Team Toney wins inaugural Pioneer Day Bowden Hunter Memorial Golf Tournament

by Jenaea Hunter
Contributing Writer
The inaugural Bowden Hunter Memorial Golf Tournament this past weekend at the Hideout Golf Club in Monticello featured 23 teams and 88 players all vying for the championship.
The four-person scramble tournament came down to a tight finish among two Moab teams, with the Ambrose Toney team edging out the Manuel Torres team in a tiebreaker.
Team Toney finished 17 under par and was made up of Wyatt Toney, his dad Ambrose Toney, Darrin Wells, and “Magic” Mike Geiser.
Team Torres featured Manuel Torres and his grandchildren Rafe Saunders, Javlen Pierce, and Krystyn Saunders.
Last year’s San Juan Amateur champion Dallin Weierholt led his Utah County team to a strong third-place finish. Winners received beautifully crafted custom knives as trophies, engraved specially for the event.
The tournament was organized and hosted by Bowden’s Brigade, a nonprofit created to honor the life and legacy of Bowden Hunter – a proud Marine, Monticello native, and beloved son, brother, and friend who tragically lost his battle with mental health on August 2, 2024.
Bowden’s Brigade was formed to carry on Bowden’s spirit by supporting military service members and their families as they transition out of the military.
The organization’s mission is to prevent veteran suicide by providing critical resources, building strong support systems, and fostering a deep sense of community.
Choosing the Hideout Golf Club as the tournament venue was deeply intentional; the course held a special place in Bowden’s heart. It was the first course he ever played, growing up golfing there with his grandpa Dell and close friends.
The Hideout was also the last course he played, winning the two-man scramble with teammate Dallin Weierholt on July 26, 2024 – exactly one year before this year’s tournament.
One of Bowden’s proudest moments also happened at the Hideout when he hit a hole-in-one on Hole #3 during a night tournament in August 2017. For Bowden, the Hideout was more than a golf course – it was a place filled with memories, connection, and joy.
The day was filled with more than just great golf. It included a marshmallow long-drive contest, a $25,000 hole-in-one challenge, several par-3 prize holes, and wrapped up with an exciting raffle featuring generous donations from local businesses.
Bowden’s Brigade organizers are incredibly grateful and deeply moved by the overwhelming support received. The success of this new event wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible generosity of everyone who played, donated, volunteered, sponsored, or simply helped spread the word.
A special thank you goes out to our local sponsors from San Juan and Grand Counties, including: Blue Mountain Meats, Mountainland Supply Company, Brown Towing & Road Service, Sonderegger Inc., ABC Plumbing & Heating, Cedar Mesa Pottery, Primary Residential Mortgage Inc. – Britt Barton, Utah Farm Bureau – Shanna Black, Blue Mountain Chiropractic, Blue Mountain Foods, Canyonlands by Night & Day, the City of Monticello, Main St. Drug & Boutique, Monticello Merc, NMC Designs, Redd’s Ace Hardware, the San Juan Record, Shake Shack, The Gym Monticello, Utah State University, the Hideout Golf Club for being our gracious hosts, and Desi Calvert for taking all the amazing photos.
The day truly reflected everything Bowden loved – laughter, community, competition, and connection. We’re already looking forward to what comes next as Bowden’s Brigade continues its mission.