The PGA TOUR will return to Utah for the first time in over 60-years Oct. 9-13 at Black Desert Resort in Ivins, Utah for the inaugural Black Desert Championship presented by Greater Zion, part of the PGA TOUR’s FEDEX Cup fall series. 

Ahead of the championship’s Monday Qualifier at Sand Hollow Resort Oct. 7th, the Utah Section PGA, headquartered in Salt Lake City, will conduct three Pre-Qualifier tournaments held Oct. 1 at Sand Hollow Resort in Hurricane, UT, Oct. 2 at Coral Canyon Golf Course in Washington, UT and Oct. 3 at Glenmoor Golf Course in South Jordan, UT. 

Registration for the Pre-Qualifier tournaments is available now on UTAHPGA.Com under the Tournament/PGA TOUR Qualifying in Utah menu button. 

The Utah Section PGA has announced Davis County Director of Golf Dustin Volk, winner of the 2024 Utah Section Championship, has received an exemption into the Black Desert Championship via a long standing agreement between the PGA TOUR and the PGA of America allowing for a local PGA of America Professional to compete in a PGA TOUR event being held with in the Section’s geographical boundaries. 

Utah Section PGA Executive Director Devin Dehlin said, “We are proud of Dustin Volk’s accomplishments in Utah PGA events including earning his third career win of the Section Championship. He has also played a significant role in Section leadership during his career as a PGA Professional. He will represent us well next month at the Black Desert Championship.”

The Black Desert Championship presented by Greater Zion will feature multiple Utah-based players receiving sponsor exemptions, including 2003 Masters champion and 2024 International Presidents Cup captain Mike Weir, former BYU standout Peter Kuest, and rising amateur star Kihei Akina, a senior at Lone Peak High School who is committed to BYU. Additionally, Utah natives and former Utah Sate Amateur and Utah Open champions Patrick Fishburn and Zac Blair have confirmed their participation. 

Announced earlier this year, St. George native and PGA TOUR Champions member Jay Don Blake received a sponsors exemption and will celebrate his 500^th career PGA TOUR start in his hometown at the Black Desert Championship.

With rounds of 64-69, Dustin Volk secured his third Utah PGA Section Championship at Toana Vista Golf Club, finishing 11-under-par 133. His victory also earned him the Senior Division title and a spot in next year’s PGA Professional Championship, along with an exemption to compete in the Black Desert Championship, Utah’s first PGA TOUR event in over 60 years.

Reflecting on his recent success, including a runner-up finish at the Senior Section Championship, Volk credited his practice routine and improved putting. “I’ve been playing a lot, practicing with Pete Stone and Zach Johnson, and changed my putting setup, which has helped.”

Volk emphasized staying calm under pressure, particularly after a setback on the second hole. “I stayed positive, avoided big numbers, and played well on the Par 3s, which is rare for me.”

Looking ahead, Volk is excited for the PGA Professional Championship, qualifying for the seventh time. He has mixed feelings about the Black Desert Championship due to missing his annual elk hunting trip but sees heading to Black Desert as a once in a lifetime opportunity and another family adventure.

Winning the Utah PGA Section Championship for the third time holds special meaning. “It’s an honor to be part of the Utah Section PGA and to win this championship again,” Volk said, expressing gratitude for balancing golf and managing two of Utah’s busiest courses.

Volk’s wife, Anne, has been a supportive presence at his tournaments as his cart partner, helping him to maintain perspective. After the win, he shared an emotional moment with playing partner Zach Johnson. “Golf is tough, and to win is even harder. Competing with your best friends is what it’s all about.”

Joining Volk at the 2025 PGA Professional Championship as qualifiers from the Section Championship are Dustin Pimm, Zach Johnson, Joe Summerhays, Chris Moody, Tommy Sharp, and Todd Tanner. Alternates include Jayme Backos, Casey Fowles, Matt Baird and Carson Willis.

Division champions this year include Terry Outzen (Super Senior), Roy Chirstensen (Legends) and Sue Nyhus (Women’s). 

Click here to see the final leaderboard.

Click here to read the complete Utah PGA Section Championship recap.

Over the weekend (Sept. 6-8), eight 17u All-Star teams representing Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, met at Meadow Lakes Golf Club in Prineville, Oregon, for two fun and exciting days of competition at the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Regional Championship. Competing teams represented the Utah, Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain PGA Sections.

The Thanksgiving Point All-Stars defeated the Meadow Springs All-Stars, 5.5 – 3.5 in match play to advance to the 17u National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship, to be held Nov. 14-17 at Twin Warriors Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. They will represent Team Utah and are led by Coach Tele Wightman, PGA.

The Thanksgiving Point All-Stars advanced to the championship match after a 6.5 – 2.5 win over the Glenmoor Goats (Glenmoor Golf Club, South Jordan, Utah) coached by Darci Dehlin-Olsen, PGA, in the semifinals. In other semifinal action, Meadow Springs defeated the Chambers Bay All-Stars on a third tiebreaker to advance to the championship.

All eight of the 17u All-Star teams shot even or under par in Saturday’s qualifying round led by Thanksgiving Point All-Stars at (-23), three strokes ahead of Meadow Springs and Chamber’s Bay, who both shot a -20. The Glenmoor Goats shot a -17 for the final spot in the semifinals.

The Glenmoor Albatross All-Stars finished fifth with a -8, followed by the Canyon Springs All-Stars (Canyon Springs Golf Course, Twin Falls, Idaho) led by Coach Zach Abels, PGA, with a -7 and the Glenmoor Bombs with a -5. The Glenmoor Linksters finished eighth, shooting an even par.  

Teams not making the semifinals participated in a 9-hole, two-person scramble Shootout. Brecken Ross (15, Herriman, Utah) and Trey Pehrson (16, Riverton, Utah) of The Glenmoor Linksters coached by Darci Dehlin-Olsen, PGA, captured the 17u Shootout title with a 29.

Click here for the final leaderboard.

Over the weekend (Sept. 6-8), eight 13u All-Star teams (ages 10-13) and eight 17u All-Star teams (ages 14-17) representing Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, met at Meadow Lakes Golf Club in Prineville, Oregon, for two fun and exciting days of competition at the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Regional Championship. Competing teams represented the Utah, Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain PGA Sections.

The Thanksgiving Point All-Stars defeated the Bend Bombers 1 All-Star Team, 11-1, in match play Sunday (Sept. 8) to advance to the 13u National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship, to be held Oct. 10-13 at PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch. They will represent Team Utah. The team, led by Coach Tele Wightman, PGA, returns to the championship after finishing as runners-up in 2023. 

Semifinal action on Sunday was delayed by 40 minutes due to lightning in the area. When play resumed, the Thanksgiving Point All-Stars advanced to the championship match after a 10-2 win over the Glenmoor (Utah) Gators. The Bend Bombers 1 All-Stars, led by coach Nate Kitt, PGA, and assistant coach Ryan Smith, advanced to the championship match after defeating the Spokane All-Stars, 7-5, in other semifinal action.

The Thanksgiving Point All-Stars (Lehi, Utah) led all teams after Day One (Saturday) at (-29) after completing the two nine-hole rounds of stroke play. Jraice Finau, the 12-year-old son of PGA TOUR Player and assistant coach Tony Finau, set the tone for his team chipping in for eagle on his first hole of the day.  

The Spokane All-Stars finished nine back for the second seed with a -20, followed by the Bend Bombers 1 (Bend Golf Club, Bend Oregon) with a (-14), and the Glenmoor Gators (Glenmoor Golf Club, South Jordan, Utah) with a (-11).

Teams not making the semifinals participated in a 9-hole, two-person scramble Shootout. Marissa Johnson (13, Uintah, Utah) and Jack Bowen (13, Herriman, Utah) of the Glenmoor Masters All-Stars captured the 13u Shootout title with a 33.

Below are the results of the Regional Championship for Region 11. The tournament consists of two days of competition where all 8 teams will first compete in a stroke play qualifying event on day one. Then on day two the top four teams from the qualifying event will progress on to a Match play qualifier in the morning while the lower four teams from the qualifying stroke event will play in an additional stroke play shootout. Then on day 2 afternoon, the winners from the Match Play qualifier competed in a final Match Play championship.

Click here for the leaderboard.

Victory Ranch Assistant PGA Professional Thomas Cook secured his second Utah PGA National Car Rental Assistant Championship title in dramatic fashion. The competition, held at Stonebridge Golf Club on September 4-5, saw Cook claim victory in a playoff against defending champion Spencer Wallace, capping off a two days of golf in West Valley City. Cook was presented the champion’s trophy by Executive Director Devin Dehlin.

Both Cook and Wallace ended the 36-hole tournament tied at 7-under-par 137 after battling it out on the Creekside and Sunrise nines. The stage was set for a playoff, where Cook emerged victorious, solidifying his place as one of Utah’s top PGA Assistant Professionals. With this win, Cook punched his ticket to the national Assistant PGA Professional Championship in November at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Reflecting on Victory

For Cook, this win was a validation of his efforts throughout the season. “It validates a lot of the work I’ve been putting in over the last few months,” he shared. “I felt like I’ve played some of the best golf of my career this season, so to have it all come together to win this event again means a lot.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming Utah PGA Section Championship at Toana Vista, Cook expressed confidence. “This win tells me I’m on the right track with how my game is developing. It gives me confidence about my chances next week and qualify for the PGA Professional Championship again.”

Navigating Stonebridge’s Challenges

Cook also emphasized the challenges posed by Stonebridge Golf Club, noting the role patience played in his success. “Stonebridge is a good test, especially with the wind being a factor. I knew I needed patience in my decision-making to see the scores I wanted. I felt comfortable with my approach shots and putted the best I have all season.”

National Stage Awaits

Having now qualified for the national Assistant PGA Championship for the third time, Cook is eager to represent the Utah Section on a larger stage. “It’s a goal of mine every year. I love the opportunity to compete against some of the top PGA Professionals across the country, and I want to put myself in the best position to win.”

Cook’s triumph also marked his second Utah PGA Assistant Championship title, a feat he cherishes. “It’s incredibly humbling. We have some amazingly talented players in the state, so to be considered in the same category as them is something I will always be grateful for.”

Top Performers Round Out the Field

Joining Cook at the national championship will be Josh Leddy, who finished 5-under-par, and Alex Bennington at 4-under-par. Tyler Dalton, Haley Sturgeon, and Evan Wartgow will serve as alternates. Although Spencer Wallace has finished first for two consecutive years, his current PGA status renders him ineligible for the national event.

Click here For the complete 2024 National Car Rental Utah PGA Assistant Championship leaderboard.

Story written by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson. Photography provided by Fairways Media/Garrit Johnson.

Mountain View Golf Course PGA Professional Mark Owen has once again proven his prowess, capturing his third Utah PGA Senior Section Championship title in just four years. Held at Stonebridge Golf Club September 4-5, Owen carded rounds of 64-68, finishing with an impressive 12-under-par 132. Runner-up, Davis County Director of Golf Dustin Volk, trailed by four strokes, despite an opening round of 67, which included a stunning back-nine score of 28.

Owen’s victory not only reaffirmed his position as one of Utah’s top senior golfers but also secured his spot in the Senior Professional PGA Championship, set to take place at Sunriver Resort in Oregon from September 26-29. There, Owen will vie for a coveted position among the top 35 players who will advance to the 2025 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.

Reflecting on the significance of the win, Owen admitted that his season has been less than stellar leading up to the tournament. “It hasn’t been one of my best seasons of golf,” he shared. “This really came out of nowhere. I’ve battled some health issues, but nothing major. For some reason, I’ve just had a hard time getting it together. Practicing has never been my favorite—I love to play.”

When asked about his confidence heading into the upcoming Section Championship at Toana Vista, Owen was optimistic. “I’m hoping this will carry over into next week. I love playing that championship.”

Owen also praised the conditions at Stonebridge Golf Club saying, “Stonebridge was in great shape, and the greens were really consistent. My driver was good, and I had a lot of scoring shots that I was able to convert.”

Looking ahead to the national stage, Owen expressed his excitement and determination. “I am looking forward to the Senior PNC. I’ve yet to play really well at that stage, but I’m hoping I can get it together this year.”

For Owen, this latest championship victory carries special meaning. “There are some great names on these championship trophies, and I feel really fortunate to have my name etched on that trophy as well. The Utah Section has many great players, and it’s always an accomplishment to come out on top.”

Alongside Owen, the top five finishers who also qualified for the national PPC included (photos below) Todd Tanner (-7), Ryan Rhees (-3), and host professional Clark Garso (-3). Following a playoff, Fred Nadeau, Scott Brandt, and Joe Summerhays secured alternate status.

Click here for the Utah PGA Senior Section Championship leaderboard.

Story and photos by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson.

As the final threesome approached Riverside Country Club’s 18th green Sunday afternoon, Derek Fribbs stood in the background. Just then, lightning flashed over the northwest section of the property.

One last thunderbolt was a reminder of what the Colorado pro did (again) in that corner of the course, explaining how he became one of the few double winners in the Utah Open’s modern history, joining Mike Reid, Clay Ogden and Nate Lashley.

“Something magical about Riverside,” Fribbs said, amid mini-tour travels that took him to Provo between stops in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and Grand Junction, Colorado.

That statement was doubly true Sunday, when Fribbs delivered a phenomenal stretch of golf on each nine. He played Nos. 2-7 in 7 under par and Nos. 13-15 in 5 under, making three eagles. Mix in a bogey on the par-4 No. 10, and the result is a competitive course record of 61, 11 under par.

This time, PGA Tour players Patrick Fishburn and Zac Blair were part of a leaderboard that served to validate Fribbs’ achievement and $22,000 check. Fribbs (70-66-61) finished at 19 under, two strokes ahead of Fishburn (69-64-66).

“I mean, that’s unbelievable playing,” Fishburn said, after having lost the competitive course record he shared with Jay Don Blake.

Due to wet conditions after multiple days of rain at Riverside, Sunday’s round was played with lift, clean and place provisions in the fairways. Even so, Fribbs’ performance was remarkable. Scores were low Sunday, but 64 was the next-best number.

Fishburn, then a BYU golfer, opened the 2016 Utah Open with a 62, the year before he won the tournament. Blake’s 62 came in stroke play in the 1980 State Amateur as a Utah State golfer. 

Blake was on site Sunday, having played all three rounds in preparation for his 500th career PGA Tour start in the Black Desert Championship in October.

On his way to a victory in 2021, Fribbs went 4-3-2 on Nos. 13-15 (a par-5, a short par-4, and another par-5). Then and now, he needed nine strokes on those holes. Asked if he had calculated his total, after going 3-3-3 this time, he joked, “That’s too much math for me.”

The other common theme? He used a 7-iron for his double eagle on No. 15 three years ago. The same club set up each of his three eagles Sunday.

Fishburn shot 63-64-63 to win by nine shots in 2017. His closing 66 would have been good enough Sunday, if not for Fribbs’ fireworks.

“Just couldn’t catch up,” said Fishburn, who was playing two groups behind Fribbs.

Fishburn went 5-3-5 on Nos. 13-15, with errant drives derailing him. “Those two 5s were kind of the killer,” he said.

He could take satisfaction in finishing second, adding $15,000 to his PGA Tour earnings of more than $1 million, with the eight FedExCup Fall events to come in his rookie year as he looks to secure a top-125 finish and a 2025 tour card. Having missed the Playoffs, he will next play in mid-September, partly explaining his motivation for playing in this tournament.

“Lots of reasons,” he said. “This is always a great tournament. Love the Utah Open. Love playing Riverside; lot of great memories here. I need some reps, for sure. And lots of great players. Guys come from all over the western United States to play in this thing, so it’s great competition.”

Fribbs is one of those travelers, another reminder of how many great golfers keep trying to make it in the game. With his 34th birthday approaching, he’ll continue pursuing PGA Tour qualifying in hopes of rising above the mini-tour level. Otherwise, he’ll look forward to a return to Riverside, having more reason to label it “one of my favorite places to play.”

Riverside teaching pro Matt Baird (69-68-67) tied for seventh overall with Blair and others and earned a $1,500 bonus as the low Utah Section PGA contestant. He finished two shots ahead of Braydon Swapp and Zach Johnson.

University of Utah golfer Brandon Robison (70-68-64) was the low amateur by one stroke over former BYU golfer David Timmins. Todd Tanner (70-70-71) won the Senior Sidebar by four shots over Dustin Volk.

Click here for the final round Utah Open leaderboard.

Utah Open final round recap written by Fairways Media senior writer Kurt Kragthorpe. Photography provided by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson.

Remarkably, 64 was the worst score that then-BYU golfer Patrick Fishburn posted in winning the 2017 Siegfried & Jensen Utah Open.

Seven years later, Fishburn is back at Riverside Country Country Club as a PGA Tour player, and a second-round 64 was good enough to get him into the lead.

Two questions remain in play after a Saturday of multiple weather-related stops and starts in Provo: What will it take to win this tournament? And when will it end?

Obviously, nobody’s going to touch Fishburn’s record 26-under-par total of 2017. Something better than Zac Blair’s (and playoff contestant Javier Barcos’) 15-under score of last August almost certainly will be required, though.

Fishburn is 11 under through 36 holes after his bogey-free round Saturday. He’s one stroke ahead of BYU’s Cole Ponich (67-67), who’s bidding to become the first golfer since Ed Kingsley in 1934 to win the Utah State Am and the Utah Open in the same year, and first-round leader Gavin Cohen (65-69) of Phoenix. California pro Josh Anderson is 9 under through 13 holes.

As for the timing of what promises to be a great finish, Sunday’s forecast is more promising than Saturday’s results, but the potential exists for more delays.

Saturday’s play was halted due to darkness.The round will resumed at 7 a.m. Sunday, then the 36-hole cut (to 60 players, plus ties) will be made and the final round will begin at 9:30.

Blair (70-66), who’s in contention at 8 under, was aware that earning last summer’s title would put him in an exclusive club of winners of both the Utah Open and the State Amateur. The only names he knew for sure, though? His father, Jimmy, and Fishburn, who followed him at Fremont High School and BYU.

Fishburn is trying to follow Blair’s example of winning the Utah Open as a PGA Tour player, having missed the FedExCup Playoffs. He’s in great position to keep his tour card for 2025, though, going into the fall portion of the schedule that starts in mid-September.

Fishburn made four birdies on each nine Saturday in what almost qualified as a classic Riverside round for an elite player, except that he parred the par-5 No. 5.

Blair’s six birdies included all four par-5s, but he made one bogey. BYU’s Zac Jones, himself a former State Am champion, birdied four of the last six holes to post a 67 and match Blair’s 8-under total.

As for the families in the field, playing together in the first rounds ultimately worked out well for the Ogden brothers and the Moody father-son duo. And the three Shelley brothers, playing separately,Jackson (67-73), Tyson (72-69) and Austin (73-72) all will advance to the final round.

Clay Ogden (67-70) is in line for another nice check in his annual tournament appearance, while amateur Cole Ogden (73-70) tied his brother Saturday and comfortably made the cut. PGA Head Professional Chris Moody of Riverside (75-69) rallied in the second round, although he couldn’t keep up with son Noah (74-67), a recent Timpanogos High School graduate.

Cooper Jones (67-72) joined his brother Zac in advancing to Sunday. PGA Tour veteran Jay Don Blake (69-72) also will play the final round.

The low Utah Section PGA contestant is Braydon Swapp (67-69), who finished first in that category in 2023. Todd Tanner (70-70) tops the Senior Sidebar competition.

Utah Open Day 2 recap written by Fairways Media senior writer Kurt Kragthorpe. Photos provided by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson.

With a birdie on any of the final three holes last August, Phoenix pro Gavin Cohen could have joined the epic playoff that PGA Tour veteran Zac Blair eventually won in the Siegfried & Jensen Utah Open.

Cohen left Riverside Country Club with a tie for third place and good feelings. “I’ve been looking forward to coming back ever since,” he said Friday, after taking the first-round lead in the 54-hole event with a 7-under-par 65 in Provo. “Riverside is such a beautiful venue … and it fits my eye.”

California pro Josh Anderson posted a bogey-free 66, while the group at 67 was big and diverse: Braydon Swapp, the Utah Section PGA’s two-time Assistant Player of the Year; State Amateur champion Cole Ponich of BYU; Skyline High School senior Jackson Shelley, one of three brothers who are inside the cut line; Peter Kim, a Skyline graduate who plays for BYU; State Amateur runner-up Cooper Jones, who will interrupt his BYU career for a church mission to Peru in September; and two-time champion Clay Ogden, who seemingly just shows up in this tournament every August and plays well.

Among other notable players, former BYU golfers Carson Lundell and Rhett Rasmussen each posted a 68 after tying for third last year. PGA Tour rookie Patrick Fishburn, another ex-Cougar and CBS Sports broadcaster Tony Romo, now a Utah Open regular, each shot a 69. 

So did 65-year-old Jay Don Blake, who made four straight birdies (Nos. 13-16) as he tunes up for his 500th career PGA Tour start in the Black Desert Championship in October. Blair made 16 pars and two birdies for a 70.

Cohen began his morning round on the back nine with what he labeled “a dream start” with five birdies in six holes. He bogeyed Nos. 17 and 18, but then made four birdies on the front nine.

“I honestly just felt super comfortable out there,” he said, “and felt like I had a nice couple of weeks of prep going into the event. I’ve been working on some mechanical stuff, especially with my putting so it was nice to see it (work) today.”

Shelley, Ponich and Jones each made eight birdies and three bogeys. Kim’s only bogey came on the par-4 No. 18, concluding his round. Ogden made the only eagle among players high on the leaderboard, with a “3” on No. 13 in the afternoon.

Swapp, who was the low Utah Section PGA contestant last year, leads Camron Saunders by one stroke in that competition within the tournament. Steve Schneiter’s 69 gives him a one-shot edge over Todd Tanner in the Senior Sidebar.

Click here for the 18-hole leaderboard from the Utah Open.

Utah Open opening round recap written by Fairways Media senior writer Kurt Kragthorpe. Photos by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson.

The inaugural Western Shootout was a dream years in the making, brought to life by the determination of its founder, Glenmoor Golf Club’s PGA Professional Darci Olsen and the collaborative spirit of fellow PGA Jr. League coaches. 

The concept of a multi state team competition had been percolating in Olsen’s mind for some time, but it wasn’t until a chance meeting at the PGA Merchandise show in February that the vision began to take shape. With enthusiastic support from Tara and Blake Isakson, Zach Abels, and CJ Schmid, the event quickly transitioned from idea to reality, attracting teams from Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Arizona.

The success of the inaugural Western Shootout held July 26-27th at Glenmoor and TalonsCove Golf Clubs was a testament to the power of teamwork and shared passion for junior golf by PGA Professionals, coaches, players and families. The event featured 17 teams and 88 players, ranging from 9 to 17 years old. The format, a two-person team competition, offered players an opportunity to compete in familiar PGA Jr. League style in a championship environment, something many might not experience beyond their home-state competition. 

The highlight of the weekend was the camaraderie among players, coaches, and parents, particularly during the western-themed dinner party that brought everyone together in a celebration of golf and friendship.

Hosting the final round at Talons Cove, with the support of General Manager Kareen Larson, added an extra layer of excitement to the event. Not only did it provide a preview for the upcoming state championship, but it also showcased the quality of Utah’s golf courses. The Glenmoor Golf Club teams dominated the competition, claiming victory in both the 17u and 13u divisions, with Canyon Springs from Idaho finishing as strong runners-up. The event’s success was evident not just in the competitive spirit, but in the joy and connections it fostered among participants.

Looking ahead, the Western Shootout is poised to become an annual tradition, with plans already in motion for next year. The vision is to expand the event’s reach, rotating through home courses in Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona, and beyond, thereby increasing the travel team schedule and providing more players with the chance to experience the thrill of championship golf. The ultimate goal is to create a network of events that align with the PGA Jr League’s mission to offer meaningful, competitive opportunities for young golfers.