Great Britain: Tommy Fleetwood, Matthew Fitzpatrick
- India: Shubhankar Sharma, Gaganjeet Bhullar
- Ireland: Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry
- Italy: Matteo Manassero, Guido Migliozzi
- Japan: Hideki Matsuyama, Keita Nakajima
- Malaysia: Gavin Green
GolfWRX Spotlight: Spoiler OG Putter
The Spoiler OG Putter is a new product featuring patented Lead Edge Roll Technology, which creates more forward roll (topspin) on the golf ball compared to traditional flat face putters. This technology reduces backspin and sidespin, improving distance control and start-line accuracy. The putter has a slight toe hang, a double bend steel shaft, and a midsize pistol grip. It is USGA conforming and available in right-hand only.
Spoiler Golf was officially launched in 2024 by a father and son duo, Jeff and Dan Landman. The inspiration for the Spoiler OG Putter came from Jeff’s experience putting with a wedge, leading to the idea of incorporating a leading edge from a wedge onto a putter face for better roll. The Spoiler OG putter has a non-traditional look but performs as intended during testing. The Lead Edge Roll technology provides immediate forward roll without hopping or skidding. The feel off the face is crisp and responsive, providing clear feedback on contact points. Despite its different appearance, it looks similar to some mallet-type designs from the address view. It is recommended for golfers struggling with consistent and smooth ball roll.
Five GolfWRX forum members are currently testing the Spoiler OG Putter. One member successfully sank a 20-footer on his first try with it. GolfWRX is a community-driven platform where members share their passion for golf through forums discussing various topics like equipment buying, selling, and trading (BST). A highlighted BST listing includes a set of Tiger-inspired Blueprints listed by @bmbsawy, professionally built Blueprints (4-p AND 2 iron) with standard build to D4 with wooden dowel in shaft ala Tiger Woods, X7 shafts, Z-cords built D4 with D5 wedge, priced at $700.
Graphite Design Tour AD VF Hybrid Shaft Review
The Graphite Design Tour AD VF Hybrid Shaft is constructed with high-end carbon fiber like Torayca T1100G using Graphite Design’s MSI technology. It is designed for stronger players seeking controlled launch and spin and is available in various weight classes (75, 85, 95, and 105). The shaft has a black and red paint design with a slight metallic shine. It feels stiffer but smooth without harsh vibrations and offers controlled kick at impact. It provides a lower trajectory than previous shafts but still allows high enough shots to land softly. Good distance control was noted during testing. It is suitable for players looking for control and consistency in hybrid shafts.
Wilson Staff Model RB Utility Review
The Wilson Staff Model RB Utility is a hybrid-alternative club designed for versatility between fairway woods and long irons. It is available in three loft options (18, 21, and 24 degrees) and crafted with input from Wilson Advisory Staff members, including Padraig Harrington. First impressions from testers were positive, highlighting its looks, sound, and flight performance. The club has minimal offset, a satin finish, and a good-looking topline. Members have been testing the RB Utility back home after initial fitting sessions, with positive reviews highlighting its straight flight tendency and ease of use compared to other utility irons and hybrids.
