LAS VEGAS, NV (Feb. 10, 2025)–Craig Erickson (Championship), Rick Sepp (Senior), David Curley (Silver) and Renee Rocco (Women’s) won gross titles in the 2025 Tournament of Champions. Bryan Carlon (Net), Dave Lewis (Senior), Terry Martin (Silver) and Ashley Vaughn (Women’s) won net titles at the tournament which was held Feb. 10, 2025, at DragonRidge Country Club.–by Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff
Championship
Craig Erickson opened with three straight birdies and told the rest of the field to catch him if they can.
They didn’t as Erickson won by two strokes. Erickson won twice in 2024 including the Tournament of Champions.
Along with his three straight birdies to open the round, he also added three birdies in a four-hole stretch later in the round.
“I was hitting it really well,” Erickson said. “I got a couple of breaks early where shots wound up rolling down near the pin and I had three short putts to start the day.”
He added winning this event is a great way to start the year.
“I love the one-day events,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t have to come back and defend my score the second day.”
He said the course added to the challenge.
“DragonRidge is a great course,” he said. “The greens were so good and there’s a lot of danger out there. It’s a treat playing out there.”
Championship
Craig Erickson, 71
Grant McKay, 73
Preston Harris, 75
Net
Bryan Carlon recorded seven birdies (two natural and five net) in winning the Net Division in a scorecard playoff.
Carlon’s lone win of 2024 was a major, the Net Division of the Southern Nevada Amateur.
“It wasn’t a bad day,” Carlon said. “I did have a couple of doubles but overall I minimized the big numbers.”
Standing on the tee of his final hole, he knew exactly where he stood.
“I said…OK, tell me where I’m at,” he said. “They said I was one back. I knew I probably had to make a par, net birdie, to have a chance and then hope something good happens. I executed exactly what I wanted to do and it all worked out.”
He said the win has his confidence soaring.
“Hopefully I win more than one this year,” he said. “I want to win a bunch. My irons and putting really kept me going today. The greens were fast and you had to be careful. I made a couple of long ones and those kept me in it.”
Net
x-Bryan Carlon, 72
Doug Shrader, 72
Chris Kanthak, 73
x-won in scorecard playoff
Senior
Rick Sepp put six birdies on the scorecard in winning the Senior Division by four strokes.
Sepp won twice in 2024 as he overcame a three-year winless drought.
“I had never played the golf course before so I just tried to play steady,” he said. “I hit the ball pretty well and hit it close. I had a couple of lucky breaks. Add it all together and it was a solid round.”
Sepp said not knowing the course was a challenge.
“I had a couple of situations where not having played before came into play,” he said. “I thought I hit good shots into two greens but I ended up on the top tier and it was impossible to get the ball close. I ended up three-putting those two holes.”
Despite those two mis-steps, he’s happy with where his game is at.
“I’ve been putting in some hard work,” Sepp said. “I’ve been working on my putter and I picked up a new driver. It’s maybe my fourth or fifth round with it but I’ve been hitting it pretty well.”
Senior
Rick Sepp, 70
Todd Roberts, 74
Brian Hurlburt, 76
Senior Net
Dave Lewis birdied four holes in a six-hole stretch (two natural and two net) in winning the Senior Net crown.
“It seemed like everyone else was struggling a little more than me,” he said. “I just tried to keep it in play and make some putts. It was that simple.”
He added his play was solid…with one exception.
“I hit it out of bounds on 18,” he said. “But overall I just played steady and made a lot of pars. If a birdie fell in, it fell in. I just tried to be competitive and play smart.”
A putt on No. 11 was one that was key.
“I made about a 40-foot putt and that was a bonus,” he said. “The greens were fast and a challenge to read and I didn’t have any three-putts so that was good.”
Senior Net
Dave Lewis, 71
Mike Ramoser, 74
Greg Pyszko, 74
Silver
David Curley won in a scorecard playoff to earn the Silver crown.
Curley played the back nine in two-under-par to help get in the winner’s circle.
Curley credited Jeffrey English for his great start.
“I had about a 28-footer for birdie on our first hole (the 16th),” Curley said. “Jeffrey was a little further away and gave me a great read with his putt and I knocked it right in. It was a great start.”
He said his goal was simple: “I just tried to keep it in front of me,” he said. “Then it was to hit greens and if it gets close, it gets close.”
Curley added the course was a definite challenge.
“DragonRidge is a real field-separator,” he said. “You have to golf your ball to score. And you’ve got to stay out of trouble. I don’t hit it 250-260 anymore so keeping it in play is crucial.”
Silver
x-David Curley, 72
John Steele, 73
David Foggia, 74
x-won scorecard playoff
Silver Net
Terry Martin had three birdies on the front nine and added a net eagle on the back nine in winning the Silver Net title.
“I played very well,” Martin said. “I kept the ball in play and made some putts. The greens were tricky but it turns out it was one of my best rounds of the year.”
He said part of the reason for his success is a new attitude…and body.
“One of the things I’ve done in the last six months is I’ve gone on a new fitness regime,” he said. “I’ve lost 75 pounds and got in better shape and that’s made all the hard work pay off.”
And he won by playing smart.
“I just kept hitting the ball in the right spot on the greens,” he said. “I made three or four nice birdie putts and it all paid off. It was a great time to play one of my best rounds.”
Silver Net
Terry Martin, 70
Mike Rechcygiel, 72
William Day, 73
Women’s
Renee Rocco overcame a triple-bogey on her 13th hole and held on to win the women’s gross crown.
Rocco teamed up with Ronda Henderson, Sherry Jackson and Brenda Knott to win the gross title at the 2024 Nevada State Women’s Quad Championship.
This time it’s an individual title in women’s play as she also has a pair of wins in SNGA net play events.
“It was a good day out there,” she said. “I played pretty solid. It’s a tough course and there are a lot of holes where you’ve got to play target golf. I’m used to hitting my driver off every tee and I think I only hit four drivers today.”
There was a good reason she didn’t take the driver out of the bag very often.
“There are a lot of arroyos and places you don’t want to be so you’ve got to play smart,” she said.
She added her main goal was to play solid.
“I came out with the mindset to just play good golf and I did that for 17 holes,” she said. “But after the bad hole (the 7th on the course) I came back and played pretty well. Luckily it held up.”
Women’s
Renee Rocco, 78
Ronda Henderson, 79
Brittany Bronson, 80
Women’s Net
Ashley Vaughn used a net eagle and back-to-back net birdies to win the women’s net division.
Vaughn won the 2024 Mid-Amateur gross title last April for her first victory.
“It was all putter today,” Vaughn said. “I’ve had the same putter for 25 years. My dad bought me the putter from a bargain bin and I just keep changing the grip.”
She said the putter just keeps doing its job.
“The greens were challenging today so I was happy to sink a couple of putts,” she said. “I was thankful when they went in. I took them and ran to the next tee.”
She said the Tournament of Champions is a great event to start the year.
“It was my first time at this ceremony and it was wonderful,” she said. “It was a great day and they did an amazing job putting the event on. It was very special.”
Women’s Net
Ashley Vaughn, 71
Christina Brandt, 75
Regina Quintero, 78
