LAS VEGAS, NV (Feb. 15, 2026)–Craig Erickson (Championship), Ed Fryatt (Senior) and John Steele (Silver) won gross titles in the 2026 Nevada Golf Southern Region Desert Inn Classic. Lonnie Wilson (Net), Freddie Sarno (Senior) and David Foggia (Silver) won net titles in the tournament held Feb. 14-15, 2026, at Aliante Golf Club in North Las Vegas.--by Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider
Championship
Craig Erickson held off a hard-charging Scott Lytle to win the Championship Division.
It was Erickson’s first SNGA win since the 2025 Tournament of Champions. He did win the 2025 Nevada State Mid-Am last July.
Erickson, who shared the first-round lead, had nine straight pars to open the final round. Lytle posted three birdies in that stretch to close the gap to one. Erickson birdied No. 10 while Lytle eagled the 11th to vault into a tie.
Erickson played the final six holes even-par (one birdie, one par) while Lytle had two bogeys and one birdie in that stretch for a one-over-par run.
“I didn’t look at the leaderboard until the 14th or 15th hole,” Erickson said. “I didn’t know how well Scott was playing. After I made a birdie on 16 I thought I was OK. It was just a solid round today.”
Erickson said most of the golfers weren’t lighting up the course.
“We all kind of battled out there today,” he said. “It seemed like a lot of shots were hitting close but it was tough to stay close to the hole. A lot of shots wound up leaving 20-to-30 foot putts and those are never easy.”
He said the victory is a great way to start the year.
“I don’t think I’ve played an 18-hole round this year,” he said. “I had no idea what to expect because I had been hitting it all over the place.”
He said he’s been working on a couple of parts of his game that are paying off.
“I’ve got a shorter backswing and that’s really helped,” he said. “And I’ve got a softer grip on the putter just trying to roll the ball more smoothly.”
Championship
Craig Erickson, 68-71—139
Scott Lytle, 72-68—140
Jake Johnson, 69-74—143
Net
Lonnie Wilson had three straight birdies on the back nine in the final round and posted a three-shot victory in the Net Division.
It was Wilson’s second SNGA title but first since 2023.
“It’s nice to finally win again,” Wilson said. “This was the result of the hard work I’ve been putting in.”
He said that work came in approach shots.
“I’ve been working on the range from 150 yards and in and that was the key this weekend,” Wilson said. “Those shots really add up over time. I really came through with those shots. I kept the ball in play and my putting was good. This is just a great start to the year.”
He added the victory also helped him in his main goal.
“This is huge,” he said. “My goal is to continue to get points for the Cobb Whelan team. I would love to be on that team again. I love the team aspect and feel like I can bring a lot to the team. I just love match play.”
Net
Lonnie Wilson, 71-71—142
Scott Flanigan, 74-71—145
Joseph Noya, 76-70—146
Senior
Ed Fryatt played his final eight holes in four-under-par (one eagle and two birdies) and then won the Senior title in a playoff.
Fryatt won the playoff with a par on the second hole, his first SNGA title since 2018.
“That sounds about right,” Fryatt said with a laugh. “It’s definitely been awhile.”
He went into the final round five shots off the lead but still had a positive attitude.
“Yesterday I was a little disappointed,” he said. “But I still felt like I got away with a 75. I was four-over at the time and saved a par on 17 and then birdied 18 to end with a positive note. I still felt like I had a puncher’s chance.”
The final round saw him get hot on the back nine, including making a birdie on 18 to force the playoff.
But there was more to that birdie on 18 than meets the eye.
“I hit it right down the middle of the fairway,” Fryatt said. “Then Freddie hit it 45-to-50 feet away and I hit it to about three feet. Kelly (Knievel) came over and I said, you know what, I have a weird feeling he’s going to make it. About halfway there, I said it was in and it was. It kind of sent a shock wave through my system but I did make the three-footer to force the playoff.”
Overall, Fryatt said his game…and mindset…are in a good spot.
“It’s a good start to the year,” he said. “I found something with my swing. I kept a good head on my shoulders both days and I’m proud of my attitude going forward.”
Senior
x-Ed Fryatt, 75-68—143
John Bobroski, 74-69—143
James Corey, 74-76—150
x-won on second playoff hole
Senior Net
Freddie Sarno posted four net eagles over the two days en route to a victory in the Senior Net Division.
It was Sarno’s first win since June 2024.
“It’s nice to play some good golf for a change,” Sarno said. “I’ve played terrible the last 14 months.”
He said the turnaround came when he sought out lessons from a former instructor.
“I took a couple of lessons from Jerry Roberts, my first swing coach when I was in high school,” he said. “I told him I was in a dark place and asked if he could see me. He said he doesn’t give lessons that much but said he would see me and it helped me…a lot. I was just solid. I was locked in.”
He said the victory has him thinking positively.
“Winning always helps the confidence,” he said. “I played steady yesterday and it’s just a great feeling. It’s a constant challenge. I’m very busy with my wealth management business and these guys probably play more golf in a week than I do in a month. But I’m trying to play a little more and playing well always makes you want to get out here.”
Senior Net
Freddie Sarno, 70-63—133
Kelly Knievel, 70-76—146
Tim Bremer, 78-74—152
Silver
John Steele picked up where he left off in 2025, landing in the winner’s circle.
Steele won four times in 2025, two team titles and two individual titles.
In this weekend’s event, he put together a ho-hum final round–one birdie, two bogeys and 15 pars–in posting the victory.
“I was really surprised,” Steele said of his win. “Out of the gate yesterday, on my front nine, it was so bad I was hoping to just be in the top 10.”
The second round proved to be just what the doctor ordered.
“The spectacular part of the round was I hit 16 greens,” Steele said. “The unspectacular part was I didn’t make any birdie putts. I had a one-footer for birdie on the sixth hole where I hit my hybrid to a foot but otherwise I just didn’t make any birdies. But I lagged them well and never had any nerve-wracking par putts.”
Silver
John Steele, 75-73—148
Ron Harwood, 77-75—152
Steve McPherson, 76-76—152
Silver Net
David Foggia also had a stress-free final round, two birdies to go along with one bogey and 15 pars, in winning by two strokes.
Foggia is coming off a five-win season in 2025.
This victory was different as he won his first net title.
“The first day wasn’t solid at all…it was pretty shaky,” Foggia said. “I had 41 on the front nine. I tried to make a comeback and came close (he lost the gross title by one stroke). It’s tough because John (Steele, the gross champ) doesn’t make mistakes.”
He said he had a shot.
“I had some chance to make some putts but once you get outside of 10 feet, the putts can start to wander. I shot one-under today and gave myself a chance. The net is good consolation.”
Silver Net
David Foggia, 78-71—149
Tom Hyland, 76-75—151
Rex Reese, 77-75—152
