News

New and Old Faces Crowned Champions at 2025 Winterchamps presented by Pizza Hut

Mia Cesarek Captures Women’s Winterchamps Title, Earns Epson Tour Exemption

Utah Tech University sophomore Mia Cesarek delivered a steady performance to claim her first Utah Golf Association championship title at the Women’s Winterchamps presented by Pizza Hut. With the victory, Cesarek secured a coveted sponsor exemption into the Epson Tour’s Copper Rock Championship in May—a career milestone that left her both thrilled and grateful.

“Oh, yeah, I mean, that’s amazing,” Cesarek said of the exemption. “Having both me and (Utah Tech teammate) Samantha [Phelan] make our debut in that event is awesome. I know our team is super excited for that opportunity. Also, knowing she’s going to be out there cheering me on and I’m out there cheering her on—that’s amazing.”

Utah Tech Sophomore Mia Cesarek is presented with an Epson Tour Copper Rock Championship exemption by the Copper Rock management and UGA’s Colin Clawson.

Cesarek led from start to finish in the two-day, modified Stableford format event. She opened with 42 points at Green Spring Golf Course, fueled by a stretch of five birdies in seven holes on the front nine. With top players chasing her, she carried a slim one-point lead into the final round at Copper Rock Golf Course.

“I was able to read and adapt to the weather,” Cesarek said of her opening round. “It was quite windy, so being able to adjust was important. Also, knowing when I could be aggressive and fire at pins helped me get good looks at birdie.”

On Sunday, Cesarek’s consistency paid off. She recorded 17 pars and one bogey, adding 35 points at Copper Rock for a tournament total of 77 points—just enough to edge out Phelan, the runner-up, by a single point.

“I try to stay off the scoreboard as much as I can,” Cesarek said of her final-round mindset. “I find myself psyching myself out if I look at it too much, so I just stick to my game plan—stick to my routine, every shot, every putt—despite where I might be in the tournament. That helps me in the long run.”

Phelan, who had already secured a Copper Rock sponsor exemption Epson Tour exemption earlier this month, finished second with 76 points. BYU’s Berlin Long, defending champion, carded  75-points, former Winterchamps champion Kelsey Chugg (74), and BYU commit Aadyn Long (69) rounded out the top five, with UVU freshman Lily Shin also finishing at 69 points.

Mia Cesarek made 17 pars and one bogey in the final round at Copper Rock Golf Course on Sunday.

Paired with Phelan, Chugg, and Long in the final round, Cesarek remained unaware of Long’s late charge. “I had no idea what Berlin was up to back there,” she admitted. “I heard she had been making some good putts, but I had no idea.”

Cesarek’s victory not only marks her first UGA title but also propels her onto the professional stage. With the Copper Rock Championship exemption, she’ll tee it up against rising stars aiming for LPGA status.

While her ultimate goal is to see how far golf can take her, Cesarek also has aspirations beyond the course. “I have hopes to go to law school after I graduate, but I do want to see how far golf can take me before I follow that dream,” she said.

For now, her focus is on the Trailblazers spring season and preparing for Copper Rock, where she’ll have the support of her Utah Tech teammates and the confidence gained from a Winterchamps win.

“Our short game facility at Black Desert Resort has been remarkable for us,” Cesarek said. “It’s helped every single one of us improve, and we’re definitely benefiting from it. We’re very lucky to be out there—they treat us great.”

Utah Tech’s Samantha Phelan claimed the runner-up spot, finishing just one point behind her teammate, Mia Cesarek.

As she sets her sights on Copper Rock, Cesarek knows her steady, consistent play will be key. “Copper Rock golf course gives me more opportunities to be aggressive. I can go driver a little bit harder and push myself down the fairways farther. It allows me to play more aggressive out there than at Green Spring, which is more of an accuracy course for me,” she explained.

With her breakout performance at Winterchamps, Cesarek has shown she’s ready to take her game to another level.

Harvey Rallies to Capture UGA Winterchamps Title in Dramatic Finish

In his Utah Golf Association championship debut, Las Vegas junior golfer Drake Harvey delivered a thrilling final-hole comeback to claim his first UGA championship title at the 2025 Winterchamps presented by Pizza Hut. The BYU commit, who started the day two points behind opening-round leader Noah Schone, surged to victory with a clutch birdie on the par-5 18th at Green Spring Golf Course, edging Schone by a single point.

Harvey’s steady two-day performance—47 points at Copper Rock Golf Course and 47 points at Green Spring—gave him a 94-point total in the modified Stableford format, enough to hold off Schone (93) and claim the title.

“I had no idea where Noah stood,” Harvey said of the final hole. “I thought I needed to finish with a birdie or eagle just to have a chance. Once I saw his reaction after he missed his birdie putt, I knew I needed to make mine. I didn’t know if it was to tie or win, but I knew I had to make it.”

Las Vegas junior golfer and BYU commit Drake Harvey claimed his first UGA championship title in his first attempt.

Harvey’s path to victory was anything but easy. Playing alongside Schone and University of Utah commit Lance Loughton in the final pairing, the trio exchanged the lead multiple times. Schone’s steady play kept him at the top, while Loughton remained in the hunt until the closing holes.

On the par-3 15th, Harvey’s aggressive approach 9-iron from 160 yards landed just a few feet right of the flag but “ripped” off the green into the water. He salvaged a bogey with a chip to tap-in range.

“I couldn’t be mad at that one,” Harvey said. “I flagged it and just got a bad break. But I went up there, chipped it to two inches, and tapped in. Then I made birdie on the next hole, which helped me bounce back.”

Harvey’s ability to recover from bogeys and remain composed proved decisive. Despite not checking the leaderboard throughout the round, he trusted his game plan.

“I try not to scoreboard watch. I didn’t even know where I stood,” he admitted. “I just stuck to my game plan and kept grinding. I played better today, even though I made a couple of bogeys from missed clubs. The front nine, I was hot—I could’ve shot 29 but ended up with a 31. I was cooking out there.”

Arriving at the 18th tee, Harvey still wasn’t sure where he stood, but he knew at least a birdie was essential. His chip shot for eagle on the par 5 settled three feet below the hole, setting up a left-center, firm putt. He drained it for the win.

Winterchamps runner-up Noah Schone (right) congratulates Drake Harvey on the 18th green at Green Spring GC.

Harvey’s birdie sealed the victory, with Schone finishing runner-up at 93 points. Peyton Hastings delivered the round of the tournament, carding a 6-under 66 at Green Spring, including a back-nine 29, to earn 51 points and finish third with 89 total points. Steele Dewald (88), Loughton (87), and Braydon Griffith (87) rounded out the top five.

The Winterchamps victory showcased Harvey’s talent and competitive fire, making him a player to watch as he prepares for the next stage of his golf career. Committed to BYU, Harvey is eager to join a program with a rich PGA TOUR legacy—and a strong family connection.

“There were a lot of factors that went into my decision, but BYU had something no other school had—my family,” Harvey said. “I wasn’t just saying yes to Coach (Bruce) Brockbank and Coach (Todd) Miller. I was saying yes to my three cousins, my brother, and my dad. There was no way I could say no to that.”

With Winterchamps in the books, Harvey’s schedule remains packed. He’ll head to Texas for the KJ Choi Foundation Junior Championship next week, with a full slate of national events lined up through the summer.

“It’s a pretty busy schedule,” he said. “I might have a week or two off this summer, but it’s mostly nonstop until the end of the school year.”

And while his eyes are set on future goals—including a potential run at the Utah State Amateur—his Winterchamps victory is a meaningful milestone.

“It feels good,” Harvey said. “There are some really good players in this field, and it’s nice to know I can compete with and beat these college players. This win gives me a lot of confidence moving forward.”

Overson Claims UGA Senior Winterchamps Title in Dominating Fashion

Battling through rain, wind, and cold in Thursday’s opening round of the Utah Golf Association’s Senior Winterchamps, Darrin Overson set the tone with a remarkable 41 Modified Stableford points at Green Spring Golf Course. The former Utah State Amateur champion’s commanding performance gave him a seven-point cushion heading into Friday’s final round at Copper Rock Golf Course—an advantage he would not relinquish.

The Senior Winterchamps title is Darrin Overson’s first UGA Senior crown in his rookie senior season.

“The weather was crazy,” Overson said of the opening round. “I just tried to hit solid shots, make a lot of pars, and aim for the center of greens.” His steady approach paid off, carding a 1-under-par 71 with four birdies against three bogeys. With the lead in hand, Overson played strategically at Copper Rock, knowing he only needed a steady round to secure the win. Despite a handful of bogeys, he maintained his lead, finishing with 33 points for a two-day total of 74 points to claim his first UGA senior championship title.

The victory caps an impressive early senior career for Overson, who turned 50 in October. Having already collected multiple top finishes in UGA Player Performance Ranking events, Overson’s win at Winterchamps solidified his place among the state’s elite senior golfers. “It’s fun to play in important UGA events,” Overson told Utah Golf Radio’s Paul Pugmire. “This is the first big UGA senior tournament I’ve played in, and it’s really cool to get the win.”

Mark Gardiner claimed his second UGA Super-Senior title following last year’s Stroke Play win.

In the Super-Senior Division, Mark Gardiner staged a final-round charge, starting two points behind the leaders but climbed the leader board with a 2-under 70. His round featured four birdies, 12 pars, and just two bogeys, earning him 42 Stableford points at Copper Rock and a seven-point win over Randy Hicken with a 75-point total. It marked Gardiner’s second UGA championship victory, adding to his 2024 Super-Senior title at the Utah Senior Stroke Play Championship.

As Legends Division Co-Champion with Michael Hacker, Kurt Berhisel (photo) has now won his seventh overall Senior Winterchamps trophy.

The Senior Winterchamps Legends Division saw a dramatic finish, with former UGA board member and president Kurt Bernhisel and Michael Hacker sharing co-champion honors. Bernhisel held a two-point lead entering the final round, but Hacker’s steady final round play at Copper Rock—posting 35 points for a 60-point total—pulled him even. The pair’s matching scores earned them a shared title, marking Bernhisel’s seventh career Winterchamps win across various senior age divisions.

The 2025 UGA Senior Winterchamps presented by Pizza Hut once again showcased the resilience and skill of Utah’s top senior golfers, with champions once again overcoming Winterchamps challenging weather conditions to claim their titles.

Click here for results in all UGA Winterchamps divisions.

Click here for results in all UGA Senior Winterchamps divisions.

2025 UGA Winterchamps feature written by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson. Photography provided by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson and Garrit Johnson.