LAS VEGAS, NV (Feb. 9, 2026)–Scott Lytle (Championship), James Corey (Senior), Chris Cookson (Silver) and Regina Quintero (Women) won gross titles in the 2026 Tournament of Champions event, which was the final played under the Southern Nevada Golf Association banner as it has evolved to Nevada Golf. Eric Popper (Net), Jim LiCausi (Senior), Michael Tanimoto (Silver) and Debbie Love (Women’s) won net titles in the tournament held Feb. 9, 2026, at Red Rock Country Club.–by Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider
Championship
Scott Lytle, who won the 2025 Southern Nevada Amateur, overcame a three-over-par start and rallied to post a one-under-par round in winning the Championship Division.
Lytle birdied five holes in a six-hole stretch to get his round back in top form.
“I had some putting issues early but got it figured out,” Lytle said. “I had eight putts in the first three holes. Overall, it was a good ball-striking day but a pretty bad putting day. Getting the putting straightened out helped me get the ship back on track.”
He said it’s nice to get the SNGA events under way.
“These kind of events are great because they will definitely expose weaknesses in your game that you may need to work on,” he said. “I got a lot of feedback on my game and you can’t really do that practicing or playing with friends. It’s the competition events that really brings out the best…and worst…in your game.”
Championship
Scott Lytle, 71
Grant McKay, 72
Nick Horodesky, 72
Net
Eric Popper played a three-hole span in four-under-par (net eagle, net birdie and natural birdie) en route to a three-stroke victory in the Net Division.
Popper also had a string of four net birdies in a row during the round.
“I had three great holes in a row and that helped my round tremendously,” Popper said. “I just tried to stay calm and take it one hole at a time. I wasn’t overthinking it but sometimes that’s easier said than done.”
He said his short game was key for him.
“Every part of my game still needs work but my short game, from 50 to 75 yards in, is typically where I shine and it was good today,” he said.
He added there is one other thing he wants to work on to improve.
“I don’t practice at all and I should probably do that a lot more,” he said with a laugh.
Net
Eric Popper, 70
Michael Yap, 73
Hendra Wijaya, 75
Senior
James Corey birdied three holes in a five-hole stretch to win the Senior Division.
Corey opened with seven straight pars before going on his birdie run.
Corey won twice in 2025 including the season-ending Winter Classic.
“I was hitting the ball close all day but just hit some bad putts the first few holes,” Corey said. “I made a slight adjustment with my putting and started rolling in some putts.”
He said he’s got a secret weapon that is helping him start the year off well.
“I got a new set of clubs in January and I’ve been hitting them phenomenally,” he said. “I’ve got hybrids all the way down to an eight-hybrid. I’m hitting them higher and longer than I did with my irons so that’s helped the confidence.”
Senior
James Corey, 70
Edward Fryatt, 72
John Bobroski, 75
Senior Net
Jim LiCausi birdied two of his final four holes to rally for the victory in the Senior Net Division in a scorecard playoff.
“I could have had three birdies in that stretch but just missed one of the putts,” LiCausi said. “Overall, it was a good day and the course was in great shape.”
He said there’s still work to be done as he moves forward in 2026.
“I’ve got to hit more greens if I’m going to score,” he said. “I want to compete with these guys for gross titles so I’ve got to work on that.”
To that end, he’s working with an approach shot theory.
“I’m trying to work on a 10 percent theory,” he said. “If I’m 150 yards out, I want to hit it to 15 feet…or 10 percent. At least that’s my expectation. It’s still a work in progress but it’s a good goal for me.”
Senior Net
x-Jim LiCausi, 73
Gordon Schiring, 73
Ralph Sanchez, 74
x-Won scorecard playoff
Silver
Chris Cookson birdied his final two holes and that helped him win the Silver Division in a scorecard playoff.
Cookson, who won three times in 2025, said starting off 2026 with a win was a surprise.
“I really haven’t played a round of golf since the last time we talked,” he said. “I’ve just been practicing and putting in a lot of time putting.”
Ah, yes, putting. He said that’s been the most improved part of his game.
“I finally feel like I understand putting after all these years,” he said. “I’ve been working with Craig Barlow (at Reflection Bay) and he’s been telling me to do this and do that. I didn’t understand it at first but kept working on it and now I’m on board with it and it’s paying off. Guess I’m just a slow learner. It only took me about two years for it to sink in.”
Silver
x-Chris Cookson, 71
Scott Wandro, 71
Steve McPherson, 72
x-Won scorecard playoff
Silver Net
Michael Tanimoto put two net eagles on the scorecard in racing to victory in the Senior Net Division.
Tanimoto was unavailable for comment.
Silver Net
Michael Tanimoto, 70
Walter Sabati, 75
Shawn King, 75
Women’s
Regina Quintero won her first Tournament of Champions title, winning by two strokes.
“I felt good out there,” Quintero said. “Any time you get the chance to play in an event like this you want to take advantage of it. And playing well always helps.”
She said one hole early in the round provided a wakeup call for her.
“I had a three-putt on my fifth hole,” she said. “That can really get in your head and you may start second-guessing yourself. Sometimes it’s a battle but it’s a battle I came out on top of this time. I got settled down pretty quickly.”
Quintero said she’s looking at 2026 differently than in recent years.
“On January first, I made a commitment to myself to make one more push to see how well I can play,” she said. “I’m feeling pretty good health-wise so I’m putting in more time on the range, the short game and with my putting. It’s nice when it works out and makes a difference and today that work paid off. I’ll try to keep it going.”
Women’s Championship
Regina Quintero, 75
Renee Rocco, 77
Ronda Henderson, 78
Women’s Net
Four birdies in a five-hole run (two natural and two net) helped Debbie Love win the Women’s Net title by one stroke.
It was Love’s third Tournament of Champions victory, one gross and two net.
“This was a fun day,” Love said. “I had three natural birdies and birdied the last hole so this was a great way to open the year.”
Love added putting was the key to the victory.
“I hit the ball great but it was the putting that really helped,” she said. “I have a new goal this year of not leaving putts short because that’s when I have a tendency to three-putt. Since I’ve started to work on that, I’ve really cut down the three putts and I’ve had every round in the 70s.”
And she added that improved putting came at an ideal time.
“I thought they were pretty tough pins today,” she said. “And with this being the Tournament of Champions, you would expect it to be a little more challenging and it was so I was happy with the way I putted.”
Women’s Net
Debbie Love, 75
Denise Ruggiero, 76
Janelle Weber, 76
