Monthly Archives: July 2025

The Utah PGA Junior Major Series—designed to give junior golfers a more competitive tournament experience—wrapped up the 2025 season with its Junior Major Championship July 29 at Hobble Creek Golf Course.

A big thank you to Utah PGA President Craig Norman and the Hobble Creek staff for supporting the season-ending championship and hosting the final event.

On a perfect summer day in Springville Canyon, boys and girls ages 13-18 teed it up to crown season champions in each age division. For the 16-18 age group champions and Players of the Year, the stakes were even higher, with exemptions on the line for the 2025 Larry H. Miller Utah Women’s Open at The Country Club in Salt Lake City and the Larry H. Miller Utah Open at Provo’s Riverside Country Club.

Also up for grabs were final Major Series points to help determine the makeup of this year’s Utah PGA Mountain Cup team.

The season began with three Major Membership Qualifiers, giving players who hadn’t already earned a spot through 2024 play the chance to qualify for this year’s series. In all, the 2025 Major Series featured five 36-hole events and two 18-hole tournaments. Click here for season-long tournament results.

The season-ending Major Championship at Hobble Creek was open to all qualified Major Series players.

In the Boys 16-18 division, it took a playoff to determine the champion after Ethan Luna, Warren Fisher and Austin Bybee each posted rounds of 3-under-par 68s. Luna rolled in a long birdie putt on the second playoff hole—the par-5 second—to win the trophy and earn the exemption into the Utah Open.

Cayson VanBeekum claimed Player of the Year honors in the Boys 16-18 division with 460 points after winning four of the six Majors he entered. Following the awards ceremony, the Oregon Tech commit said, “I first want to thank my swing coach, Braydon Swapp at The Barn GC. Without him helping me get dialed in, I wouldn’t have played so well this year. Being named Player of the Year means a lot—it’s a big confidence boost knowing I can compete with top-tier players.”

In the Girls 16-18 division, Natalie McLane shot a steady 1-over 74 to win by two shots over Kennedee Pearson. Addison Cannon took home Player of the Year honors with 485 points after a season that included a win at the Tooele County Junior Major and three runner-up finishes in seven events

Cannon credited her strong short game and steady focus for her success: “Staying consistent and putting in the work, especially on my short game, was the key for me this season.”

In the Boys 13-15 division, Jack Murray carded a 1-under 70 to win by two shots over Levi King. Madden Barnes earned Player of the Year honors with 450 points, built on a season that featured three wins and two other top-three finishes in six starts.

The Girls 13-15 title was decided in a playoff after Anushka Rajeev and Morgan Thomas both shot 77. Rajeev claimed the trophy with a par on the par-3 10th hole in the sudden death playoff.

Taylor Weingarten took home the Girls 13-15 Player of the Year title with 485 points. In seven starts, Weingarten won twice and added two runner-up finishes and two third-place showings, including at the Major Championship. She finished outside the top three just once all season.

Thanks to all Utah Section PGA members who hosted Major Series events this season. Your efforts play a vital role in the development of these junior players. The success of the Major Series—and the JET Tour—comes from the collective support of the Utah PGA family, including our head professionals and Junior Golf Director Cassandra Campos and her staff.

These tournaments continue to deliver high-level competition, a memorable experience, and a lasting love for the game for our players.

Utah PGA Major Series Championship recap story and photography by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson.

What a week in West Wendover.

The 2025 Utah Senior Open played July 16-17 at Toana Vista Golf Course in West Wendover, NV delivered on every front—great weather, a championship-caliber field, a few storybook finishes, and plenty of reason to believe in the magic of the Utah Section PGA family.

Headlining this year’s 36-hole championship was Mountain View Golf Course PGA Professional Mark Owen, who celebrated his birthday with a final-round 64 and a 13-under 131 total to win his third career Utah Senior Open title, four shots clear of defending champion Todd Tanner.

“It’s my special day,” Owen said. “Everything just kind of came together.”

It certainly looked that way.

After trailing Tanner by two heading into the final round, Owen poured in birdies across Toana Vista’s front nine with tap-ins and polished off his round with an eagle two on the par-4 7th—his 16th hole of the day—thanks to a “lucky” gap wedge from 119 yards that took two bounces and disappeared into the cup.

“I hit it a little thin, one-handed it,” Owen admitted to Paul Pugmire of Utah Golf Radio. “It bounced right in front of the pin, popped straight up, two hops, and in. Total luck—but I’ll take it!”

Owen’s final-round surge was enough to pull away from Tanner, who finished solo second at 9-under 135. Dave DeSantis claimed third at (-4) 140, while amateurs Matt Lyons and Tommy Johnson shared low amateur honors at (-2) T4.

Though Owen’s name may be etched on the trophy once again, this win had a deeper meaning.

“This one’s special,” Owen said. “A few years ago, when Joey Bonsegnore was honored, I wanted to win it then. This year, with Don and Ron Branca as the honorees, it really meant something to me. Ron and I go way back.”

Long-time Utah PGA professionals Ron and Don Branca were celebrated as honorees of the championship during Wednesday night’s banquet, hosted by Wendover Resorts and emceed by ABC4’s Wesley Ruff. And in a moment that couldn’t have been scripted any better, Don Branca captured the Legend Division title with rounds of (=2)  73-73 – 146—a fitting capstone to a lifetime of service to the game. Click here to watch the honoree video shown at the honoree banquet.

In the Super Senior division, amateur Mark Gardiner outplayed the field with rounds of 66-70 for an 8-under 136 total. Randy Hicken finished second (-5), while Dave DeSantis claimed Low Professional honors at 4-under.

The field this year may have been one of the strongest and deepest in Utah Senior Open history but it was Owen who stole the show. And his recent experience at the U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor may have something to do with it.

“Competing in a major was the highlight of my career,” he said. “It was overwhelming—fast greens, tough pins—but it made me better. Just being around guys like Langer, Harrington, Bjorn… it changes your perspective.”

Now, with this latest win, Owen’s goals shift to the fall season and another shot at qualifying for the Senior PGA Championship.

“I’m not getting any younger,” he said, “but days like today remind me I’ve still got some good golf in me. The Utah Section majors still mean everything to me.”

A special thanks to Wendover Resorts, Toana Vista GC, and the staff who make this event one of the true highlights of the Utah golf season calendar.

Click here for the Utah Senior Open final leaderboard.

Story and photography provided by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson.

It’s not often you get a No. 1 vs. No. 2 final match, but the 2025 Utah PGA Senior Match Play Championship at Willow Creek Country Club delivered exactly that. It also delivered something Davis County Director of Golf Dustin Volk didn’t have—until now.

With a 25-foot birdie on the first extra hole, Volk edged top seed Todd Tanner in a back-and-forth final and picked up his first Senior Match Play title. Just another line on what’s becoming one of the most well-rounded resumes in Utah Section PGA history.

“It’s kind of cool,” Volk said afterward. “I went back and looked. Moody’s won the regular match play four times. I’ve got three. Now I’ve added the senior match play. That trophy’s got a few of my wins already on it, and now I’m on the other side too.”

This one came with a little extra sweetness. Volk has known Tanner for decades—and been beaten by him in many tournaments just as long.

“I told Todd after the match, ‘I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever beat you in match play,’” Volk said. “Going back to the ‘90s, he knocked me out of the State Am a couple times. I know he got me at Hubbard once. This might be a first.”

Their final match was the kind of match play golf we love—a competitive match highlighted by a momentum swings. Volk, the No. 2 seed, had advanced to the championship with a 2 & 1 win over former champ Mark Owen, while Tanner earned his spot when Chris Moody withdrew from their semifinal match.

Despite a major trophy on the line as well as Player of the Year points, Volk and Tanner kept it friendly at Willow Creek.

“That’s just how it is when you’ve known guys this long,” Volk said. “There’s nothing to gain by being overly serious. We’re just trying to play good golf and enjoy the competition.”

But make no mistake—Volk brought his best when it counted. He birdied five of the final seven holes, including three in a row on 12, 13 and 14, to claw back from a small deficit. After both players parred the 18th with the match tied, they went back and did it again. That’s where Volk poured in the winning putt—to count as a walk-off birdie.

“I rolled in plenty of acreage of putts,” he said with a laugh. “It was one of those days where my speed was just dialed in.”

Volk credits years of experience and a deep appreciation for the game—and the people in it—for keeping his competitive fire burning.

“Mark [Owen] is just such a good putter and such a grinder. Beating him in the semifinal meant a lot too,” Volk said. “But honestly, if either of those guys had beaten me, I’d have gone home feeling okay. They’re dear friends. But match play s different. When it’s over, it’s just over. You don’t get a second place. You just wait till next year.”

Now a senior player, Volk is thriving with the opportunity to compete on both the senior and regular sides of Section events. And with a Section Championship, Assistant Championship, and Regular Match Play titles already under his belt, there’s only a couple boxes left to check.

“Guess the Senior Section Championship is next,” he said. “I’ve played in it twice. Took second once. Still chasing that one.”

Until then, the trophy case is getting crowded—and that’s just the way Volk likes it.

“We got in this business because we love the game and we love to compete,” he said. “As long as I feel like I can still do that, I’ll keep showing up.”

Click here for the 2025 Utah PGA Senior Match Play scoring bracket. Many thanks to all who played and to Stonebridge, Bountiful Ridge and Willow Creek for hosting the tournament.

2025 Utah PGA Senior Match Play Championship recap and photography by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson.

The Utah Section PGA proudly announces the Larry H. Miller Company as the new title sponsor of the Utah Open and the Women’s Utah Open golf tournaments, ushering in a new era for one of Utah’s most storied sporting traditions. The 99th playing of the championship—now officially named the Larry H. Miller Utah Open—will be held August 15–17, 2025, at Riverside Country Club in Provo, Utah. The Larry H. Miller Women’s Utah Open will take place at The Country Club in Salt Lake City, August 4–5. Admission to both tournaments is free for spectators.

With nearly a century of history, the Utah Open stands as one of the longest-running and most prestigious golf tournaments in the country. Its champions’ list reads like a hall of fame of Utah golf, featuring legends such as George Schneiter, Mike Reid, Jay Don Blake, Jimmy and Zac Blair, Bruce and Boyd Summerhays. The tournament has also welcomed international golf icons over the years, including Billy Casper, Gary Player, Ken Venturi, Gene Littler, Miller Barber, and Tommy Aaron, during the PGA TOUR’s stop in Utah in the early 1960s.

“The Utah Open has long been a cornerstone of Utah golf and a championship with deep community roots,” said Devin Dehlin, Executive Director of the Utah Section PGA. “We’re excited to partner with the Larry H. Miller Company, whose support and values align perfectly with the tournament’s mission of excellence, tradition, and support of our charity beneficiary Special Olympics Utah.”

In addition to championship play, the weeklong event will again feature multiple Pro-Am tournaments, two per day Monday through Thursday, providing unique opportunities for sponsors and guests to tee it up alongside Utah’s top PGA Professionals. The Utah Open Pro-Ams are nationally recognized and offer memorable experiences that extend beyond the golf course.

“We are honored to support and continue the legacy of the Utah Open as one of the premier golf events in the state,” said LHM Company CEO Steve Starks. “The Larry H. Miller Company and the Miller family have a long history and deep love of sports in Utah and providing access and opportunities for athletes to grow and develop through sports. The Utah Open is a perfect example of the power of sport to shape lives and strengthen communities.” 

With the Larry H. Miller Company’s partnership, the Utah Open is poised to elevate its impact—both competitively and philanthropically—while continuing to celebrate the game’s legacy in Utah.