LARAMIE — Joe Jensen stood atop a perch overlooking Jacoby Golf Course and foreshadowed what transpired hours later.
Jensen sensed late drama in the Laramie Open, he said.
With a crowded leaderboard amid the final round, the remarks from the course’s general manager proved true.
Utah-based professional Braxton Watts outlasted Arizona’s Dylan Healey in a playoff and won the Laramie Open on Sunday at 11-under-par.
“It is a nice paycheck, It helps, but it is good having the pressure,” Watts said. “That is kind of why we come out to these events (is) just to have that pressure on us and perform under it.”
Watts, a second-year pro who earned All-American honors at the University of Utah, shot 67 on Sunday and pocketed $16,000.
Watts snagged his second professional win and first since his pro debut in June 2025, ending what he considered a “pretty rough” stretch in 2026.
“I haven’t had many good events,” Watts said. “I made one cut and then missed the other two I have played in. So, this was big. This was a big confidence builder. I hope I can keep building on this and keep performing better, better and better.”
Healey, meanwhile, entered the final round a shot off the lead and carded a 66 on Sunday.
He birdied No. 18, while Watts parred, which forced the playoff.
Healey secured $8,000 for his finish as part of a near-$73,000 purse that paid out across the first 23 spots in the professional field.
The tournament featured 72 professionals compared to the 17 entered in the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2016.
“It is a significant competitive event,” Jensen said. “Without drilling into each player, really good résumés here. Truly kids from all over the country who have played on all the tours. So, it is neat we are able to create an event.”
Multiple professionals pointed toward the “cost effective” nature of the tournament — a $900 entry fee — as a key attraction.
“(Events like this) build your confidence and they also build your wallet, which helps,” Watts said. “Having money in your pocket helps to kind of relieve that pressure so you don’t have that added on you.”
Multiple regional events in the coming weeks contributed toward the quality of players, Jensen said.
Many who competed this past weekend will compete in Cheyenne’s Wyoming State Open, set for July 9-12. The Korn Ferry Tour also hosts an event at TPC Colorado the same weekend.
“You see these cars in our parking lot with all these license plates, and they do a bunch of trunk slammers and they load up and off they go,” Jensen said.
Riverton native Easton Paxton earned third at 10-under, while former University of Wyoming standout Jimmy Dales received low alumni honors at 8-under, good for fourth.
“It was a good one,” Dales said. “Needed that pretty bad. Got some overdue bills, so that will be going toward that. It was great.”
University of Denver’s Brayden Bozak was the low amateur as he split 15th at 2-under-par.
Brody Leid led the crop of current Cowboys in a four-way tie for 23rd at 1-over.