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.