The PGA Professional Championship is a golf tournament for golf club professionals and teachers who are members of the Professional Golfers' Association of America. It has been held by the PGA of America since 1968, when touring professionals split off to found the PGA Tour. It was known as the PGA Club Professional Championship until 2006 and as the PGA Professional National Championship from 2006 through 2015
Sam Snead and Bob Rosburg are the only players to win a major championship and the PGA Professional Championship. Bruce Fleisher and Larry Gilbert each would go on to win a senior major. Several other winners have had PGA Tour careers, either before or after winning the championship. The first edition in 1968 was held in early December in Scottsdale, Arizona.[1][2]
The leading 20 players in the event receive an entry into that year's PGA Championship. The winner gets six exemptions into the PGA Tour for the next season, three of which must be opposite The Open Championship or World Golf Championship events. The top five finishers are also given entry into the second round of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament.
Although the event gives invitations to the men's PGA event, women are eligible to compete. Those who have made the 36-hole cut include Suzy Whaley (2005) and Karen Paolozzi (2016). Paolozzi placed inside the top 20 in 2016, but was not given entry due to the "Whaley Rule," where women must play from the same tees as the men during both the sectional and national tournaments.
Eligibility
To earn entry into the PGA Professional Championship, players must have PGA membership, be certified as Class A PGA Professionals, and cannot have more than ten combined starts on professional tours (including various developmental tours, senior tours, and mini-tours) during a preceding twelve-month period, not counting majors.[3] Players earn entry by allocations from championships of their respective PGA sections, as the defending champions of the Assistant PGA Professional Championship, or as former champions of the event.
Format
The championship is a 72-hole stroke play tournament played over four days. Currently the field consists of 312 professionals representing the 41 sections of the PGA of America. At the end of two rounds, the top 90 and ties compete in round three. After round three, the field is reduced to the leading 70 and ties. Because of the large field, two courses are used for the first two rounds. The final two rounds are played on one of those courses.
The format has varied over years:[4]
- 1968–1971: Two courses used for the first two rounds. A cut after two rounds with the leading 90 and ties playing in the last two rounds.
- 1972–1996: Three courses used for the first three rounds. A cut after three rounds with the leading 90 and ties playing in the last round.
- 1997–2005: One course used. A cut after two rounds with the leading 70 and ties playing in the last two rounds.
- 2006–2013: Two courses used for the first two rounds. A cut after two rounds with the leading 70 and ties playing in the last two rounds.
- 2014–present: Two courses used for the first two rounds. A cut after two rounds with the leading 90 and ties playing in the third round and then a second cut with the leading 70 and ties playing in the last round.
From 1968 to 1996 the tournament was played in the fall, anywhere from late September to early December. From 1997 to 2018, the tournament was played in the second half of June, six to seven weeks before the PGA Championship. which was held in mid-August. With the move of the PGA Championship to May in 2019, the PGA Professional Championship was moved to late April/early May.
Qualification for the PGA Championship
The 20 leading players receive an entry into the following PGA Championship. The number of qualifiers was reduced from 40 to 25 in 1994 and then to 20 in 2006. If there is a tie for 20th place, a playoff occurs until exactly twenty advance to the PGA Championship.
With the change in dates from 1997, there were two club professional championships between the 1996 and 1997 PGA Championships. As a result only the winner of the 1996 event received an entry to the 1997 PGA Championship, 25 players qualifying through the 1997 event. The other players making the cut in the 1996 club professional championship were eligible to play in the 1997 event.
The 2020 edition of the PGA Professional Championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For that year only, the 20 PGA Professionals given entry into the PGA Championship were based on a points system.[5]
Winners
| Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up | Winner's share ($) | Venue[lower-alpha 1] | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGA Professional Championship | ||||||||
| 2023 | Braden Shattuck[6] | 279 | −9 | 1 stroke | Michael Block Matt Cahill | 60,000 | Twin Warriors | Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico |
| 2022 | Jesse Mueller | 273 | −10 | 5 strokes | Michael Block Jared Jones | 60,000 | Barton Creek | Austin, Texas |
| 2021 | Omar Uresti (2) | 276 | −11 | 3 strokes | Frank Bensel Jr. | 60,000 | PGA Golf Club | Port St. Lucie, Florida |
| 2020 | Canceled[lower-alpha 2] | Barton Creek | Austin, Texas | |||||
| 2019 | Alex Beach | 277 | −10 | 2 strokes | Danny Balin | 55,000 | Belfair | Bluffton, South Carolina |
| 2018 | Ryan Vermeer | 283 | −5 | 2 strokes | Sean McCarty Bob Sowards | 55,000 | Bayonet | Seaside, California |
| 2017 | Omar Uresti | 283 | −4 | Playoff | Dave McNabb | 50,000 | Crosswater | Sunriver, Oregon |
| 2016 | Rich Berberian Jr. | 277 | −11 | 1 stroke | Mark Brown Omar Uresti | 75,000 | Turning Stone | Verona, New York |
| PGA Professional National Championship | ||||||||
| 2015 | Matt Dobyns (2) | 279 | −3 | 1 stroke | Ben Polland | 75,000 | Philadelphia Cricket | Flourtown, Pennsylvania |
| 2014 | Michael Block | 286 | −2 | Playoff | Jamie Broce | 75,000 | The Dunes | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina |
| 2013 | Rod Perry | 277 | −10 | 3 strokes | Ryan Polzin | 75,000 | Crosswater | Sunriver, Oregon |
| 2012 | Matt Dobyns | 275 | −13 | 8 strokes | Kelly Mitchum Rod Perry | 75,000 | Bayonet | Seaside, California |
| 2011 | David Hutsell | 274 | −11 | Playoff | Scott Erdmann Faber Jamerson | 75,000 | Hershey | Hershey, Pennsylvania |
| 2010 | Mike Small (3) | 278 | −8 | 3 strokes | Sonny Skinner | 75,000 | French Lick | French Lick, Indiana |
| 2009 | Mike Small (2) | 277 | −7 | 1 stroke | Steve Schneiter Mark Sheftic | 75,000 | Twin Warriors | Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico |
| 2008 | Scott Hebert | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke | Sonny Skinner | 75,000 | Reynolds Plantation | Greensboro, Georgia |
| 2007 | Chip Sullivan | 281 | −7 | 4 strokes | Ryan Benzel Mike Small | 75,000 | Crosswater | Sunriver, Oregon |
| 2006 | Ron Philo Jr. | 278 | −10 | Playoff | Alan Schulte | 75,000 | Turning Stone | Verona, New York |
| PGA Club Professional Championship | ||||||||
| 2005 | Mike Small (1) | 289 | +1 | 3 strokes | Travis Long | 67,000 | Kiawah Island | Kiawah Island, South Carolina |
| 2004 | Bob Sowards | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke | Mike Small | 60,000 | Longaberger | Licking County, Ohio |
| 2003 | Tim Thelen (2) | 282 | −6 | 1 stroke | Steve Schneiter | 53,000 | Twin Warriors | Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico |
| 2002 | Barry Evans | 281 | −7 | 2 strokes | Mike Gilmore | 47,000 | Valhalla | Louisville, Kentucky |
| 2001 | Wayne DeFrancesco | 278 | −10 | 3 strokes | John Aber Don Berry Mark Brown Tim Thelen | 40,000 | Crosswater | Sunriver, Oregon |
| 2000 | Tim Thelen (1) | 214[lower-alpha 3] | +1 | Playoff | Mark Brown | 40,000 | Oak Tree | Edmond, Oklahoma |
| 1999 | Jeff Freeman | 287 | −1 | 2 strokes | Milan Swilor Chris Toulson Brett Upper | 40,000 | Whistling Straits | Kohler, Wisconsin |
| 1998 | Mike Burke Jr. | 281 | −7 | 3 strokes | Bob Gaus | 40,000 | Pinehurst Resort | Pinehurst, North Carolina |
| 1997 | Bruce Zabriski | 281 | −7 | 1 stroke | Mike Burke Jr. Jay Overton Steve Schneiter | 28,000 | Pinehurst Resort | Pinehurst, North Carolina |
| 1996 | Darrell Kestner | 271 | −17 | 1 stroke | Dan Bateman | 32,000 | PGA West | La Quinta, California |
| 1995 | Steve Schneiter | 278 | −10 | 1 stroke | John DeForest Bob Ford | 32,000 | PGA West | La Quinta, California |
| 1994 | Sammy Rachels | 284 | −1 | Playoff | Darrell Kestner Ron McDougal | 32,000 | The Oaks | Osage Beach |
| 1993 | Jeff Roth | 275 | −13 | 2 strokes | John Lee | 32,000 | PGA National | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida |
| 1992 | Ron McDougal | 273 | −15 | 3 strokes | Sammy Rachels | 32,000 | PGA West | La Quinta, California |
| 1991 | Larry Gilbert (3) | 267 | −14 | 1 stroke | Gene Fieger Ron McDougal | 32,000 | Doral | Doral, Florida |
| 1990 | Brett Upper | 275 | −13 | 3 strokes | Gibby Gilbert Larry Gilbert | 32,000 | PGA West | La Quinta, California |
| 1989 | Bruce Fleisher | 277 | −11 | 3 strokes | Jeff Thomsen | 30,000 | PGA West | La Quinta, California |
| 1988 | Bob Boyd | 287 | +1 | Playoff | Rick Morton | 30,000 | Pinehurst Resort | Pinehurst, North Carolina |
| 1987 | Jay Lumpkin | 279 | −9 | 3 strokes | Gibby Gilbert Bob Menne Jeff Roth | 30,000 | PGA West | La Quinta, California |
| 1986 | Bob Lendzion | 284 | −4 | 1 stroke | Bob Betley | 30,000 | PGA West | La Quinta, California |
| 1985 | Ed Dougherty | 277 | −11 | 2 strokes | Jim White | 27,500 | La Quinta | La Quinta, California |
| 1984 | Bill Schumaker | 284 | −4 | Playoff | Gary Ostrega | 25,000 | PGA National | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida |
| 1983 | Larry Webb | 283 | −5 | 4 strokes | Bob Ford | 20,000 | La Quinta | La Quinta, California |
| 1982 | Larry Gilbert (2) | 284 | −4 | 1 stroke | Steve Benson | 20,000 | PGA National | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida |
| 1981 | Larry Gilbert (1) | 285 | −3 | Playoff | Don Padgett II | 20,000 | PGA National | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida |
| 1980 | John Traub | 283 | −5 | 2 strokes | Jim Albus | 20,000 | PGA National | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida |
| 1979 | Buddy Whitten | 278 | −8 | Playoff | Jack Lewis Jr. | 20,000 | Callaway Gardens | Pine Mountain, Georgia |
| 1978 | John Gentile | 276 | −10 | Playoff | Jim Ferree | 17,000 | Callaway Gardens | Pine Mountain, Georgia |
| 1977 | Laurie Hammer | 282 | −4 | 1 stroke | Steve Benson | 16,500 | Callaway Gardens | Pine Mountain, Georgia |
| 1976 | Bob Galloway | 280 | −6 | 1 stroke | Jim Ferriell Larry Gilbert George Lanning | 16,500 | Callaway Gardens | Pine Mountain, Georgia |
| 1975 | Roger Watson (2) | 279 | −7 | Playoff | David Jimenez | 16,500 | Callaway Gardens | Pine Mountain, Georgia |
| 1974 | Roger Watson (1) | 284 | −3 | Playoff | Sam Snead | 16,500 | Pinehurst Resort | Pinehurst, North Carolina |
| 1973 | Rives McBee | 282 | −5 | 3 strokes | Stan Brion | 16,500 | Pinehurst Resort | Pinehurst, North Carolina |
| 1972 | Don Massengale | 280 | −6 | 2 strokes | Bob Bruno | 15,000 | Pinehurst Resort | Pinehurst, North Carolina |
| 1971 | Sam Snead | 275 | −11 | 5 strokes | Ron Letellier Jerry Steelsmith | 15,000 | Pinehurst Resort | Pinehurst, North Carolina |
| 1970 | Rex Baxter | 285 | −3 | 1 stroke | Bob Duden Ernie George | 8,000 | Sunol Valley | Sunol, California |
| 1969 | Bob Rosburg | 275 | −13 | 1 stroke | Jimmy Wright | 8,000 | Roadrunner | Chandler, Arizona |
| 1968 | Howell Fraser | 272 | −15 | 4 strokes | Chuck Malchaski Bob Rosburg | 8,000 | Century | Scottsdale, Arizona |
- ↑ The venue used for the final round is given.
- ↑ Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]
- ↑ Only 54 holes, not 72, were played due to inclement weather.
Source:[4]
References
- ↑ "Sports-in-brief". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 9, 1968. p. 2B.
- ↑ "Fraser wins 1st meet for club pros". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. December 9, 1968. p. 3, sec. 6.
- ↑ "2018 PGA Professional Championship: What's at Stake, TV Schedule and More". PGA of America. June 6, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- 1 2 "PGA Professional National Championship 2015 Media guide" (PDF). PGA of America. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ↑ 2019 PGA Professional Player of the Year Standings
- ↑ "Braden Shattuck wins PGA Professional as 20 club pros head to PGA Championship". ESPN. Associated Press. May 3, 2023.
- ↑ "2020 PGA Professional Championship Cancelled". PGA Professional Championship. June 29, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.