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Devin Miertschin claims Section Professional Championship at Paako Ridge Presented by Club Car, CoreBridge Financial & Rolex
At Paako Ridge in Sandia Park, Devin Miertschin from Lone Star Golf Club posted 68–68–73—209 (-7) to win the Sun Country PGA Section Professional Championship at Paako Ridge. When the breeze picked up, Miertschin tightened his targets.
Day One demanded stamina. The field tackled 36 holes on Courses 1 & 2 with a mid-round horn that suspended play and reset momentum. When scoring resumed, David Muttitt set the pace and held the overnight edge, while the 237-yard par-3 8th emerged as the day’s toughest hole.
Clear skies greeted Tuesday’s final round at 8:00 a.m., and the leaders separated over the last nine. Miertschin’s back-nine control sealed the championship as three coveted qualifying spots and three alternates were determined.
Top Finishers / QualifiersDevin Miertschin (Lone Star Golf Club) — 68–68–73—209 (-7)Tyler Diehl (New Mexico State Golf Course) — 72–71–68—211 (-5)David Muttitt (Pars and Rec) — 70–73–69—212 (-3)
Thank you to Paako Ridge, its staff, volunteers, and our presenting partners Club Car, CoreBridge Financial and Rolex for an excellent championship week.
The Taylor Cup is a biannual, Ryder Cup style match between the Sun Country and Colorado PGA Sections. In 2023, the Colorado PGA Section won. This year The Taylor Cup was held at Paako Ridge with clear stakes: two days, 54 holes, Ryder Cup–style, and a trophy carrying J.D. Taylor’s name. By Friday afternoon, the Sun Country PGA closed the book with a 14–10 win over the Colorado PGA, sealed in singles as a light rain chased the final groups home.
Day One set the stage. Under sunny skies and 8:00 a.m. tee times, Sun Country landed the first blows: Kevin Amhaus rattled off three straight birdies on holes. 2–4, and Ryan Zonski lit the card with a birdie followed by back-to-back eagles on 4–6. The Sun Country Professionals carried a 7–5 edge through the lunch turn. Paako Ridge’s toughest hole for the field was number 7, and as the Round 2 concluded Sun Country was still in the lead.
As Round 3 began, both teams were dialed in and the matches remained close. Kevin Amhaus stacked five birdies. Don Yrene completed the front nine at six under. Brad Lardon opened with three birdies in a row on 1–3. One by one, the cushion grew for the Sun Country PGA Professionals. By the final putts, the final score was, Sun Country PGA 14, Colorado PGA 10.
The rivalry honors more than a score. J.D. Taylor, Valley Country Club’s first professional in 1956, a teacher for two decades, a frequent winner who later moved to the Sun Country, helped expand the game this event celebrates. This biannual match between the Sun Country and Colorado Sections carries that legacy forward.
