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Team Khamken/Olson go Back-to-Back at Utah Women’s Four-Ball

There’s something about Toana Vista Golf Course that brings out the best in Nuny Khamken and Jane Olson.

Maybe it’s the sweeping desert views, smooth greens and narrow fairways. Maybe it’s the small-town charm of West Wendover, Nevada or the hospitality of the Rainbow Hotel Casino. Or maybe it’s the way their games fit together. Whatever it is, it’s now brought them consecutive titles at the Utah Women’s Four-Ball Championship, presented by Pizza Hut.

In the fifth playing of the championship at Toana Vista, Khamken (Park City Golf Club) and Olson (TalonsCove Golf Club) proved once again why they’re the team to beat. Their rounds of 69-73—good for a (-2) 142 total—secured a three-shot win over the new pairing of Kareen Larson, General Manager at TalonsCove, and Arizona’s Molly Steffes. This time, there was no sharing the trophy.

“Last year we were co-champions with Kareen and Lila Galea’i,” Khamken said. “This win is much more accomplishing. I couldn’t be any more happier for Jane and I for winning solo this time around.”

For Olson, a junior on the Utah Tech women’s golf team, the solo title was especially sweet.

“It felt good to be the outright winners this time,” Olson said. “It’s always exciting to come home with a win, and I’m very grateful to do it with a good friend.”

The chemistry between the two was apparent from the opening round. Khamken was rolling putts in “like it was easy-peasy,” while Olson brought power off the tee and finesse around the greens. As Khamken put it, “We were ham-n-eggin’ it.”

Khamken and Olson’s partnership, one of mutual respect and competitive drive, was on full display over both days.

“We’re both pretty aggressive. There’s no laying up for the other to go for it,” said Khamken. “I have a lot of confidence in her, and I’m pretty sure she feels the same about me.”

Olson echoed the sentiment. “It seemed like when one of us struggled, the other stepped up. It’s a very equal partnership, and we both played parts in pulling off the win.”

“We both hit driver well, which helps on those narrow fairways,” Olson said. “And with the course playing a little shorter, our wedge games really came into play.”

The Utah Women’s Four-Ball Championship is one of the UGA’s most anticipated women’s team events, and once again, the atmosphere fun yet competitive.

Pam Anderson (Birch Creek GC) and Brittany Hopkins (The Ridge GC) claimed the second flight title with rounds of 84-89, edging The Barn Golf Course’s Marie Higgins and Jacqueline Layne by two strokes. Krissy Erickson and Sally Russell (both from Logan Country Club) took the third flight by a single stroke over Un Chong Gilstrap and Moon Kellogg of Hill Air Force Base’s Hubbard Golf Course.

The net division winners included flight one champs Deborah Midgley (Bountiful Ridge GC) and Karen Mitchell (Sun Hills GC), flight two – Higgins and Layne and Team Erickson/Russell won flight three.

But the spotlight once again belonged to Khamken and Olson, who now have two titles—and one very solid friendship—to show for their time at Toana Vista.

“To win the title again with Jane means so much to me,” said Khamken. “We never let the fire stop burning within us. We kept it together with a strong mentality. I couldn’t be more proud.”

2025 Utah Women’s Four-Ball Championship Results

 

2025 Utah Women’s Four-Ball Championship feature written by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson. Photos by UGA/Max Butcher and Nuny Khamken.