A New Season Dawns:

Black Mountain | April 27, 2025

By Twlv Stix Tour Staff

There’s something about a first tee of the season that always feels bigger than just a swing. It’s an exhale of winter, a signal to the body that it’s time to move again, and a nod to a brotherhood that never quite left—but has missed the banter, the nerves, and the chase.

April 27 at Black Mountain was no exception.

Fifty-six players—the largest field in Twlv Stix history—gathered for the kind of day that would shape how the rest of the season felt. The energy was unmistakable. Some guys were loosening up with a second coffee, others with an early chirp. The new blood—plenty of it this year—stood quietly near the putting green, trying to look relaxed while their grips told the truth. The veterans? Calm, smug even, having learned long ago that the first tee isn’t just where rounds begin—it’s where seasons are lost to doubt and pressure.

This year, there was real attention on the top of the handicap board. The sticks had arrived. And they came to play. Vitaly Yaromich, already a force in seasons past, proved once again that no one should mistake steadiness for passivity. With a win in the gross division—his second straight at Black Mountain—Vitaly has quietly, and now firmly, claimed the mantle of early-season alpha. A second and two firsts in three years at the same course? That’s not a fluke. That’s a guy who knows how to navigate a place that gives as much as it takes.

Steve Buse and Liam Sammaddar played their way into the lead and looked poised to take it—until Black Mountain reminded them how thin the line is between cruising and crumbling. Holes 16 through 18 rewrote their stories with the kind of quiet cruelty only golf can deliver. On the flip side, Kurt Dorn surged late, birdieing three of his final four holes to leap into second place—only to bogey the par-5 18th and miss a playoff by a single stroke.

Black Mountain doesn’t just test your game—it tests your nerve. Buse and Sammaddar blinked. Kurt nearly pulled off the comeback of the day. But in the end, Vitaly didn’t flinch.

He held firm—unshaken, methodical, and sharp when it mattered. The course made its move—and he made his. Behind him, newcomers Bruce Kristinson and Chris Myer pushed into the gross leaderboard with authority, showing they’re here to disrupt the usual names. Another newcomer, Stewart Boldt—who tied for 8th—played solid golf, competed hard, and reminded everyone not to take it too seriously, especially when he dropped a full-blown vampire joke in a Transylvanian accent on the tee box mid-round.

And in the net division, it was Evan Koppa who reminded everyone that winning isn’t new to him. With a steady round and a three-stroke margin, he added another title to his growing Twlv Stix résumé. Dave Munroe posted a strong performance and may be this year’s early sleeper pick, while defending Net Tour Champion Taylor Campbell finished in a tie for 11th. It wasn’t his sharpest day—but don’t count him out just yet.

But maybe the best part of the day came after the cards were signed. Old friends reconnected. New rivalries were quietly sparked. There were handshakes that meant something and laughs that carried weight. The game brought them together. The community keeps them coming back.

Black Mountain didn’t give us a champion. It gave us a warning. The vets aren’t safe. The new guys aren’t scared. And with ten events to go, the path to the Tour Championship just got a lot more crowded.

One event down, ten to go. If this first tournament showed us anything, it’s that this year won’t be short on storylines—or surprises.

Next Stop: Sunset Ranch – May 25
The season’s just getting started.

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