LAS VEGAS (Oct. 16, 2026)—Brady Exber (Senior) and Chris Cookson (Silver) won gross titles in the 2026 Clark County Amateur. Paul Sansone (Senior) and Barry Boudreaux (Silver) claimed net titles in Nevada Golf Southern Region’s final major of the year. The tournament was held Oct. 15-16, 2026, at Boulder Creek Golf Club.–by Bill Bowman
Senior
Brady Exber carded a four-birdie, no-bogey second round and rallied to win the Senior Division by one stroke.
It was Exber’s first individual Nevada Golf Southern Region title since 2023.
Exber said after he struggled to an opening round four-over 76, winning the tournament never entered his mind.
“Not at all,” Exber said. “I played so poorly yesterday and putted poorly. I just wanted to come out today and play better.”
He said the start of his second round gave him hope to at least have a solid day.
“I wasn’t looking at the scores at all,” he said. “I was so far behind that I just tried to play the best round I could. I made the turn at one-under (for the day) and thought if I could get back to even-par (for the tournament) that would be a good goal to have. I wasn’t sure even that would be good enough to win.”
On the back nine, Exber posted three birdies in a four-hole stretch and did get back to even-par for the tournament.
“On 11, a par-5, I was on in two and two-putted for birdie,” he said. “Then on the long par-3, I had a nice two-putt for par that kind of keeps the round going. On 13, I hit my approach to about four feet and made that one. On the 14th, another par-5, I was just short of the green in two and hit a very average chip but made the 10-footer for birdie.”
Exber said winning a major is always nice but added every win is special.
“You never know when it will be your last one,” he said. “I haven’t won for a few years so it’s nice to win and shoot a good score. Plus, I beat my age by a couple so that was nice.”
Senior
Brady Exber, 76-68—144
Jim Stritchko, 71-74—145
James Corey, 72-74—146
Senior Net
Paul Sansone birdied the final three holes of the final round–two net and one natural–in posting a three-shot win in the Senior Net Division.
Sansone won his first individual title since 2022 but he did win earlier in 2026, teaming with Jack Kalmanson to win the Net title in the 2026 Southern Region Tour Four-Ball tournament.
“I played really well,” Sansone said. “I’m a good wind player. It’s a strength for me. I’m not sure why but I can always play pretty well in the wind working the ball one way or the other.”
Sansone added getting back in the winner’s circle is good for the confidence.
“To win once win again is great,” he said. “Now I can go back and hopefully do it again. This win inspires me to hopefully parlay off this one.”
Sansone said winning a major is impressive…but that wasn’t his main takeaway.
“Winning a major is great,” he said. “But just winning again makes me happy.”
Senior Net
Paul Sansone, 72-69—141
Joel Panning, 73-71—144
Freddie Sarno, 74-72—146
Silver
Chris Cookson put four birdies on his scorecard over a six-hole stretch in the first round and breezed to an 11-shot win in the Silver Division.
It was Cookson’s sixth win of the season.
“Wow…this was some kind of two days,” Cookson said. “This was flat-out as good as I can play. I’m kind of flummoxed myself as to how I shot these scores.”
Cookson, who just returned on Saturday from his annual five-month jaunt to Wyoming where he has a summer home, said winning at Boulder Creek is always a challenge.
“There’s a lot of trouble out here that can sneak up on you,” he said. “I just tried to stay focused and stuck to my game-plan. I didn’t get ahead of myself.”
He also kept the pressure on after his first-round 68 with a second-round 65 that included a pair of eagles.
“It was just my day…my week,” Cookson said. “I hit a lot of three-woods off the tees because the fairways were fast and firm and that paid off. And my putting, which had been really good for the last eight or nine months, was really good these two days.”
Cookson added the majors bring out the best.
“The fields are always impressive in these events,” he said. “To come out on top…I’m very appreciative.”
Silver
Chris Cookson, 68-65—133
John Turk, 75-69—144
Steven Fink, 70-75—145
Silver Net
Barry Boudreaux posted a net eagle in the final round en route to winning the Silver Net title in a scorecard playoff.
But, it was a final-hole net birdie that got Boudreaux into the scorecard playoff as he won for the second time in 2026.
“I’m really surprised,” Boudreaux said. “When I turned in my scorecard I was told I was in sixth or seventh place and I thought that was pretty good. Then I got home when you were calling and I hadn’t seen the scores so this is great.”
Boudreaux added his back nine in the final round–a one-under-par 35 gross score–boosted his confidence.
“This round just shows me I need to keep doing what I’m doing,” he said. “I was quick to recognize what I wasn’t doing yesterday and that was finishing the round. Today was a different story. I actually shot under-par gross on the back and given the wind, that was quite an accomplishment.”
He said winning a major is impressive but he doesn’t treat these tournaments differently.
“To me, it’s a two-day tournament,” he said. “Majors are important because there are more points and they are more prestigious but there’s no more pressure for me. I’m just out there hitting a golf shot…and then hitting the next golf shot.”
Silver Net
x-Barry Boudreaux, 76-70—146
Brent Bingham, 72-74—146
George Yocum, 71-75—146
x-Won in scorecard playoff
