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Annual Winterchamps Crowned Champions in all UGA Membership Divisions

The 2024 championship season for the Utah Golf Association kicked off in triumphant style as BYU-affiliated players dominated the annual Winterchamps competition across all divisions.

BYU redshirt, Tyson Shelley

BYU Sophomore, Berlin Long

Tyson Shelley and Berlin Long, both current players for BYU, claimed victory in the men’s and women’s divisions, while former BYU player Eric Rustand and BYU booster Ron Davis emerged as co-champions in the weather-shortened senior division.

Berlin Long, transitioning from junior to college golf, showcased consistency and skill over 36-holes of modified Stableford scoring format, March 16-17 at Sky Mountain Golf Course and Bloomington Country Club.

Reflecting on her performance, Long, a BYU sophomore said, “It’s been a big adjustment moving from junior golf to college golf. I’ve been grinding, made a swing change, just trying to get better.”

Berlin Long carded rounds of 45-43 points defeating runner-up & Cougar teammate Lily McCauley by 8-points.

Her focused approach paid off as she clinched the Women’s Winterchamps title with a total of 88 Stableford points. Long carded rounds of 45-43 points defeating runner-up and Cougar teammate Lily McCauley by 8-points. Utah Tech’s Jane Olsen (76-points) and juniors Ali Muhall and Kate Walker (74-points each) rounded out the top five players.

In the men’s division, Tyson Shelley displayed a stellar performance, scoring a total of 96 points with rounds of 67 and 68. Shelley’s course management and precise putting propelled him to victory, marking a return, of sorts, to competitive golf for the Cougar redshirt.

Tyson Shelley’s aggressive play paid dividends as he emerged as the Winterchamps champion.

“I’m happy to be out here playing competition golf again,” Shelley said. His aggressive play paid dividends as he emerged as the Winterchamps champion.

Despite adverse weather conditions leading to the cancellation of the opening round, the Senior division saw a thrilling conclusion with Eric Rustand and Ron Davis sharing the top spot.

Rustand, hailing from Tucson, Arizona, expressed his delight at the win, emphasizing the joy of hitting quality shots and sinking crucial putts. Davis, along with Rustand, showcased resilience and skill, culminating in a shared victory.

“It was fun to win,” Eric Rustand said. “This is a good event. It’s always fun to hit good shots and make a few putts. It’s always fun to be back in Utah.”

The Winterchamps Senior flight saw a thrilling conclusion with Eric Rustand and Ron Davis (photo) sharing the top spot.

No stranger to Utah golf, Rustand said, “It was fun to win. This is a good event. It’s always fun to hit good shots and make a few putts. It’s always fun to be back in Utah. Looking at the live scoring I knew I had to make birdie on my last hole (Par 5 4th hole) and kind of went for the green in two. I hit it into a short-sided bunker, played a really good bunker shot to about 12-feet and happened to roll it in. I missed a couple of points during the day that were certainly makable and would have made a difference but that one (at the last) was a big one for sure.”

Winterchamps Super-Senior Division champ, Rick Lloyd.

“It is always an honor to win a UGA championship,” claimed Super-Senior champ, Rick Lloyd. I plan my tournament schedule for the year around them. It is amazing how good the Super-Seniors are, there are a dozen or so players that can still score under par on a regular basis. You have to be on your game to compete and have a chance to win.” Lloyd carded 45 total points to best Jeff Powars by five points.

In the Legends division, Steve Smith emerged victorious with a standout performance, highlighting his consistency with the driver and short-iron shots as his key to victory. Smith’s win signified a return to form and a determination to continue competing in UGA senior events this season.

Winterchamps Legends Division winner, Steve Smith.

Click here for the final leaderboard of all Senior divisions.

Overall, the Winterchamps event was a testament to the strength of BYU golfers, earning the moniker “Coug Fest” on the Utah Golf Radio Podcast. With impressive performances across all divisions, the Winterchamps served as a thrilling start to the UGA championship season, setting the stage for further excitement and competition in the days ahead.

Click here to see the final leaderboard for all flights.

Click here to listen to the Utah Golf Radio Podcast champion’s interviews with host, Paul Pugmire.

Story and photos by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson & Garrit Johnson