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UGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year: Darrin Overson

Seven days before his first swing in a Utah Golf Association senior championship, Darrin Overson lost his biggest fan. And he found the purpose that carried him through that tournament and the rest of an outstanding season.

Overson’s 2025 story really begins in March, when his father, Don, died unexpectedly at age 73. His mother, Cori, persuaded him to play in the Winterchamps event. “You need to go,” she told him.

Overson won the 36-hole tournament to propel his UGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year (presented by Primo) season. Don’s funeral was held the next day.

“My dad loved watching me play golf,” Overson said recently. “I was just doing what I love to do, just thinking about all the things I learned from my dad. It was good to go and do what I thought my dad wanted me to do.”

Darrin Overson’s Senior PPR ranking includes five victories including 2025 Winterchamps and the Utah Senior Amateur.

Don Overson’s life story described him as “a passionate golfer (who) loved to watch, play and discuss the game, especially with his son Darrin.”

Even before turning 50, Darrin Overson was aware of his potential place in Utah golf history. As the champion of the 100th State Amateur in 1998 and the 31st Mid-Amateur in 2008, he could join Todd Barker in an exclusive club by someday winning the Senior State Amateur. No other golfer had claimed all three titles.

So as he stood on Bonneville Golf Course’s No. 17 green in August, holding the Senior State Amateur trophy, he was proud to be mentioned with Barker. Noting that Barker is in the Utah Golf Hall of Fame, Overson smiled as he said, “So, we’ll see what happens.”

Overson’s 2025 season also included qualifying for his first U.S. Senior Open.

Qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open was another highlight of Overson’s season, as several family members and friends followed him at Tthe Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After a rough start, he played solidly over the last 27 holes and enjoyed an experience that he labeled “definitely a dream.”

The rest of this decade will certainly be interesting, now that Overson has earned his first Senior Men’s Player of the Year award in dominating style. With five victories among his eight counting events, the Provo resident posted 465 points to 257.75 for runner-up Brigham Gibbs, who kept competing in the senior division after turning 60 in August 2024.

Darrin and Andrea Overson

Looking ahead to 2028, when Dan Horner (Overson’s partner in two Utah Four-Ball Championship victories) turns 50, is tantalizing. Kirk Siddens’ four Player of the Year titles hardly seems unreachable for Overson. No matter what happens, he’ll savor his competitive opportunities in the UGA.

“Turning 50 was not something I was looking forward to, right? It means you’re getting older,” Overson said. “But having an avenue, and a place to play with guys my age and see how I stack up, it’s been a really good year. It’s been fun.”

And he hopes other golfers will share his appreciation, adding, “I don’t think a lot of guys in Utah understand how good we have it.”

2025 UGA Player of the Year presented by Primo features are written by Fairways Media senior writer Kurt Kragthorpe. Photography by Fairways Media/Garrit Johnson and Randy Dodson.