2316 Southern Blvd SE, Suite C, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Email: info@suncountrygolfhouse.com Website: Sun Country Office: (505) 897-0864
Click here to view Sun Country PGA Section's Staff Listing
Click here to view Sun Country PGA Section's Board of Directors
••••••
It was a Veterans Day celebration at Santa Ana Golf Club. The Sun Country Golf Foundation hosted the “RBC Wealth Management PGA HOPE Sun Country Cup” at SAGC on Nov. 10.
PGA HOPE, the flagship military program of the PGA of America REACH Foundation, strives to change and save veterans’ and active-duty military service members’ lives through the power of golf. PGA HOPE served more than 17,000 veterans since 2024 across the country.
That mission’s journey made its way to Santa Ana Pueblo with the Sun Country Cup, bringing teams from across New Mexico and West Texas for the Veterans Day Eve Cup, coming from locations such as Farmington, Las Cruces and El Paso. This year’s event brought together 14 teams, made up of four PGA HOPE alumni and PGA of America professionals. The bright Monday morning began with an opening ceremony before some spirited competition, followed by a celebratory lunch and awards presentation in a day of fun and camaraderie on the course.
“The event was exceptionally well organized,” PGA HOPE Ambassador Manny Gonzales shared. “What made it excellent was the genuine connection between our community and veterans; it benefited everyone. What stood out most were the interactions among veterans, PGA staff, donors and the course team.”
It was team versus team in the morning battle, with Team Santa Ana tying for third at 14-under. Team Kirtland Air Force Base took the win at 18-under. Scoreboard aside, it was all about the connections and bonds, as Gonzales stated. After the Monday tourney, the Sun Country team played 100 holes for HOPE on Tuesday at Los Altos GC. Just almost two weeks into the HOPE 4 HEROES campaign, Sun Country has raised $4,591 toward PGA HOPE Sun Country programming. We thank everyone for helping make a difference.
As we reflect on the 2025 season, we would like to acknowledge the outstanding play of our Player of the Year Award honorees. Devin W. Miertschin, PGA, of Lonestar GC earned Rolex Player of the Year honors for the third consecutive season. Miertschin, PGA, delivered another strong year of competition, highlighted by victories at the Pro-Pro South Team Championship and the Club Car Pro-Official, along with a dominant performance at the Sun Country PGA Professional Championship. Devin will represent the Sun Country Section at the upcoming PGA Professional Championship. His season also included a memorable final round at the New Mexico Open, where he closed with a 64 highlighted by a hole-in-one on the 17th hole. He finished the year with a strong showing at the E-Z-GO SCPGA Stableford Championship. Three straight Player of the Year titles reflect Devin’s consistency throughout the season.
Dustin Blair is named Rolex Associate Player of the Year following another highly competitive season. Blair joined the Section as an Associate in 2017 and has remained competitive in every tournament since. His 2025 season was highlighted by a one-up victory over Ben Tolsma at the Masek Match Play Championship. He then teamed up with Rick Lane at the Club Car Pro-Official, where the pair posted rounds of 63–62 to win at 17-under. One of the highlights of Dustin’s season came at the Isleta Pro-Scratch Team event, where he and his partners shot 21-under to claim the title. Blair closed the year with a runner-up finish at the Yamaha Senior-Junior alongside Luis Delgadillo, finishing just one stroke back. This marks Dustin’s fourth Associate Player of the Year award.
In the Senior Division, Brad Lardon, PGA, of Las Campanas earned Rolex Senior Player of the Year honors for the eighth consecutive year, the most in Sun Country Section history. Lardon, PGA, opened the season with a one-up victory over Javier Delgadillo at the Senior Match Play Championship. He then teamed up with Devin Miertschin to win the Pro-Pro South Team Championship with a 96 total and continued his strong play with a Senior Professional victory at the Club Car Pro-Official. Brad represented the Section at the 2025 PGA Professional Championship in Port St. Lucie, Florida, finishing inside the Top 20 and earning an exemption into the 2026 Championship. At the SCPGA Pro-Pro Championship, Brad and Ben Tolsma posted rounds of 68–63, winning the tournament with a competitive finish. Back home at The Club at Las Campanas, he won the Senior Professional Championship with rounds of 67–70. One of the biggest highlights of his season came at the Black Mesa Senior New Mexico Open, where he shot a 61 on his way to a 127 total, one of the most impressive scoring performances of the year.
Congratulations to Miertschin, Blair, and Lardon on their outstanding play throughout the 2025 season.
The Sun Country Section would like to thank all those who participated during the 2025 Tournament Season. The Tournament Committee and staff is dedicated to build on this past year’s success and make the 2026 Tournament Season even better.
-Clay Adelizzi
