RENO (July 15, 2026)–Michael Dillon (Senior Scratch), Thane McCall (Senior Silver Scratch 60+), Trace Stiegman (Senior Net), Michael Vilardi (Senior Silver Net 60+) and Ron Chance (Senior Gold Net 70+) won men’s titles in the 2026 Senior Reno-Sparks City Championship. Jeong Kendall (Scratch) and Robin Richman (Net) claimed women’s titles in Nevada Golf Northern Region tournament held July 15, 2026, at Sierra Sage Golf Course.–by Bill Bowman
Senior Scratch
Michael Dillon was one-under-par on the front nine–two birdies and one bogey–in winning the Senior Scratch Division by five strokes.
Dillon was unavailable for comment.
Senior Scratch
Michael Dillon, 72
David Hallorn, 77
William Duenas, 79
Senior Silver Scratch 60+
Thane McCall settled down after a slow start and won the Senior Silver Scratch 60+ by two strokes.
McCall was four-over through the first six holes but played his final 12 holes even-par with one birdie and one bogey.
“I didn’t think I had a chance the way I started,” he said. “But I just tried to stay in my game. I started to relax a little and I made a nice comeback.”
McCall added his short game helped that comeback.
“I had a bunch of up-and-downs,” he said. “I wasn’t hitting a lot of greens but my chipping and putting kept me in it.”
He said his play off the tee forced him to rely on that short game.
“My driver, which is usually my old reliable, did nothing but get me in trouble on the front nine,” he said. “I used it sparingly on the back.”
Senior Silver Scratch 60+
Thane McCall, 75
Craig Estrada, 77
Sheldon Kop, 80
Senior Net
Trace Stiegman played a three-hole stretch in four-under-par with a net eagle and two net birdies in winning the Senior Net title.
“That really won it for me,” Stiegman said. “I had some good holes today and some bad holes. It was nice to have more good holes.”
Stiegman said he overcame a slow start for his first win of 2026.
“I struggled early and then kind of found my footing,” he said. “I got my swing a little more dialed in on the back.”
He added sometimes it’s the little things that can also make your day.
“I didn’t lose a ball all day so that’s good,” he said with a laugh. “That doesn’t happen often. I’ll take it.”
Senior Net
Trace Stiegman, 71
William Kandaras, 73
Jason Koop, 74
Senior Silver Net 60+
Michael Vilardi had three net birdies in his first five holes and went on to win the Senior Silver Net 60+ crown by default as Ryan Ramsey had left and was unable to take part in a playoff.
“I love the way the round started,” Vilardi said, “I just wish it would have continued all the way through.”
He said his mindset was solid all day.
“I just tried to stay within my game and not get too out front,” he said. “It can get in your head and things can turn bad pretty quickly. I didn’t want that to happen.”
To that end, he stayed positive no matter the situation.
“When you feel like you’ve got a good round going you focus a little more,” he said. “I got up and down a few times and that helped the confidence.”
Senior Silver Net (60+)
x-Michael Vilardi, 69
Ryan Ramsey, 69
Alan Krogness, 70
Scott Moore, 70
x-Won by default
Senior Gold Net 70+
Ron Chance recorded five straight net birdies on the back nine to win the Senior Gold Net 70+ Division.
“It’s one of the best rounds I’ve had,” Chance said. “I’m 81 and I’ve had a lot of heart problems and haven’t gotten to play in about a year. But the last couple of days the putter was working and the stroke was good today.”
Chance added his all-around game was solid.
“Just about everything was working today,” he said. “My driver was right down the middle…not far, but right down the middle.”
Despite the win, Chance said there’s still work to do.
“I bogeyed the last two holes and that made me mad,” he said. “But it was still a good round so I need to look at the positives.”
Senior Gold Net (70+)
Ron Chance, 66
Augustus Kamburis, 71
John Fraser, 71
Women’s Scratch
Jeong Kendall rode seven pars to a three-stroke victory in the Women’s Scratch Division.
She had five pars on the front nine as she went on to win her first title.
“I really like the course,” Kendall said. “I’ve played there before and played well so that helped.”
Kendall said her short game was a big factor in her win.
“My pitch shots were really good,” she said. “I had a lot of 30-or-40-yard shots that landed by the pin and that helped my score.”
This was her first win of 2026 but she’s looking for more.
“My confidence is good,” she said. “Winning will make me sign up for more tournaments going forward.”
Women’s Scratch
Jeong Kendall, 85
April Higuera, 88
Lesly Lane, 91
Women’s Net
Robin Richman recorded two net eagles and eight net birdies en route to the title in the Women’s Net Division.
It was Richman’s second title in 2026.
“Playing with a great group of ladies really helped my game,” Richman said. “I was relaxed. Plus it’s my home course so I have that home course advantage.”
Richman added her work on the greens was key.
“I only had 31 putts which is good for me,” she said. “I was pretty consistent. I still didn’t get to my personal goal of nothing worse than a double bogey…I had two 7’s…so I’ve still got that goal to achieve.”
Women’s Net
Robin Richman, 64
Sue Oliver, 72
Laurie Bisch, 82
