Playing in what could be labeled as a “comfortable pairing” may have been the perfect recipe for Riverside Country Club Head PGA Professional Chris Moody in the final round of the Utah PGA Senior Section Championship—an event that also doubles as the qualifier for this year’s national Senior PGA Professional Championship.
Moody teed it up alongside Mark Owen, Joe Summerhays, and Matt Baird, a group that helped keep the energy level calm despite a frustrating early morning rush hour bumper-to-bumper crawl from Utah County to Stonebridge Golf Club in West Valley City. That kind of traffic can rattle the most composed player, but Moody found comfort with fellow Section members who, as he put it, “actually want you to play well.”
Affectionately known as “Moods,” Moody opened with a splash, literally, as his first drive on the Sunrise nine found the water hazard. But he quickly righted the ship with an eagle on the second hole and never looked back. His opening-round 65 had already given him a two-shot lead over Summerhays and Baird, and with a closing 68 he added his name to the perpetual trophy.
Moody finished 11-under par (65–68) for a four-shot win, capturing his first Senior Section Championship title and, just as importantly, earning a spot in his first Senior PGA Professional Championship, October 23–26, 2025, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
“I’m pretty excited and happy with this win,” Moody said. “Haven’t really played well in the last four years and now at 50 years old it kind of gives you new life and new experiences. And I look forward to going to the Senior PPC and hopefully play well there and parlay it into a Senior PGA Championship.”
Asked if this will be his first trip to the Senior PPC, Moody said “Yes, I missed it just by a month last year, I’m an October baby. So they pushed it up a month last year because they played it up in Oregon. So yeah, it’ll be my first go at it.”
Despite a busy summer at Riverside Country Club, Moody said this championship was circled on his calendar from the beginning of the year. “You know, like, August is just a month from hell for me, honestly, because we have the member-guest tournament and then I got the Utah Open. And, you know, literally, like, on the third green yesterday, I was just looking up in the mountains. And I just almost felt peace with myself, because I’m just like, I don’t have anything to worry about. All of those events are over with. Nothing to worry about but this event.”
For Moody, the win carries extra meaning. “Honestly, I don’t know what I’m missing (career win wise). That’s the beauty of being a Senior now, you know, it gives you new life, gives you new opportunities. Playing the Senior Match Play earlier this year I had to withdraw because of a work conflict, but I’ll have another opportunity next year. So it’s all good.”
And in terms of accomplishments? “Well, like I say, I just have been playing such poor golf, and for whatever reason, it just all kind of clicked yesterday. You know, I was on the range last couple of days. And I never go to the driving range. I was there for like, three days straight, and I kind of figured something out. And honestly, I kind of believe in divine intervention, with Jordan (Brockbank) passing away last week, and now hearing the news of Jason Hargett’s passing yesterday, I felt like they were part of it. I felt like they were out there helping me, giving me some peace. If anything, I dedicate this win to those guys.”
Moody credits a quick trip to Bandon Dunes with friend Bob Shay for sparking his motivation. “If that doesn’t get you motivated to play golf, I don’t think anything will. It’s such a special place. And, you know, I hit the ball really well up there, and kind of maybe figured something out up there, and then kind of brought it back and found it on the range a couple days ago. And yesterday, it was like an easy 65. Kinda reminded me of the days of old.”
Even with a shaky start to his final round—“I hit a bad shot on number one tee, into the water and was lucky to make a bogey,” Moody’s eagle at No. 2 settled him in.
“This championship was definitely on my list, ever since I turned 50,” Moody said. “It was a bummer last year that I missed it just barely. So I looked forward to this year, for sure.”
Also earning trips to Port St. Lucie with Moody were Summerhays (runner-up at 7-under), Todd Tanner and Baird (T3), Owen (5th at 5-under), Steve Schneiter (National Past Champion exemption). Also hoping to make the filed are alternates Todd Meyer (T6), Dave DeSantis (missing from photos), Dustin Volk (T8), and Ryan Rhees (10th). These players were the only ones to finish under par in the 36-hole championship.
Final Senior Section Championship leaderboard.
Many thanks to Stonebridge Golf Club for hosting the Senior Section Championship this year.