QUITO, Ecuador - The past week marked the realization of a long-held goal for Laurier golfer Dayton Price - and a glimpse into what could lie ahead.

Price stepped onto the international stage at the KIA Open de Ecuador presentado por Diners Club, competing at Quito Tenis & Golf Club on the PGA Tour Americas circuit after earning a sponsor exemption.

The opportunity came after Price was crowned the 2025 OUA men's golf champion and four years after he survived a devastating crash while on a golf scholarship with the University of the Southwest Mustangs - an NAIA program in New Mexico that competes in the Red River Athletic Conference - that claimed the lives of his coach and six teammates, a tragedy that has shaped his journey back to competitive golf.
 
  While the results did not ultimately place him inside the cut line, the experience itself proved invaluable for Price, who entered the tournament as Laurier's team MVP.

"It was honestly a dream," Price said. "Walking around, seeing grandstands, having people out watching, signing autographs - all that came with it was an unbelievable experience."

Price's week began well before the opening round, as he acclimated to the course and the professional environment through multiple practice rounds and his first pro-am appearance. For a player accustomed to collegiate competition, the transition to a professional stage - complete with galleries, sponsor activations, and a purse on the line - brought a new level of intensity.

"Obviously, you're playing for something that's really big," he said. "Playing for money as well, which I've never done before. There were definitely nerves I hadn't felt before."

Challenging conditions added another wrinkle. Weather delays disrupted the opening round, forcing players into a compressed schedule that saw Price complete his first round before immediately beginning his second. Competing at altitude in Quito, the physical toll of a lengthy day became a factor as the tournament progressed.

Despite finishing at +12 and missing the cut, the two competitive rounds proved memorable for different reasons. After opening with a +8 performance on Thursday, Price settled in on Friday, cutting his score in half with a +4 round that included three birdies after recording none the day prior.

"I definitely settled in more," he said. "I created more birdie chances and played better overall. There were a couple of mistakes, but that's golf. It just gives me more motivation to get back and practice."

The week also carried personal significance. Price was joined in Ecuador by family for the event, including his father, Darren, who served as his caddie - a full-circle moment given the role he has played in his son's journey through the sport.

"To have him on the bag for something like that was pretty surreal," Price said. "He's been there through everything, so it made it even more special."



The 23-year-old from Hamilton, Ont., has enjoyed a rapid rise since arriving at Laurier, where he has quickly established himself as one of the top golfers in the country. He was named the program's rookie of the year and most valuable player, while also earning Laurier Athletics' Rich Newbrough men's Rookie of the Year honour following a standout season that included multiple tournament victories.

Laurier head coach Jeff Colley said the entire program took pride in seeing Price earn his opportunity on the professional stage.

"We're all so proud of Dayton. He definitely deserves it, based on the perseverance and dedication he's shown to coming back to the sport he loves," Colley said. "Dayton's story is truly inspiring, and I'm so glad he got to experience the game at such a high level in Ecuador."

"These experiences will help him immensely in terms of his golf game and how he competes in the future."

Now, with his first professional event behind him, Price's focus shifts back to the collegiate stage - and unfinished business.

That experience in Ecuador also serves as a strong lead-in to the Golden Hawks' next challenge, as Laurier looks to build on its OUA team gold at the 2026 Canadian University Championship, presented by BDO, scheduled for June 16-19 at Golf La Tempête just outside Quebec City.

"It gives you more drive," he said. "I want to get back out there again this summer. But first, we want to win a national championship with the team."

That team environment has played a key role in Price's resurgence in the sport.

"Those guys are like my brothers," he said. "We all want the same thing. To be able to do this with them makes it that much better."

If Ecuador offered a glimpse of the professional ranks, the next chapter begins closer to home - with a national title in sight and momentum firmly on his side.