LAS VEGAS (March 8, 2026)–Matt Mitchell (Championship), Edward Fryatt (Senior) and Chris Cookson (Silver) won gross titles in the 2026 SNGA Championship, the first major of 2026 in the Nevada Golf Southern Regional. Joseph Noya (Net), Artie Miller (Senior) and Walter Sabati (Silver) won net titles in the tournament held March 7-8, 2026, at Highland Falls and Palm Valley golf clubs.--by Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider
Championship
Matt Mitchell, who won six times in 2025, won for the first time in 2026 as he rode a sizzling eight-hole stretch to victory.
Mitchell works in the gaming industry after graduating from UNLV in 2022 where he played baseball for four years.
Mitchell started the final round two shots off the lead and bogeyed his first hole in the final round.
He ran off six birdies–along with two pars–to close out his front nine en route to the victory.
“I’ve been looking forward to this tournament,” Mitchell said. “I’ve never won it before and never really played that well. It’s great to win a tournament with this impressive of a field.”
Mitchell said trailing after the first round was a disappointment.
“I played pretty well,” he said. “It was tough. It was windy and the course is tough. I had it going pretty well and then lost it on the putting. I had a four-putt and a three-putt that screwed up a pretty good round.”
And the final round didn’t start off well.
“No. 1 is probably one of the easiest holes in Vegas,” Mitchell said. “And I go out and bogey it. That was frustrating.”
But he rebounded…and quickly. He ran off his birdie barrage the rest of the front nine to take the lead for good.
“I figured I was down four or five shots after the bogey,” he said. “But I knew there was a lot of time left. I just tried to hit my approach shots close and I did. I also made a lot of putts that got my confidence going.”
Championship
Matt Mitchell, 72-64—136
Harrison Hashimoto, 71-67—138
Nick Horodesky, 73-66—139
Net
There’s something about Joseph Noya and SNGA majors.
Noya won his third individual SNGA crown with a two-shot win in the Net Division. It was his third major victory and second SNGA Championship as he also won this tournament two years ago.
“The majors really make you bring out your best,” Noya said. “People tend to get a little nervy knowing that it’s a major and there’s a lot on the line. I just concentrated a little more knowing that every shot is important and it all worked out.”
Noya said Saturday’s round proved to be the difference for him.
“On the front nine there were 40 mph winds and it was tough,” he said. “I grinded out a 39 on the front and that really got me in a good frame of mind.”
He also said his ability to not blow up on a hole has also been a positive part of his game.
“Even when I lose my swing a little, I usually don’t get more than a double bogey,” he said. “And when I did double bogey this weekend I was able to come back with a birdie or a par and get back on track. Some others can take a six, seven or an eight and I don’t usually do that. That’s my superpower.”
He said the win, with it being a major, has him optimistic going forward in 2026.
“I’m trending in the right direction,” he said. “There was a lot on the line and I just played solid golf.”
Net
Joseph Noya, 72-71—143
Noah Parker, 74-71—145
Aaron Bartels, 74-72—146
Senior
Edward Fryatt put back-to-back birdies on the scorecard at the turn in the final round in winning the Senior crown.
It was Fryatt’s second straight tournament win.
For the two days, Fryatt put three birdies, three bogeys and 29 pars on the scorecard. That adds up to 35 holes as Fryatt double bogeyed the final hole and had to hold on for the win.
“Fortunately for me, the double didn’t cost me,” Fryatt said. “I’d rather try to find the positives in the two rounds.”
Fryatt said it was a solid two days…except on the greens.
“I had a ton of chances today that would have made things a lot easier,” he said. “I birdied 10 and 11 and then had chances on 12, 13, 14 and 15 and just couldn’t get another one to go.”
But he said getting the birdie putts was a positive.
“I haven’t been able to put in as much time as I would like on my game,” he said. “And with that comes the fact that something has to give and it’s been the putting. I’ll take some time and work on it. It’s good that I’m giving myself good looks. Now I just have to capitalize on them a little more.”
He said his double bogey finish doesn’t dampen the fact he had a solid two rounds.
“I’m not going to put too much stock into it,” he said. “It wasn’t a hard third shot but it was sitting a little funny and I got it a touch heavy and chunked it into the water. It kind of came out of nowhere because I had been playing nicely.”
Fryatt said that in the end, the two days of competition was invigorating and winning a major never gets old.
“I had the feel of the vibe of chasing the lead and also of being in the lead,” he said. “It was a great two days and great to win a major…but there’s still work to be done.”
Senior
Edward Fryatt, 73-73—146
Robert Futrell, 75-72—147
Todd Roberts, 75-72—147
Senior Net
Artie Miller won for the first time in two seasons, birdieing two of the final three holes to clinch the Senior Net title.
Miller won the first two events of 2024 as well as the 2024 season finale for a three-win season.
He said it’s good to be back in the winner’s circle.
“It feels really good to win again,” he said. “I hadn’t been playing that well the last few months and yesterday I just kind of hung in there. Today, I shot 75 which is really good for me. It felt great.”
He said his 75 came because of a simple combination.
“Today, my ball-striking and chipping were a lot better,” he said. “I was in or near the fairway both days and hit a lot of greens so it was just a solid two days.”
He said winning his first major is exciting.
“You only get a few chances to win one of those cups and to be able to take advantage and win one is great,” he said.
He hopes it’s not his only major.
“I’ve been playing in just about every event the last three or four years and my goal was to win a major,” he said. “It’s very satisfying. But, I’m not going to lie…just because I have one doesn’t mean I don’t want another.”
Senior Net
Artie Miller, 77-71—148
Jim LiCausi, 76-73—149
Brian Freymueller, 73-78—151
Silver
Chris Cookson won for the third time in 2026 and the second tournament in a row at the Golf Summerlin courses.
Cookson birdied three of his first four holes in the final round and wound up with a three-shot win.
“Everything in my game is in a good place right now,” Cookson said. “My ball-striking is good…but not great. But my short game and putting have made all the difference in the world.”
Cookson said the surprising part of his game has been his putting.
“I’m putting so much better and that’s taking the pressure off the rest of my game,” he said. “Now, I know if I don’t hit a great chip I can make up for it with the way I’m putting. Even if I didn’t make some putts, I read them well and hit them well and that’s all I can do.”
He added that winning a major is everyone’s goal.
“This one was circled on my calendar,” he said. “I’ve got a limited number of starts as we will be going to Wyoming for five months starting in early May. This one was my only major so I was really focused. I’m super-pleased to win.”
Silver
Chris Cookson, 68-68—136
Steve McPherson, 70-69—139
John Steele, 73-68—141
Silver Net
Walter Sabati put two net eagles on the scorecard in the final round and won for the first time in 2026 after posting a team win in 2025.
It was Sabati’s first individual title since 2019 but it was his second major as he has previously won the City Am.
“It’s been a long, long time,” Sabati said. “It’s unreal to win.”
He said getting back in the winner’s circle was a shock.
“Better call the EMT’s to revive me,” he said with a laugh. “The last couple of years I’ve been struggling with my back and now it’s getting better each time out.”
He said his goal wasn’t to win, but to enjoy the weekend.
“I just wanted to go out and have fun,” he said. “And everything just kind of fell into place. I’m totally in shock. Hopefully there are more wins going forward.”
And with this being a major, it was that much more exciting.
“That’s the real exciting part,” he said. “I never thought I would win another major because there are so many great players. But now, after winning, I’m thinking I can compete again. Before, I was just showing up and contributing to the prize fund.”
Silver Net
Walter Sabati, 75-69—144
Ron Harwood, 75-71—146
George Yocum, 78-69—147
