Park Meadows Country Club’s Assistant PGA Professional Evan Wartgow shot a final round of 74 to finish the 49th national Assistant PGA Professional Championship in the runner-up spot at 3-under 285 at PGA Golf Club.
“I didn’t have a lot of expectations coming in,” Wartgow said. “I’ve been playing good golf through the fall, but we don’t get to play many rounds in the winter in Utah. I feel really good about it.”
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – NOVEMBER 16: Evan Wartgow reacts after a putt on the first green during the 2025 Assistant PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club – Dye Course on Sunday, November 16, 2025 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Austen Amacker/PGA of America)
Wartgow shot rounds of 71-68-72 and 74 for 285 total. It was the first time the championship was played on the Dye Course instead of the Wanamaker. The Dye, designed by Hall of Fame architect Pete Dye played 7,193 yards for the men and 6,097 for the women.
Sandra Changkija, a former LPGA Tour player who is an Assistant PGA Professional at Lake Nona, finished at 8-under 280 to become the first woman to ever to win the annual championship played at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
“She didn’t miss a whole lot of shots,” Wartgow said. “She drove it awesome and long. She’s very, very long off the tee, but she never put herself in trouble. You can tell she’s performed under pressure, and she’s great at it.”
Changkija earned the $17,800 champion’s check and a spot in next year’s PGA Professional Championship. The top four, including Wartgfow, advanced to next year’s Assistant PGA Professional Championship.
The annual Utah PGA Pro-Assistants Championship is as much a celebration as it is a competition, an annual opportunity for head professionals and their staff to wrap up another successful golf season together. The 2025 edition, played November 10–11, once again brought the Section south to St. George for two days of team camaraderie and friendly rivalry at The Ledges Golf Club and Sunbrook Golf Course.
Caiden Jones and Zach JohnsonPete Stone and Dustin Volk
For the second consecutive year, the teams from Davis Park and Valley View Golf Courses finished at the top of the leaderboard. Both teams, Davis Park’s Zach Johnson and Caiden Jones, and Valley View’s Dustin Volk and Pete Stone, posted matching 17-under-par 127 totals to share the championship and take home the Johnnie-O surfboard trophy, provided by sponsor Justin Moore.
“This is the funnest event of the year, one we look forward to all season,” said Utah PGA President Craig Norman after the awards ceremony. “It’s a chance to give something back to our assistants who’ve been bailing us out all season long. We had fabulous weather, the golf courses were in great shape, and our sponsors were tremendous. We couldn’t be happier.”
Volk, the Davis County Director of Golf, and Johnson, also part of the overall competition, finished just one shot back of the winners at 16-under. Salt Lake teaching professionals Tommy Sharp and Corey Badger followed close behind at 13-under, while the teams of Eric Bumstead and Joe Summerhays (Eagle Lake), and Cameron Hamill and Bryson Anderson (Sky Mountain), rounded out the top five at 13-under-par.
(L-R) Trevor Bender, Cody Lopez and President Craig Norman
In the Net Division, Oquirrh Hills professionals Cody Lopez and Trevor Bender claimed top honors with a 17-under 127 total. Three teams, Carson Willus/Jon DeBoer, Eron Deming/Tyler Dalton, and Lopez/Steve Frye—finished tied for runner-up at 16-under 128.
“The Pro-Assistants Championship is always a great way to cap off another outstanding year,” said Utah PGA Executive Director Devin Dehlin. “It’s always rewarding to see facilities bring their staff down to St. George as a way to thank them for a long and busy season. The Utah PGA golf family had a great year.”
Craig Norman and Reed McArthurJustin Moore and Chad Pettingill
The season-ending event once again used both courses on both days enabling Tournament Director Aaron Goodman to maximize the field while shortening the playing time but maintaining its signature mix of competition and fun. A relaxed Monday Night Football gathering added to the camaraderie that defines the Utah PGA family.
Thanks to host professionals Reed McArthur at Sunbrook and Chad Pettingill at The Ledges, along with tournament sponsor Justin Moore of Johnnie-O for his support with tee gifts and trophies.
