At the prestigious and historic Hidden Valley Country Club, about 50 Nevada Golf Northern Region champions gathered for the inaugural Tournament of Champions. The event was a celebration of the 2026 season, the first played under the Nevada Golf banner.
As of Jan. 1, 2026, the Northern Nevada Golf Association and Southern Nevada Golf Association collaborated to form Nevada Golf, the official Allied Golf Association of the United States Golf Association.
The Tournament of Champions helped mark a successful first season. There was also a competition and read on for the winners of the 2026 Tournament of Champions.
“The 2026 Tournament of Champions is a culmination of a season-long, hard-earned effort by each individual player, whether it’s a team series or individual stroke play tournament player,” said Tim Matzke, Manager of Competitions, Nevada Golf, Northern Reigon. “It rewards the hard work, the dedication, and the commitment that they’ve not only given themselves, but our Nevada Golf association. It’s a fun time for everyone to enjoy at the end of the season. The 2026 Nevada Golf tournament season was definitely one for the ages. It was great to see everyone come together and really push the new Nevada Golf moving forward. And I believe it’s going to be a lot of fun in 2027 and we are already planning a big year.”
Moreno, Digiacinto, Atencio, Steverman, Benninghove And Elliott Win Titles In North’s 2026 Tourney of Champions
Erik Moreno (Men’s Scratch), Marco Digiacinto (Men’s Senior Scratch) and Christy Atencio (Women’s Gross) won titles in the North’s 2026 Tournament of Champions. Kyle Steverman (Net), Shaun Benninghove (Senior) and Lori Elliott (Women’s) earned net titles in the tournament held Oct. 26, 2026, at Hidden Valley Country Club.–by Bill Bowman
Men’s Scratch
Erik Moreno won the Men’s Scratch title in a scorecard playoff over John Weber.
Men’s Scratch
x-Erik Moreno, 75
John Weber, 75
Andy Hicks, 76
x-Won scorecard playoff
Men’s Senior Scratch
An even-par front nine–one birdie and one bogey–helped Marco Digiancinto post a two-stroke win in the Men’s Senior Scratch.
Men’s Senior Scratch
Marco Digiacinto, 74
David Hashimoto, 76
Michael Dillon, 80
Women’s Gross
A pair of birdies on the front nine helped Christy Atencio win the Women’s Gross title by one stroke.
It was Atencio’s first individual title of 2026 to go along with two team titles.
Women’s Gross
Christy Atencio, 78
Emily Byrne, 79
Hannah Serrano, 81
Men’s Net
Kyle Steverman played a five-hole stretch in five-under-par (a net eagle, a par, followed by three net birdies) in coasting to a seven-shot win in the Net Division.
Men’s Net
Kyle Steverman, 74
Arturo Estrada, 81
Douglas Rischbieter, 81
Men’s Senior Net
Four net birdies in a five-hole stretch helped Shaun Benninghove win the Men’s Senior Net title by two strokes.
Benninghove, who also added three straight net birdies on the back nine, won for the second time in 2026.
Men’s Senior Net
Shaun Benninghove, 70
John Gleave, 72
Freddy Molina, 76
Women’s Net
Lori Elliott put seven birdies on the scorecard (two natural and five net) in winning the Women’s Net crown.
Elliott now has a singles crown to go along with a two-person team title and a quad title.
Women’s Net
Lori Elliott, 74
Sue Oliver, 77
April Hackett, 78
2026 Tournament of Champions Gallery
- POY – Player of the Year
