The season-ending Pro-Assistants Championship took place Nov. 11-12 at The Ledges Golf Club and Sunbrook Golf Course in St. George. Known for its competitive spirit with trophies, titles, and prize money on the line, the event also offers a welcome break for PGA Professionals and their teams, providing an opportunity to unwind together away from daily grind.
“The Pro-Assistant Championship is a culmination of the season and a celebration of hard work,” said Executive Director Devin Dehlin. “It’s a chance to head down to St. George and enjoy some downtime with staff. It’s like an annual reward, where everyone can relax but still compete. We are especially grateful this year to Chad Pettingill (The Ledges) and Reed McArthur (Sunbrook) for hosting the championship, as well as to sponsors Highland Golf, Johnnie-O, and Sand Hollow Resort for their support.”
For the first time, the 36-hole tournament was played on both courses over both days, increasing the field and allowing for faster play, with rounds wrapping up in about four and a half hours. Participants also enjoyed a Monday Night Football gathering with pizza and drinks at the Marriott Courtyard following the opening round.
“The Monday Night Football Social has been a staple for over a decade,” Dehlin added. “It’s a laid-back setting for professionals to catch up and celebrate their season’s successes and challenges. With around 100 attendees, it’s a key time for bonding, and having our sponsors present helps reinforce their commitment to future events.”
In the popular two-man team Four-Ball format, where General Managers, Directors of Golf, or Head Professionals pair with fellow staff members, the possibility of a tie often looms, particularly for teams from the same facility. This year’s championship produced just that, with Davis County’s Director of Golf Dustin Volk teaming up with both Head Professionals Zach Johnson from Davis Park and Pete Stone from Valley View, leading to a unique tie with both teams finishing at a score of (-15) 129.
“First of all, I’m grateful for good partners,” Volk said of Johnson and Stone. “Those two guys are really good and even more so they’re my best friends. To me personally, it was fitting to have both teams tie and share it with them. But, I bet if you ask them, they wish it was one shot different for them.”
Team Volk/Johnson led after a (-11) 61 opening round at The Ledges GC, while Volk/Stone closed the gap with a final-round (-7) 65 at Sunbrook GC. Johnson said, “It’s always enjoyable to spend time away from work with Dustin. Competing as a team is great, though ending in a tie isn’t ideal. But co-champing with Dustin on both teams made sense, letting us hit the road a bit sooner.”
Stone added, “Tying with Zach was a little bittersweet—the competitor in me wanted a playoff. But with everyone eager to get home, ending it in a tie felt right. Maybe it even makes for a better story.”
All three have won the Pro-Assistants Championship in the past with Pete’s father, retired PGA Professional Brad Stone, who was the longtime Head Pro at Davis Park. Pete Stone reflected, “Dustin and Zach each won several times with Brad, so winning together for the first time since his retirement is pretty special.”
“Dustin and I go way back to our amateur days,” Pete continued. “We’ve won the Wendover Four-Ball and the Section Match Play Championship, but this is our first Pro-Assistants win together, which is really satisfying.”
Kory Woodland, The Barn Golf Club owner and Head Professional, and his Assistant Braydon Swapp, finished tied for third at (-11) 133, along with defending champions Mark Owen and Dustin Pimm of Mountain View Golf Course. Six teams tied for fifth at (-10) 134.
In the NET division, Rick Allison and Jeremy Green took top honors with a score of (-16) 128 (62-66), while four teams finished a shot behind, tied for second.
The win by Volk, Johnson and Stone puts a cap on the Utah PGA championship season that saw Volk win the Section Championship in September. When asked if he’s looking forward to the 2025 season Volk said, “Those that know me the best know that I will have plenty of activities this winter. But I’m definitely looking forward to 2025.”
Click here for complete results of the 2024 Pro-Assistant Championship.