P.O. Box 340 - Star, ID 83669
Email: rockymtn@pgahq.com Website: Rocky Mountain Office: (208) 939-6028
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HAILEY, Idaho — Ben Polland, PGA, Golf Director at Shooting Star, captured the 2026 Rocky Mountain Section PGA Professional Championship, completed Wednesday on the South and North courses at The Valley Club in Hailey, Idaho. Polland, already exempt into the 2027 PGA Professional Championship field, was joined by four fellow professionals who earned berths to the national championship at Streamsong Golf Resort in Bowling Green, Florida, April 25-28, 2027.
Polland was in command from the opening tee shot, carding a 7-under 65 in the first round and adding a 6-under 66 in the second for a 36-hole total of 131, 13 under par. The eight-stroke victory in the stroke-play test completed a rare three-peat, making Polland the Section’s back-to-back-to-back champion.
Loren Jeglum, PGA, Director of Instruction at Topgolf, and Justin Snelling, PGA, Assistant Professional at Boise Ranch Golf Course, tied for second at 5-under 139. Jeglum posted rounds of 69 and 70, while Snelling opened with a 6-under 66 before a second-round 73. Katie Somers, PGA, Director of Instruction at Hillcrest Country Club, and Chris Lien, PGA, Assistant Professional at Yellowstone Country Club, filled out the qualifying positions at 3-under 141. Somers closed with a 69 after an opening 72, and Lien followed a 69 with a 72.
Ben Bryson, PGA Head Golf Professional at RedHawk Golf Course, earned first alternate honors at 2-under 142, defeating Preston Otte, PGA on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff. Otte, Director of Golf at Bronze Buffalo Ranch, was second alternate at 142. Fred Sutton, PGA of Northwest Nazarene University followed as third alternate at 1-under 143, and Lance Rieber, PGA, Golf Instructor at Warm Springs Golf Club, claimed the fourth alternate position at even-par 144.
The Rocky Mountain Section PGA extends its special thanks to Jake Hanson, PGA, Golf Director at The Valley Club, and his staff, and to Jason Sigmond, Superintendent, and his grounds staff, for the spectacular course conditions and their outstanding hospitality throughout the championship.
TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Canyon Springs Golf Course swept both age divisions at the 2026 PGA Jr. League All-Star Sectional, contested Friday at Canyon Springs Golf Course in Twin Falls, Idaho. Four All-Star programs from across the Rocky Mountain Section PGA sent teams to the one-day competition, with the Canyon Springs All Stars claiming the 17U and 13U titles and earning advancement to PGA Jr. League Regionals.
Each team fielded eight players divided into four two-person pairings, with every twosome playing a nine-hole scramble. The best three twosome scores counted toward the team total.
Three teams contested the 17U division, and Canyon Springs Team 1 was never threatened, posting a collective 12 under par to win by 22 strokes. Canyon Springs Team 2 finished second at 10 over, four shots clear of the Ridgecrest All Stars at 14 over.
The 13U division drew four teams, and Canyon Springs again came out on top as the only side to finish under par, closing at 1 under. The combined Hillcrest, Crane Creek and Spurwing All Stars took second at 12 over, followed by Ridgecrest at 20 over and the Magic Valley All Stars at 27 over.
The Rocky Mountain Section PGA extends its thanks to host facility Canyon Springs Golf Course, along with Zach Abels, PGA, and Brandon Otte, PGA, and their respective staffs, for the work that went into preparing and hosting the event.
Sectional Results
17U Division
Canyon Springs All Stars 1 — 12 under par
Canyon Springs All Stars 2 — 10 over par
Ridgecrest All Stars — 14 over par
13U Division
Canyon Springs All Stars — 1 under par
Hillcrest, Crane Creek and Spurwing All Stars — 12 over par
Ridgecrest All Stars — 20 over par
Magic Valley All Stars — 27 over par
(Meridian, Idaho) – The Rocky Mountain Section PGA Foundation has named seven students as Scholarship Award winners for 2026. The 2026 Rocky Mountain Section PGA Foundation Scholarship Award winners are:
Britlan Halterman, Meridian, Idaho – 2026 Graduate of Owyhee High School
Tanli Lemoyne, Twin Falls, Idaho – 2026 Graduate of Filer High School
Natalie Nichenko, Meridian, Idaho – 2026 Graduate of Rocky Mountain High School
Sheridan Rumsey, Nampa, Idaho – 2026 Graduate of Middleton High School
Samuel Vogt, Mountain Home, Idaho – 2026 Graduate of Mountain Home High School
Lilia Troxel, Belgrade, Montana – 2026 Graduate of Belgrade High School
Annika Smith, Glasgow, Montana – 2026 Graduate of Glasgow High School
Each Rocky Mountain Section PGA Foundation Scholarship Award winner will receive $2,000 to assist with expenses related to his or her college education for the 2026-2027 academic year.
The Rocky Mountain Section PGA Foundation’s Scholarship Award is awarded annually to college-bound high school seniors based on academic achievement, community and extracurricular activity, leadership, financial need and involvement and contribution to the game of golf. Participants in the Snake River Chapter Pro-Am Series and the Laurel (Montana) Golf Club, Riverside Country Club (Bozeman, Montana) and Yellowstone Country Club (Billings, Montana) Pro-Ams contribute to the scholarship fund of the Foundation. Additional support was provided by businesses as well as individual contributors and donors. The Scholarship Program has now awarded over $459,000 to deserving youth over the past 52 years.
“A scholarship recognizes more than our achievements – it reflects your character, determination, and potential. Continue to learn, lead, and give back, because the greatest success is measured by the lives you inspire along the way,” states Brett Kleinkopf, PGA, director of operations, Rocky Mountain Section PGA.
