Cole Ponich raises the Provo Open trophy at Timpanogos Golf Club | Photo: Randy Dodson, Fairways Media

In what was one of the hotter weeks of the year, Cole Ponich entered the Provo Open at Timpanogos Golf Club. Cole has played in events like this for years as an amateur but was facing a completely new challenge this week as it would be his first test as a professional golfer.

Ponich, who grew up in Kaysville, Utah (where Trono is based), declared professional status this month following the completion of his college career at Brigham Young University. This month also saw a wardrobe change for the new pro as he made the switch to Trono Belts' selection of Premium Golf Belts just days before making his debut. Behind the scenes, hours and hours of preparation went into every aspect of his game. "I decided to work hard to improve my game, I've been working very hard so I can go to Q-School in the fall" shared Ponich. 

Kaysville native Cole Ponich rolls in a birdie putt during his opening round at the Provo Open | Photo: Tom Rhodes, Trono Belts

The preparation is already showing signs of success as Cole fired an impressive 9-under 63 in his opening round on Thursday. Following R1 he held a two-stroke lead, with another Kaysville native Daniel Summerhays finishing a few shots back. Ponich maintained his lead for the entirety of the tournament with a bogey-free 65 on Friday and a 68 on Saturday to secure the victory and a $10,000 paycheck. Not bad for his first week on the job.

Provo Open Champ Cole Ponich makes a swing off the tee in Trono's Core Black Golf Belt | Photo: Tom Rhodes, Trono Belts

In all three rounds, Cole sported Trono's Core Black Premium Golf Belt. After securing the win, he joked with Trono Founder Tom Rhodes, "Must be the belt!". We certainly can't take much credit for the win, but we do know that golfers repping our gear across the nation appreciate how our Premium Golf Belts work seamlessly with their swing's range of motion and function as a cohesive part of their on-course outfit. We continue to work day after day to establish ourselves as one of the best golf belts available on the market, and we appreciate athletes like Cole making us a part of their success on and off the golf course.

Cole Ponich splashes his bunker shot towards the green during his final round at the Provo Open | Photo: Randy Dodson, Fairways Media

So what's next for Cole Ponich and Team Trono? Cole heads to Denver next month to play in the Colorado Open, and returns to Provo to participate in the Utah Open at Riverside Country Club in August. This Fall he will go through Q-School to try and qualify to play on either the PGA Tour or Korn Ferry Tour in 2026. A strong start to his professional career this week, but a lot more success is sure to come. If you'd like to take a look at the Provo Open leaderboard, you can do so here. You can also check out Cole's feature in the Deseret News, and be sure to follow Cole on both Instagram and TikTok as he produces great content on both platforms.