High school golf championship celebrations are usually pretty subdued, but not on Tuesday at the Old Mill Golf Course following conclusion of the 6A state tournament.
As Corner Canyon junior Bowen Mauss hugged coach Derek Fox to celebrate his 6A individual title by two strokes, the pair was mobbed by the rest of the Chargers team and were doused with buckets and bottles of water in celebration of the first boys golf state title in school history.
Mauss and Fox both emerged drenched, particularly Fox, but it was more than worth it after dethroning five-time state champ Lone Peak.
“We’ve been doing this for six years, getting better every year. Every player on this team has had a piece to do with this,” said Fox. “It’s my favorite time of year. I have four girls at home and have 27 boys in the fall. Our chant is family, and that’s how we feel about each other.”
This was Fox’s sixth year as head coach at Corner Canyon, and the team has gotten methodically better each year, and finally cleared the final hurdle this year. His team finished fourth in 2018 and 2019, third in 2020, and second in 2021 and 2022. The Chargers watched Lone Peak lift the 6A trophy the last four seasons.
But this year, the roles were reversed.
Read more here from the Deseret News’ James Edward, Click Here.
Team Texas turned hometown heroes with its victory at the 2023 13u National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship today.
With the sun setting and ESPN cameras rolling, No. 2 seed Team Texas (Farmers Branch) defeated No. 4 seed Team Utah (Lehi) 6.5 – 5.5 in the match play Championship final at PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch West.
No one could have asked for a closer match. The teams went wire-to-wire, with the title coming down to the last match, on the last hole, between Team Utah’s Jordan Ofahengaue and Blake Brown, both 13, and Team Texas’s Chase Roman, 13, and Lincoln Rubis, 11.
2021 Champion Team Utah needed an eagle on the final hole to force a playoff and another shot at the title. They couldn’t get there, but that didn’t stop Coach Tele Wightman, PGA, from beaming about his team.
“You know, I’m just so proud of the boys,” said Wightman, PGA Director of Golf at Thanksgiving Point Golf Club. “They competed all week and it was a great semifinal win against Florida today. They made the shots when they had to, we knew Texas would be tough and it was tight all the way, you know. They just made one more putt than we did. So, hats off to Texas. I’m proud of our kids.”
The Finaus blended in with the crowd of families proudly watching their kids’ teamwork on display.
“I’m just a spectator, just a father,” said Jraice’s dad and six-time PGA Tour winner Tony Finau to Michael Collins’ on the ESPN2 broadcast, just before their final hole. “He got three flags for his team today. Hopefully it’s enough to get them into a playoff, but if not, I had a great time following my son.”
The LPGA Professionals announced Utah golf professional Melissa Hatten as its Professional of the Year as they honored the 2023 award winners for their dedication and achievements. Hatten is a LPGA Professional at Talisker Club (Tuhaye) in Kamas.
The national award winners were selected by the LPGA Professionals membership’s Executive Committee from the pool of Section Award winners voted on by officers of the six regional sections: Central, International, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast and Western.
The LPGA Professional of the Year Award was established in 1980 and is awarded annually to an LPGA Professionals member primarily engaged in a golf operation, golf association, or industry position, promoting the game through player development, growth of the game initiatives, and other golf-related activities.
“Being named LPGA Professional of the Year is a culmination of many years of hard work, and this award is a testament to the support my family, friends, amazing mentors, members, the LPGA, TaylorMade Golf and Talisker Club have given me over the years,” expressed Hatten. “This award is even more special with the number of talented professionals within the LPGA membership. My life goal is not just to make a difference but to BE the difference, and I am excited for my future, and the future of both golf and the LPGA.”
A month before the start of the high school golf season, and his senior year, Rowland Hall’s Matt Siegal didn’t really envision himself playing high school golf this fall. He was just burned out on a golf, didn’t practice through the winter and barely picked up his clubs throughout the spring and summer.
Siegal’s dad convinced him to just go out and see if the joy came back, especially since his senior season was also the last year for long-time head coach Stacey Camacho.
A few practices in, the golf itch game back for Siegal, and that dedication came to fruition on Thursday during the final round of the 2A state tournament at Glendale Golf Course
Siegal’s 7-under 65 in Round 2 not only helped him win 2A state medalist honors after tying for third a year ago, but it also led Rowland Hall snap Beaver’s five-year reign over 2A as the Winged Lions captured the title by two strokes.
Rowland Hall backed up Wednesday’s 305 with another 305 of Thursday, finishing with a two-day score of 610, which was just barely good enough to edge Beaver’s 612.
“They worked really hard the last few weeks, really came out and prepared on the course a lot, a lot of putting a lot of short game. A lot of work believing in themselves,” said Camacho, whose team had a two-stroke lead after Day 1.
Read more by Deseret News’ sportswriter James Edward, Click Here.
Twelve All-Star teams will tee off in the 13u National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship at PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch West Oct. 4-8. The Inaugural 17u Championship at New Mexico’s Twin Warriors Golf Clubfollows Nov. 16-19.
In two weeks, 96 junior golfers ages 10-13 comprising 12 Regional Champion All-Star teams will travel to PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch West to compete in the 11th edition of the 13u National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship, to be held Oct. 4-8 and broadcast live on ESPN networks.
It’s an exciting year for PGA Jr. League as a whole. In addition to celebrating a record 72,000 participants this year to date, 2023 marks the first year the 13u Championship will be held at the new Home of the PGA of America as well as the launch of the inaugural 17u Championship, set for Nov. 16-19 at Twin Warriors Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico.
The 13u National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship includes Team Utah (Thanksgiving Point A/Lehi) with PGA of America Coach Tele Wightman and Assistant Coach Jared Huish. Team Utah was the 2021 National Champions.
The 13u Championship kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 4, with the National Car Rental Welcome Party, followed by the annual Skills Challenge Thursday, Oct. 5. Rounds one and two will take place Friday and Saturday (Oct. 6-7), during which teams will compete in a two-person scramble, team aggregate stroke play format. The Championship concludes with match play semifinal and final rounds on Sunday, Oct. 8. The eight teams not competing in the semifinals can participate in the Fields Ranch Roundup, a 9-hole, two-person scramble.
In November, 12 Regional Champion All-Star teams of 72 junior golfers ages 14-17 will take center stage in the inaugural 17u National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship, Nov. 16-19, at Twin Warriors Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico.
Included in the field is Team Utah (Glenmoor GOATS) with PGA of America Coach Darci Olsen and PGA of America Assistant Coach Bruce Summerhays.
National Car Rental was named the inaugural title partner of the Championship Season in 2021. PGA Jr. League’s biggest corporate partner since 2018, as well as an Official Partner and the Official Rental Car of the PGA of America since 2012, National’s title partnership aims to continue fueling meaningful growth of PGA Jr. League and support the program’s endeavors to welcome more kids to the game.
Read more about the 13U Thanksgiving Point A and 17U Glenmoor GOATS teams in the August issue of Junior Fairways, Click here.
PGA Teaching Professional Tommy Sharp won the Utah PGA Professional Championship this week at Toana Vista Golf Course to secure his spot in the 2024 PGA Professional Championship, April 28-May 1 at Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco, Frisco, Texas.
Sharp finished at 12-under par 132 on rounds of 64-68 to edge runner-up Matt Baird by two shots. Baird and Aaron Purviance, who finished in third place at 9-under par, shot the low scores of the final round with (-7) 65s.
Rounding out the top five, who also qualified for the national PGA Professional Championship, were Baird, Purviance, Zach Johnson (-8) and Thomas Cook (-6).
Those finishing at 5-under 139, Casey Fowles, Mike Jurca and Chris Moody, entered a playoff for the two qualifying spots with Fowles and Jurca making it through.
Alternate qualifiers include Moody, Jordan Gibbs (-4), Derek Butts (-3) and Bruce Summerhays (-3).
For Sharp the win “saved my season” and checked off his season goal of returning to the national championship.
“It’s my whole year,” Sharp said. “I think this is my ninth time, I’ve been to a bunch of them. All of my practice and training is to be able to qualify. I make my plans all winter for this. I want to play in the PGA Championship one more time. That’s my goal.”
Steve Schneiter, who is exempt into the PGA Professional Championship as a former champion, captured the Senior Division win at Toana Vista with a 8-under 136 performance. Two strokes back was Henry White, who won the Super Senior Division. The top five also included Joe Summerhays (-3), Dustin Volk (-3) and Mark Owen (-1). Owen previously won the Utah PGA Senior Match Play and Utah PGA Senior Championship to qualify for the Senior PGA Championship.
Robert Rudd carded a (+2) 70-76 -146 to win the Legend Division by two strokes over Roy Christensen. With a (+3) 75-72 – 147 Sue Nyhus claimed the Women’s Division title.
Once again Wendover Resorts and Toana Vista Golf Course provided championship-level hospitality for the event.
As the summer season starts to give way to cooler morning temperatures and fall colors, Hobble Creek Golf Course was the host of the annual Utah Senior PGA Championship, Sept 5-6.
While crowning a champion, the event also served as a qualifying tournament for the national Senior PGA Professional Championship to be held later this fall.
Mountain View PGA Professional Mark Owen adds the Utah Senior PGA Championship to his win column that already includes this year’s Utah PGA Senior Match Play Championship.
As we change from summer to fall some things remain the same this season as Mountain View Head Professional Mark Owen claimed another Senior title this year. With a (-3) 139 on rounds of 69-70, Owen took home the champion’s trophy and first place check of $1,500.
First round leader Dave DeSantis was next at even par 142 for the tournament with Steve Schneiter, Doug Roberts and Joe Summerhays finishing tied for third place at (+1) 143.
Dave DeSantisSteve SchneiterDoug RobertsJoe Summerhays
“It’s always fun to win,” Owen said while acknowledging he wasn’t happy with his putting and that 49-year old Todd Tanner, who isn’t age eligible for the championship but will be in time for the national championship, shot a lower score of (-5) 137.
With birdies on three of the four par 5s Owen said, “The par fives are gettable here at Hobble Creek and I played them well. But believe it or not my putting stinks, I think I had five three putts today.”
Mark Owen heads to his back nine at Hobble Creek (hole No.1) at 1-over par for the final round. He would go on to make three birdies versus one bogey on the opening nine holes at Hobble Creek GC to finish 3-under par for the championship.
Owen, the current Utah PGA Senior Match Play champion, made nine pars and five birdies versus four bogeys in the final round, including bogeys on the first and last holes.
“But, I changed my game plan and just started making pars. I was just a little off today but the golf course is really tricky and anything under par was really good.”
Qualifying for this year’s national Senior PGA Professional Championship were Todd Tanner (-5) 137, Dustin Volk (-3) 139, Owen, DeSantis and Summerhays, who defeated Doug Roberts in a playoff for the last qualifying spot.
Todd TannerDustin Volk
Schneiter has an exemption for the national championship as a past champion, winning in 2016.
Both Tanner and Volk will turn 50 in the next two weeks making them age eligible for the the national Senior PGA Professional Championship presented by Cadillac, contested October 26-29 at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
The national event is “a springboard for more to come if you play well,” said Owen. “I’m not exactly sure what the number of spots are that go to the Senior PGA Championship, I think it’s 20 to 25 spots. So that’s the goal, to go and try to get into a major event.”
Spencer Wallace, a teaching professional at the Tee Box golf training facility in St. George, shot (-5) 70-67 – 137 to win the National Car Rental Utah Assistant PGA Championship at Hobble Creek GC, Sept. 5-6.
Utah PGA Vice President and tournament host Professional Craig Norman (L) and Executive Director Devin Dehlin (R) present Spencer Wallace with the Utah Assistant PGA Championship trophy. The win is Wallace’s first as a Level 1 PGA Associate.
It was his first time playing in the championship as Wallace is a Level 1 PGA Associate. Wallace was four-shots clear of runner-up Evan Wartgow, an Assistant PGA Professional at Park Meadows Country Club.
Park Meadows Country Club PGA Assistant Evan Wartgow claimed the runner-up position and a qualifying spot in the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Championship later this year.
Jaydn Wayment (The Barn), Braden Price (Toana Vista), Tyler Dalton (Southgate) and Wallace held the opening round lead at (-1) 70. It was Wallace making the biggest move on the final round with a (-4) 67 at the Springville City course.
Rounding out the top 5 were defending champion Braydon Swapp (The Barn), tied for third at even par and Aaron Purviance (Red Ledges), finishing fifth with a (+1) 143.
Aaron Purviance (Red Ledges)Tyler Dalton
Hitting a “ton” of fairways, Wallace said, “I drove it really well which put me in a lot of really good positions (off the tee). I hit my irons really well as well, so I took a lot of pressure off myself. So it was fun.”
Wallace’s last win came at the Valley View Open in 2019. “I’ve been playing really well lately, putting some good rounds together, so this means a lot and I’m excited about what’s to come.”
Qualifying for the national Assistant PGA Championship from the tournament were Assistant PGA Professionals Wartgow, Purviance and Dalton who got by Alex Bennington (Red Ledges) in a playoff for the remaining qualifying spot.
Qualifying as alternates were Bennington, Paul Phillips (Stonebridge) and Haley Sturgeon (The Country Club).
The Country Club Assistant Haley Sturgeon claimed the top spot in the Women’s Division.
Sturgeon, expecting her first child in December, shot (+6) 73-75 -148 to earn the top spot in the Assistant Women’s division that also included Sirene Blair (PGA of America) and Nyomy Obcemea (Ogden Golf & Country Club).
The PGA Junior League post season is upon us. Eight teams from Utah qualified to compete next week in Twin Falls, Idaho at the Region Championship. The teams had the chance to qualify through two different routes. The Utah PGA Junior League Section Championship, or Play Day Leaderboard ranking.
Glenmoor PGA Jr League teams.
Read more about the Utah PGA Junior teams heading to Idaho and how they qualified in the current JUNIOR Fairways digital issue in a feature story written by Annie Fisher. Click Here.
Jordan Ofahengaue celebrates with Blake Brown of Team Utah during the second round of the 2022 National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club.
Hundreds of PGA Jr League All-Star Teams are set to compete in 12 National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Regional Championships in September. Read more from PGA.com. Click Here.
The Utah PGA hosted the Drive Chip & Putt Sub-Regional today at Glenmoor Golf Club.
Each of today’s participants qualified earlier this season at one of four local qualifiers, placing in the top 3 of their respective age groups. Today’s top two qualifiers in each age group will move onto the Regional Qualifying at Chambers Bay this September with hopes of qualifying to the National championship held next April at Augusta National Golf Club.
Nicklaus Miller of the Boys 12-13 section posted the day’s high score at 156 on a 56-40-60 split claiming his spot at Chambers Bay. Jordan Ofahengaue claimed the second qualifying spot of the age group posting 139.
Girls 12-13 division winner Saylor Wagner claimed the division title with her 127 point performance leading all girl participants thanks to a division high in chipping and putting. Marissa Johnson followed, scoring 114 on a 44-25-45 split, claiming her qualifying bid.
Blake Brown and Mack Herzog moved on out of the Boys 14-15 division along with Tazlyn Wagner and Navy Hubbs of the Girls 14-15 division.
Boys 10-11 division and Boys 7-9 division leaders Emery Johnson, Dallin Pratt, Graham Benson, and Beckam Andrus will all appear at Chambers Bay this September.
The final participants making the push towards Augusta from Utah came from the Girls 10-11 division and Girls 7-9 division. Eveylyn Schulthies led the Girls 10-11 division scoring 100 points with Sophie Ma finishing as runner up with 84 points. Treyva Woodlief and Ruby Monson claimed the two qualifying spots in the Girls 7-9 division.
Thank you to all our participants and best of luck to those who qualified for Chambers Bay!