Utah Mid-Amateur: Dallin Wheatley wins ‘from out of nowhere’

As the final round of the 39th Utah Mid-Amateur Championship unfolded June 4th at Valley View Golf Course, eventual champion Dallin Wheatley’s name was probably not on anyone’s mind as a likely winner.

That’s not a slight to Wheatley, considering his own view of himself in relation to some of those golfers ahead of him: Devin Andrews, who took a three-stroke lead after 36 holes. Home-course player Reed Nielsen, who won this event at Valley View in 2019. Former BYU star David Timmins, a reinstated amateur. Kenny Palmer, the recent playoff runner-up in the Salt Lake City Amateur. And three-time champion Dan Horner.

That’s quite a list, and Wheatley knew it. “Honestly, I never thought I would win,” he said. “I didn’t think my game was in a place for that, and there’s a lot of amazing players out here.”

Dallin Wheatley shot rounds of 68-72-66 at Valley View Golf Course to finish (-10) 206 to become the 39th Utah Mid-Amateur Championship’s winner.

Well, he became one of them Thursday, when Wheatley “kind of came out of nowhere,” said Luke Fratus, the Utah Golf Association’s Director, Championships & Golf Operations. That’s what a back-nine 31 will do for you. Wheatley’s run of six birdies over the last 11 holes gave him a 66 and a 10-under-par total for 54 holes. He finished one shot ahead of Timmins and two in front of Horner and Nielsen.

A shot back of Wheatley was runner-up, David Timmins.

As he awaited Fratus’ awards presentation, Wheatley called his wife, Oakley, and proudly declared that his name would be going on the permanent trophy. The reward is “a little piece of history that I’ll always be able to look at,” he said later.

Prior to Thursday, Wheatley was known mainly in Utah golf for making a hole-in-one against former Box Elder High School teammate Jacob Marx during a first-round loss in match play in last summer’s State Amateur at Logan Country Club. He did win the 2024 Salt Lake County Amateur, but acknowledged a “short history” of success: “This is definitely at the top.”

The 28-year-old Wheatley, who works for Zions Bank and lives in Plain City, qualified for his first Mid-Am appearance (for golfers 25 and older) at Eagle Mountain GC, his childhood course. He missed the cut in the State Am qualifier at the same venue the next day, but is now exempted into the field at Soldier Hollow in July.

He may not have believed that as of early Wednesday morning, when he couldn’t find his ball after his drive down the right side of the par-4 No. 10 and opened with a double bogey. Wheatley recovered by posting a 68, good for a six-way share of the lead. An afternoon 72 left him tied for ninth place, five shots behind Andrews, who would card a final-round 74. Andrews tied for fifth with Cooper Wayment and Cole Ogden, who closed with a 66.

After a birdie and a bogey on his first seven holes Thursday, Wheatley had lost ground. But then he got hot. His run of five back-nine birdies was highlighted by a putt on the par-3 No. 12 that was somewhere between the length estimates of fellow competitor Devin Tovey (50 feet) and Wheatley (“like, 120” feet). What’s indisputable is that Wheatley’s return to his “old, trusty” Scotty Cameron putter propelled him to this victory.

Three-time Utah Mid-Amateur champion and current UGA Board member Dan Horner tied for third place alongside former champion Reed Nielsen.

On the back nine, he kept telling himself just to make one more birdie, and he kept doing it. In the end, he stood above the No. 18 green and watched the lengthy tying, birdie attempts of Horner and Timmins run past the hole. He was thrilled to win, and he was a deserving champion. “It’s really cool,” Wheatley said, “to come out on top of a field like that.”

Former champion Reed Nielsen earned a T3 finish at (-8) 208.

LOW SENIOR

Mark Gardiner and Shane McMillan arrived in a tie for low senior honors from different directions. No playoff was staged, after Gardiner, the reigning UGA Super-Senior Player of the Year, and McMillan, a two-time Senior Men’s Player of the Year, posted 8-over-par totals.

Mark Gardiner (photo) and Shane McMillan tied for Low Senior honors.

Gardiner (73-71-80) eagled the par-4 No. 1 in each of Wednesday’s two rounds, holing shots from 100 and 64 yards, respectively. He steadied himself Thursday after a front-nine 42, before bogeying No. 18 and settling for the tie between the only senior golfers who made the 36-hole cut.

McMillan (75-74-75), playing almost an hour in front of Gardiner in the final round, was 1 under for the day through 14 holes but bogeyed No. 15 and triple-bogeyed No. 18.

Click here for complete final results.

39th Utah Mid-Amateur Championship feature written by Fairways Media senior writer Kurt Kragthorpe. Photography provided by Fairways Media’s Garrit Johnson.

Winning in Wendover: Utah Women’s Four-Ball Championship

The Utah Women’s Four-Ball Championship has a habit of coming down to one or two swings. This year, it came down to one birdie putt.

Kareen Larson (left) and Molly Steffes celebrate their victory at the 2026 Utah Women’s Four-Ball Championship at Toana Vista Golf Course.

Playing into a howling West Wendover wind on the 35th hole of the championship, Kareen Larson and Molly Steffes chose patience over power. Both players played conservative off the tee on Toana Vista Golf Course’s par 5 17th hole, laid up safely with their second shots and trusted their strategy.

Moments later, Steffes delivered the shot that ultimately won the championship.

Molly Steffes rolls in the tournament-winning birdie putt on the 35th hole at Toana Vista Golf Course.

From the fairway, Steffes knocked her approach close and converted the birdie, giving the duo a two shot swing over defending champion Nuny Khamken and new playing partner Amanda Henneman. One hole later, Larson-Steffes completed a final round 70 and a 36-hole total of 1-under par 143, good for a one stroke victory in the fourth Utah Golf Association women’s championship of the season.

For Larson, the victory added another chapter to one of the championship’s most successful partnerships. She previously won the title three times alongside Lila Galea’i. This time, Steffes joined the winner’s circle in just her second appearance at the championship after recently claiming her first individual UGA title at the Senior Women’s Stroke Play Championship.

What made the victory even sweeter was the way the pair learned from last year’s disappointment. In 2025, Larson-Steffes lost by a single shot after trouble on the 17th hole proved costly. This year they arrived with a different plan.

“We actually just decided to get it in the fairway,” Larson said. “We weren’t going for the green. We knew we could always make birdie from our third shot.”

That conservative approach proved decisive.

Amanda Henneman (left) and Nuny Khamken finished runner-up at the 2026 Utah Women’s Four-Ball Championship.

Meanwhile, Khamken and Henneman spent much of the final round applying pressure. The newly formed partnership looked comfortable from the opening hole despite having never played the championship together. Henneman, a relative newcomer to UGA women’s championships, fit seamlessly alongside the two-time defending champion.

The championship, presented by Pizza Hut, turned on a remarkable sequence of events at 17, the 35th hole of the tournament.

Knowing her team likely needed a birdie to win, Henneman stood in the left rough after a long drive, pulled her favorite club, a 3-wood, and took an aggressive line toward the green. Instead, her shot found the only obstacle in its path.

“I hit the only four inch obstacle in my way, head on,” Henneman said.

The ball struck a small tree standing alone a few yards ahead in the rough and ricocheted backward into the rocks. Khamken also found trouble on the hole before being forced to play sideways out of Toana Vista’s rocks hoping to get the ball back in the fairway. By the time Steffes’ birdie was on the card, Larson and Steffes had gained the advantage they needed to secure the championship.

Khamken and Henneman celebrate a birdie at Toana Vista Golf Course.

Khamken rolled in a birdie putt on the final hole to post a closing 70, but it left the defending champion one shot short.

Earlier in the round, the wind created one of the championship’s most memorable moments when Henneman watched a birdie putt on the 14th hole sit on the edge of the cup before a gust of wind rolled it into the hole. A post round video review by a UGA rules official confirmed the putt had not exceeded the allowable 10 second waiting period.

Larson (left) and Steffes read the final green moments before claiming the 2026 Utah Women’s Four-Ball title.

For Larson, the victory was her fourth Utah Women’s Four-Ball title, making her the championship’s most successful competitor. For Steffes, the victory added another chapter to a season already highlighted by her first individual UGA championship.

One birdie. One tree. One stroke. That was the difference in West Wendover.

Typical of the Utah Women’s Four-Ball Championship, winners, both gross and net, were recognized in four flights. Click here for the final championship leaderboard.

The 2026 Utah Women’s Four-Ball Championship tournament feature and photos provided by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson.

Bank of Utah Championship to award sponsor exemption to Utah State Amateur champion 

Media contacts:
BZA PR, Bank of Utah Championship, [email protected]
Mark Fredrickson, SnappConner PR for Bank of Utah, [email protected]
Easton Folster, Executive Director, Utah Golf Association, [email protected]

Bank of Utah Championship to award sponsor exemption to Utah State Amateur champion 

Bank of Utah and the Utah Golf Association announce a strategic statewide partnership as Bank of Utah becomes the “Official Banking Partner of the Utah Golf Association” 

Bank of Utah Championship to bring PGA TOUR stars to Black Desert Resort October 1-4 

IVINS, Utah (MAY 13, 2026) – The PGA TOUR’s Bank of Utah Championship announced today that the tournament will award a sponsor exemption to the winner of the Utah State Amateur Championship.

The announcement is part of a strategic statewide partnership between Bank of Utah and the Utah Golf Association that positions the bank as the “Official Banking Partner of the Utah Golf Association,” with the Bank of Utah Championship serving as a platform for elevating Utah golfers and the sport statewide.

The Bank of Utah Championship will bring the PGA TOUR’s stars to Black Desert Resort for the third straight year Oct. 1-4, 2026.

“Bank of Utah has always believed in the importance of investing in the people, organizations and experiences that help strengthen communities across our state,” said Branden Hansen, President of Bank of Utah. “As a Utah-founded community bank and statewide financial partner, this partnership with the Utah Golf Association and the Bank of Utah Championship reflects our commitment to  Utah golf at every level, from local players and historic championships to Utah’s opportunity to host an official PGA TOUR event at Black Desert Resort.”

The sentiment was echoed by the Utah Golf Association, which views the collaboration as a vital step for the sport’s regional growth.

“This partnership represents an exciting opportunity to continue elevating golf across Utah while creating stronger connections between our players, championships and the PGA TOUR stage,” said Easton Folster, Executive Director of the Utah Golf Association. “Bank of Utah shares our commitment to supporting Utah communities, honoring the traditions of the game, and investing in opportunities that help grow golf statewide.”

“Elevating Utah golf and creating pathways for our state’s best players to compete at the highest level is what Black Desert Resort and the Bank of Utah Championship are all about. Nothing excites us more than watching a homegrown champion step onto that stage and show the world what Utah golf is made of,” said Ashley Dove, Executive Director of the Bank of Utah Championship.

Qualifying rounds for the Utah State Amateur Championship — one of Utah’s most historic amateur golf championships  — begin statewide May 14. The championship will be held July 6-11 at Soldier Hollow Golf Course, with significant stakes as players compete for a spot in the Bank of Utah Championship.

Since its inception, the Bank of Utah Championship has supported Utah’s thriving golf community by extending sponsor exemptions to players with local ties. Bowen Mauss, the 2025 Utah State Amateur champion, and Preston Summerhays, the State Amateur winner in 2018 and 2019, played on sponsor exemptions in 2024 and 2025, respectively. This partnership further solidifies the tournament’s support of Utah talent.

In addition to the tournament exemption, Bank of Utah will become the presenting partner of the Utah Golf Association’s player recognition programs, including Champion of the Month and Player of the Week. These awards will highlight the achievements of local golfers all year long, allowing Bank of Utah and the Utah Golf Association to share the stories of talented players across the state.

About Bank of Utah

Founded in Ogden in 1952, Bank of Utah has been part of the state’s story for more than 70 years. We’ve supported small businesses and helped individuals and families build their futures in communities across Utah — from quiet mountain towns to thriving city centers. With 18 full-service branches, dedicated trust teams, and mortgage specialists throughout the state, Bank of Utah provides personal service and forward-thinking financial tools. The bank’s comprehensive offerings include business and personal banking, mortgage and commercial lending, personal and corporate trust services, and wealthmanagement and investment services.

Recognized as one of the Top 20 U.S. Community Banks of 2025 by S&P Global Market Intelligence and named Utah’s Best Bank by GOBankingRates in 2025, Bank of Utah blends local insight with award-winning strength. Whether it’s the little details in a banking experience or the big moments in life, Bank of Utah is here to help Utahns succeed. Our commitment is to remain strong, trustworthy, advanced, secure and appreciative — to work side by side with clients on their financial journeys, so they can confidently say: “This is my Utah. Bank of Utah is my bank.”  Learn more at bankofutah.com or call 801-409-5000.

About Utah Golf Association

The Utah Golf Association, the governing body of amateur golf in Utah, is a not-for-profit organization whose objective is to protect, grow and enhance the game of golf by providing golfers of all abilities and classifications the opportunity to play, serve and compete by way of a UGA membership. The UGA was officially incorporated in 1966, but its history dates back to 1899 when the very first Utah State Amateur Championship was held. The Utah State Amateur is proudly recognized as the “Oldest Continuously Held Golf Tournament in the World.”

More information about the Utah Golf Association can be found at UGA.org.

About Bank of Utah Championship at Black Desert Resort
Following its historic debut in 2024 — the first PGA TOUR event held in Utah in more than 60 years — the Bank of Utah Championship will return to Black Desert Resort in Southern Utah’s Greater Zion region Oct. 1-4. Tickets and VIP opportunities for the Bank of Utah Championship are officially on sale at www.bankofutahchampionship.com.

About Black Desert Resort

Set amidst the vermillion sandstone cliffs and striking black lava beds of Greater Zion, Black Desert Resort, is a premier destination for luxury hospitality, golf, and outdoor adventure. Anchored by a Tom Weiskopf-designed championship golf course, the resort is home to the PGA TOUR’s Bank of Utah Championship, the only Utah event on the TOUR. In addition, the Greater Zion Cup, a premier Carvana PPA Tour event, is held on the property’s newly designed championship pickleball courts. The Resort Center features 549 rooms and suites, seven dining venues, a 15,000-square-foot spa, state-of-the-art pickleball courts, a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, and 45,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. Expansion plans include additional pickleball courts, a water park, and more accommodations, dining, and entertainment options. Spanning over 600 acres, the resort offers access to 200+ acres of preserved land and six miles of hiking trails.

Reef Capital Partners is a vertically integrated real estate investment, development, and operations firm dedicated to enhancing communities through transformative and impactful projects across North America. Its portfolio includes marquee destinations such as Black Desert Resort, Marcella Club, Cornerstone Golf Club, Tributer Resort, Cormont, and Sweetens Cove. Learn more at www.reefcp.com.

Senior Stars Survive The Oaks Test in Senior Stroke Play Championships

The Oaks at Spanish Fork Golf Course does not hand out favors. The winds arrive early out of Spanish Fork Canyon and the greens get fast in a hurry. Then Utah Golf Association Rules Official Keith Hansen adds hole locations that force players to think through every shot. By the end of the 54 hole 2026 Utah Golf Association Senior and Senior Women’s Stroke Play Championships, patience and course knowledge had become just as important as ball striking.

When the final putts dropped Friday afternoon on May 8th, familiar names and experienced champions stood tall again. Darrin Overson captured his first UGA Senior Stroke Play Championship title after a two hole playoff victory over Utah Tech men’s golf coach Brad Sutterfield. Part-time Utah resident Molly Steffes claimed her first solo UGA title in the inaugural Senior Women’s Stroke Play Championship. Veteran senior player Randy Hicken added another Super Senior title to his decorated resume while former UGA President Bill Probst ran away from the field in Legends division by 12 shots.

Darrin Overson added the Utah Senior Stroke Play title to his win list that also includes the 2025 Senior State Amateur.

Overson and Sutterfield finished regulation tied at 3-over par 219 after three demanding days at The Oaks. Overson admitted the closing stretch tested every nerve in his game.

“Man, that was a struggle coming down the stretch,” Overson said. “I know I was nervous for sure.”

Overson battled through late three putts and difficult reads before steadying himself in the playoff. On the second playoff hole, the par 5 10th, he delivered the shot of the championship. After a long drive up the hill, Overson hit a 9 iron from 180 yards to 20 feet below the hole. Two putts later, he had the championship trophy in his hands.

“It feels really good,” Overson said. “It doesn’t feel good to shoot four over in the final round, but just to get it done feels great.”

The victory carried extra meaning after Overson let a similar opportunity slip away last season at Stonebridge Golf Club.

Overson praised the championship setup and the challenge presented by The Oaks.

“You definitely have to be on the right spot on the greens,” Overson said. “Keith definitely got out here early this morning and set some pins. He’s going to make you earn it.”

In the inaugural Senior Women’s Stroke Play Championship, Molly Steffes persevered through both the golf course and her own mental battle to earn her first solo UGA title. Steffes posted rounds of 81, 85 and 79 to finish at 26-over par 245.

TalonsCove GM Kareen Larson pointed the way for Senior Women’s Stroke Play champion Molley Steffes.

Using the phrase “the Y-word”, refusing to utter the word “yips”, Steffes spoke openly afterward about overcoming putting struggles that began during a past USGA Women’s Senior event.

“I battled the Y-word ever since,” Steffes said. “Today was my first round where I didn’t have to deal with that issue.”

Steffes credited friend and fellow competitor Kareen Larson for pushing her back into competition and helping her stay committed to the game.

“She signs me up for everything,” Steffes said with a laugh. “You need people like that.”

The championship also marked an emotional milestone.

What was she most happy with? “Probably persevering the last three years and not quitting golf. “This is kind of my first individual championship ever.”

In the Super Senior division, Randy Hicken once again proved why patience and experience matter in stroke play championship golf. Hicken finished at 2-over par 218 after rounds of 73, 72 and 73.

Hicken leaned heavily on his course knowledge at The Oaks, especially on holes where being above the hole almost guaranteed trouble.

“You have to be in the right position on this golf course,” Hicken said. “If you get above the hole in certain places here, you can’t stop the ball.”

Randy Hicken credited “course knowledge and patience” for his Super Senior win at The Oaks GC.

Hicken repeatedly chose conservative targets throughout the week and avoided the mistakes that caught others late in rounds.

“I think managing the golf course was what I was most proud of,” Hicken said. “Sometimes a good par is a really good score at The Oaks. No one is going to go super deep here”

The longtime Utah golf standout also made it clear how much he values 54-hole stroke play championships.

“I love three straight days of stroke play where you have to show up and play,” Hicken said. “You don’t get a break.”

The Legends division belonged to former UGA President Bill Probst, who finished at 19-over par 235 for a 12 shot victory.

Bill Probst put together a dominant win in the Legends division.

Probst credited improved putting and iron play for the dominant performance as he continues to manage physical challenges, including an upcoming back fusion surgery later this summer.

By the end of championship week at The Oaks, the leaderboard looked exactly like a Utah senior major championship leaderboard should look. Former champions rose to the top. Course management and patience mattered. Experience mattered. And with the UGA senior season now fully underway, the competition in every division already looks as deep and demanding as ever.

Click here for the complete leaderboard for all divisions from the Utah Senior & Senior Women’s Stroke Play championship presented by Primo.

2026 Utah Senior Stroke Play championship story and photos by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson and Garrit Johnson.

Kate Walker and Navy Hubbs add more UGA credentials

Stableford and steadiness. Those words define the UGA Women’s Spring Open story of the runaway champions, junior golf stars Kate Walker and Navy Hubbs.

Walker, especially, embraced the Team Stableford format as she and Hubbs posted 177 points to 142 for Molly Steffes-Corey Weworski, who had shared the 2025 title with Robin Krapfl-Marci Dubois. Walker, a Crimson Cliffs High School senior and reigning UGA Women’s Player of the Year, made 15 birdies and an eagle in two days at Green Spring GC and Copper Rock GC. She brought consistency to the final round, carding a stroke-play 68, while Hubbs was steady throughout the tournament.

2026 Women’s Spring Open champions, Navy Hubbs and Kate Walker.

Hubbs, a Salem Hills junior, also won the UGA Winterchamps Women’s title in March after taking the 2nd UGA Girls’ Junior State Amateur trophy last July.

Walker played spectacularly, posting eight birdies and an eagle at Green Spring (amid five double bogeys, the limit for any hole in the Team Stableford system that counts every score). She added seven birdies at Copper Rock, with three bogeys.

The tournament was “super great for me and for Navy,” Walker said. “I made a lot of putts and when one of us messed up, we would come through for one another. She was a great partner, and I am so glad we could pull off this win.”

Hubbs totaled nine birdies and an eagle in two days. She will play again in Hurricane in May, via the UGA’s exemption into the Epson Tour’s Copper Rock Championship.

Steffes-Weworski couldn’t quite match last April’s showing, while extending the trend of elite, out-of-state senior golfers contending in the Women’s Spring Open. Katelyn Day-Kyra Sponenburgh, former Westminster University teammates, finished third with 133 points.

Click here for the final leader board.

Tournament recap written by Fairways Media senior writer Kurt Kragthorpe. Photography by Fairways Media/Garrit Johnson.

Junior Star Claims Second UGA Championship at Winterchamps

Seventeen-year-old Navy Hubbs continues to add to an already impressive golf résumé.

The reigning 2025 UGA Utah Girls’ Junior State Amateur champion captured her second Utah Golf Association title in as many years, posting 76 Stableford points today to win the 36-hole Women’s Winterchamps presented by Pizza Hut.

2026 Women’s Winterchamps winner, Navy Hubbs.

Hubbs built her winning total with 43 points in the opening round at SunRiver Golf Club, then held steady with 33 points in the final round at Copper Rock Golf Course, a day when the desert winds proved to be a tough test.

“Yesterday was definitely easier,” Hubbs said. “The wind wasn’t really a factor and I made a lot of putts. Today was tougher, but I just focused on playing my knockdown shots and playing a little safer.”

In the end, Hubbs held off a strong group of collegiate players from Utah Tech. Trailblazer Jane Olson finished runner-up with 73 points, followed by Mia Cesarek (67 points) and Samantha Phelan (66 points). Utah Tech commit Kate Walker and Weber State’s Rachel Lillywhite shared fifth place at 63 points.

True to form for a championship round at Copper Rock, gusting winds reshuffled the scoring. Only two players in the field, Molli Mulhall and Kareen Larson, managed to post higher Stableford totals in the final round than they did in the calmer opening day at SunRiver.

Women’s Winterchamps winner Navy Hubbs will tee it up in this year’s Epson Tour Copper Rock Championship as the UGA’s exemption selection. Tournament Director Penny James-Garcia presented the exemption invitation following play.

For Hubbs, the victory adds another milestone to a rising career and provides a significant opportunity. Along with the UGA champion’s medal, she earned an exemption into the 2026 Epson Tour Copper Rock Championship, scheduled for May at Copper Rock.

“I didn’t even realize the winner got into that event,” Hubbs said. “When they told me, I was shocked. But it’s exciting to have the chance to play against those players and learn from them.”

Hubbs, a Boise State commit, said the early-season win provides a boost of confidence as she prepares for a busy year of high school, UGA women’s championships, and national junior events.

Hubbs won’t have long to enjoy the win, her junior year of high school golf, playing for Salem Hills, began the day following her win.

“It builds a lot of confidence,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting to come down and win, but it’s great to start the season this way.”

If the opening women’s championship of the UGA season is any indication, Hubbs’ name may appear in the record books more than once before her high school career is finished.

Click here for the UGA Women’s Winterchamps final leaderboard.

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

Liechty’s Record Run Headlines Winterchamps

The Utah Golf Association’s championship calendar opened in memorable fashion at the annual Winterchamps tournament presented by Pizza Hut, where Utah Tech freshman David Liechty delivered a performance that will be talked about in Utah golf circles for some time.

Liechty set the tone in Saturday’s opening round at Copper Rock Golf Club, carding a remarkable (-11) 61, the lowest competitive round ever recorded at the Hurricane layout. In the tournament’s Modified Stableford format, the round was even more remarkable. Liechty’s card featured nine birdies and an eagle, good for 58 points, establishing a new single-round points record in Winterchamps history.

David Liechty’s Winterchamps opening round at Copper Rock set new records to start the 2026 championship season.

“I bought a new putter two days ago,” Liechty said. “I just made everything I looked at. I think I had 11 putts on the front nine. If I was on the green, there was a pretty good chance it was going in.”

The putter? The same TaylorMade Spider model used by Scottie Scheffler, and for one unforgettable round in southern Utah, it looked just as effective in Liechty’s hands.

While the fireworks came on day one, the championship itself required a different kind of golf on Sunday at SunRiver Golf Club. Armed with a 8-point lead over Skyline High’s Austen Shelley, Liechty didn’t need another record round. He simply needed to manage the extremely windy conditions which caused a 45-minute delay to the shotgun start.

Sunday’s final round was played in punishing winds, and Liechty’s scorecard looked far different than the clean one he posted at Copper Rock. His final round 74 included three double bogeys and two bogeys, but his five birdies and the Stableford format softened the damage. His 38 points were enough to secure the title. His 98 total is just two points shy of Nick Killpack’s 100-points in 2009.

In his post tournament interview Liechty summed it up perfectly.

“I think the only way someone wins a tournament with three doubles is if it’s a Stableford tournament, if you shoot 61 the first day, and if it’s blowing 40 miles an hour,” he said. “And I got all three of those.”

Liechty credited a new putter for his success in capturing his first UGA championship title.

Even with the cushion from his opening round, the final round still required patience. A shaky start threatened to bring the field back into contention before Liechty steadied himself with a well-struck iron early in the round.

“I made a bogey and a double to start,” he said. “I knew it might get closer than I wanted. But I hit a really good shot on the third hole, a flighted four-iron straight into the wind to about 25 feet. That kind of settled me down.”

The victory marks Liechty’s first UGA championship title, a milestone moment and an impressive way to begin the 2026 UGA championship season.

“I love winning golf tournaments,” he said. “I’ve had a couple rough months where my swing hasn’t felt great, so to get a win means a lot. It tells me my game is trending in the right direction.”

Kenny Palmer turned in a strong two-day performance with 48 Stableford points at Copper Rock and 44 at SunRiver for a 92-point total, good for a runner-up finish.

Following Liechty at the top of the leaderboard were Kenny Palmer (92 points), Peyton Hastings (88), defending champion Drake Harvey (87), with Ben Wilson (86) rounding out the top five. Dan Horner’s (-5) 67 and 46 points was the low round, high points earner at SunRiver.

Click here for the UGA Winterchamps final round leaderboard.

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

New Records Set in Opening Round of Winterchamps at Copper Rock

Utah Tech freshman David Liechty wasted no time making history in the opening round of the 2026 Utah Golf Association’s 36-hole UGA Winterchamps tournament presented by Pizza Hut at Copper Rock Golf Club.

Liechty lit up the championship layout with a remarkable 11-under-par 61, establishing a new competitive course record while earning 58 Stableford points, the most ever recorded in a single round in Winterchamps history. His remarkable round set the tone for the opening day of one of the UGA’s most anticipated early-season amateur events.

Utah Tech Freshman, David Liechty

The Utah Tech standout carded 9 birdies, an eagle and 8 pars — a performance that will be difficult to chase down as the tournament continues Sunday at SunRiver Golf Club.

Anchored by a red‑hot putter, Liechty summarized the day simply: “I think I made 500 feet of putts today.”

The tone was set early after a bold equipment change. Coming off a “poor putting week” at last week’s Bandon Dunes Championship, Liechty put a new putter in the bag and saw immediate results.

“I hit 11 putts on my first nine holes. It was just kind of like, if I was on the green, I felt I was probably making it. That just helped my confidence a lot and  gave me a lot of momentum, and then I just kind of was riding the putter from there.”

Skyline High’s Austen Shelley is 8 points back of Liechty. Stockton Penman and Oscar Maxfield turned in 48 points a piece at Copper Rock and are tied for third with Kenny Palmer and Jackson Rhees.

Rounding out the top ten are Kaha’l’Olelo Helm and Luke Smith (T7 47 points) and Drew Wilson and Will Pederson (T9 46 points).

Navy Hubbs tees off on the 18th tee at SunRiver Golf Club in the opening round of UGA Women’s Winterchamps.

The women’s field opened the Winterchamps today at SunRiver Golf Club, with reigning UGA Utah Girls’ Junior Amateur champion Navy Hubbs turning in the day’s top performance. Hubbs posted a 2-under 70 in stroke play, good for 43 Stableford points and a three-point lead over Utah Tech’s Jane Olson.

Utah Tech commit Kate Walker (39 points) and current Trailblazer teammates Mia Cesarek (38 points) and Samantha Phelan (36 points) round out the top five on the leaderboard.

Click here for all UGA Winterchamps division leaderboards.

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

Labrum Leads Trio of Winners at UGA Senior Winterchamps

With ideal tournament weather greeting players at Copper Rock Golf Course for the final round of the UGA Senior Winterchamps presented by Pizza Hut, Justin Labrum (Senior), Ron Davis (Super-Senior), and Steve Smith (Legends) claimed the first champions’ medals of the 2026 Utah Golf Association championship season.

For Labrum, the victory marked a memorable breakthrough in his first senior division appearance in the event and an early highlight in what is still a relatively new chapter of his competitive golf career after turning 50 last year.

“I love playing and I love competing,” Labrum said. “I’ve played UGA tournaments on and off for about 25 years and never really won much. I’m probably too competitive, honestly, so it feels really good to finally get one.”

Labrum’s win came on the heels of winning the Coral Canyon Senior Amateur a few weeks earlier.

2026 Senior Winterchamps winner, Justin Labrum

Labrum said his recent form has been fueled by consistent practice and a renewed enthusiasm for the game, often spending evenings working on his swing at Impact Golf alongside instructor Derek Fox and practicing with his son.

“We get in there at night and hit balls quite a bit,” he said. “My son’s been working on his game too, so we go together and practice. That’s really helped keep the fire going.”

His winning performance at Copper Rock was built on steady play off the tee and a reliable putter on greens that proved challenging throughout the final round.

“I think the strongest parts of my game lately have been my driving and my putter,” Labrum said. “I hit the ball pretty well off the tee, and the putter saved me a few times today. These greens were firm and tricky, so making some putts really helped.”

Labrum, who lives in Draper and often plays public courses throughout the Salt Lake Valley, said the competition in Utah’s senior ranks has quickly earned his respect.

“You think there are a lot of good players before you turn 50, but there are still a ton of good players after 50,” he said. “A lot of guys out here hit the ball really good. You’ve got to play well just to have a chance.”

While he plans to continue competing in both senior amateur events this season, Labrum said the biggest reward has been sharing the experience with family. His son served as his caddie during the final round at Copper Rock.

“It’s really fun to have him out there,” Labrum said. “He read a few putts and just keeps it fun. That’s what makes it special.”

With the Senior Winterchamps now complete, the Utah Golf Association’s 2026 championship season is officially underway, with players across all divisions turning their attention to the full slate of state amateur championships scheduled throughout the spring and summer.

Click here for UGA Senior Winterchamps leaderboard for all divisions.

Story and photo by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson

Schantzenbach Leads with more Familiar Utah Senior Names One Point Back

The 2026 championship season for the Utah Golf Association opened Thursday under sunny southern Utah skies, and when the final Stableford points were tallied at SunRiver Golf Club, it was Draper’s Dale Schantzenbach sitting atop the leaderboard.

Dale Schantzenbach

Schantzenbach pieced together a steady round of two birdies, four bogeys and a dozen pars to post 36 Stableford points and take a one-point lead after the opening round of the UGA Senior Winterchamps.

Trailing by a single point in the tightly packed Senior division are familiar names on the Utah amateur scene — John Owen, Shane Flowers and Steve Maxwell — setting up what promises to be a compelling final round Friday at Copper Rock Golf Club.

John Owen

For Schantzenbach, the key was keeping things simple on a golf course he barely knew.

Schantenbach who mainly plays Salt Lake courses said, “I don’t really know the golf courses down here so my whole thought today was just to do the simple things and try to keep the ball in play. That’s pretty much what I focused on and not overthinking anything.”

Shane Flowers

That approach worked perfectly in the Stableford format, where consistency can beat heroics. Schantzenbach avoided big mistakes and kept points flowing with a steady string of pars.

Schantzenbach arrived in St. George with momentum after playing and winning a tournament the previous week with his brother in Moab — an experience he believes helped carry positive energy into the opening round. Schantzenbach lived in Moab for over a dozen years before moving north.

“I got to play last week in a tournament with my brother down in Moab,” he said. “It was great weather, and I hit the ball pretty well. I just tried to bring that same feeling here today.”

That laid-back mindset served him well throughout the round, especially since he resisted the urge to check the leaderboard until the day was over.

“I didn’t look at the leaderboard all day,” he said. “When we finished, I checked my phone in the parking lot and was pretty shocked to see I had the lead. I knew I wasn’t playing bad, but I didn’t think I was doing anything great either.”

Steve Maxwell

Despite decades of golf experience, Schantzenbach admits he hasn’t yet claimed a major tournament victory — something that could change if he holds off a deep field Friday.

“My biggest win?” he laughed. “Honestly, it might have been last weekend playing a scramble with my brother.”

Still, he embraces the opportunity.

“I’ve had leads before, but not really in something like this,” he said. “But I’ve played a lot of golf over the last 20 or 25 years, and I think I’m comfortable being uncomfortable. Everybody gets uncomfortable at some point.”

Ron Davis posted 43 Stableford points to take a three-point lead over Mark Gardiner in the Super-Senior division.

In the Legends division, Mike Hacker leads with 45 points, holding a one-point advantage over Bill Probst and Steven Smith heading into the final round.

All divisions will conclude Friday at Copper Rock Golf Club, where Schantzenbach will attempt to protect his narrow lead — on another course he has never played.

“I haven’t played Copper Rock before,” he said. “But honestly, I didn’t really remember SunRiver either, so it’s kind of the same deal.I’m just going to approach it the same way,” he said. “Sometimes it’s great not knowing anything. You just go play.”

Click here for UGA Senior Winterchamps opening round leaderboard.

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