2023 Southern California PGA Section Championship Preview

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SHERWOOD COUNTRY CLUB SEPTEMBER 18-20, 2023

CHAMPIONSHIP INFO & FORMAT FORMAT 54-hole stroke play. Cut to the low 60 and ties after 36 holes. A playoff will take place immediately concluding the final round in the instance there is a tie for the overall Champion, final PPC qualifying spot(s) and/or alternate order.

STARTING TIMES Rounds one and two will have a morning wave (7:30AM start) and afternoon wave (12:15PM start). Round three will be a 7:30AM start.

AWARDS An awards ceremony will take place immediately following the conclusion of play.

PURSE The anticipated purse is expected to exceed $115,000!

WHAT THE CHAMPION TAKES HOME Winner will receive $17,000 and an exemption into The American Express and a Club Car custom golf cart for a year!

PUTTVIEW YARDAGE BOOKS SCPGA Partner, Puttview, is offering complimentary yardage books to participants for the tournament. If you are playing a practice round, they will be available in the golf shop. During the completion, books will be on the starting tees.

WHAT’S ON THE LINE The top 11 finishers will qualify for the 2024 PGA Professional Championship hosted at Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco East & West Courses in Frisco, Texas on April 28 - May 1, 2024. There will be 5 alternates. Top 20 from National PPC qualify into 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, May 13-19, 2024.

WHO’S EXEMPT IN PPC Michael Block, Kenny Pigman, Steve Holmes THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS!

COURSE OVERVIEW SHERWOOD COUNTRY CLUB CLUB ESTABLISHED: 1989 ARCHITECT: Jack Nicklaus DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Jeffrey Fowler, PGA

“

“

As the host professional at Sherwood CC, I’m deeply grateful to our membership for generously opening our doors, allowing us to showcase a legacy from the Shark Shoot-outs to Tiger Woods’ incredible World Challenge events, onto the PGA Tour Champions playoffs and the 2020 ZOZO Championship. As we prepare for the 99th SCPGA Professional Championship, I warmly invite Southern California’s finest to experience and contribute. to our legacy in Ventura County.

— Jeffrey Fowler, PGA | Director of Golf, Sherwood Country Club

PLAYERS TO WATCH

MICHAEL BLOCK STEVE HOLMES ARROYO TRABUCO GOLF CLUB RUSTIC CANYON GOLF CLUB

MARK GEDDES VINNIE PONCINO CORONADO GOLF COURSE

SAN CLEMENTE GOLF COURSE

KYLE MENDOZA HACIENDA GOLF CLUB

LOGAN SCOTT

OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB

2022 CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP MICHAEL BLOCK CLAIMS HIS THIRD SECTION TITLE year. Block now becomes the seventh Champion in the storied history of the event to claim the title three times or more.

The Southern California PGA Professional Championship also served as a national qualifier into the PGA Professional Championship that will be hosted April 30 - May 3, 2023 at Twin Warriors & Santa Ana Pueblo Golf Clubs in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM. Congratulations to the 13 members that will be representing the Section.

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA - Michael Block of Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club claims his third Southern California PGA Professional Championship title after posting two-under par, three-day total of 214.

Winning by five strokes, Block battled all week against a host of talented players at the top of the leaderboard at El Niguel Country Club.

It was a war of mental and physical attrition for Block, who hours before the first round, returned from across the pond after being a part of the victorious USA team at the 30th PGA Cup. “I didn’t think I had jet lag, but I was hitting it 250 off the tee on Monday” Block said, “I was struggling a bit on Monday, but I got the legs back and I was feeling good from there on.”

Block’s one-shot advantage in the final round was maintained by snagging two front-nine birdies on holes four and six. Making the turn, Block notched two more birdies on 11 and 13 coming down the stretch. Wedging into the 18th green for an easy par, Block officially claimed his third SCPGA Professional Championship title.

Finishing in second place was Steve Holmes of Westlake Golf Course with a strong final round of 71, and a three-day total of 219.

With his victory, Block earns an exemption into the PGA Tour’s The American Express, takes home the ROLEX SCPGA Player of the Year honors and also earns a custom Club Car for a

Thank you to all our partners for supporting the Championship and allowing the professional purse to surpass $95,000. A big thank you to presenting National partners Cadillac, Rolex & Club Car for their continued support of the PGA of America.

Thank you to host professionals Craig Plumley, PGA Head Golf Professional, Patrick Casey, PGA General Manager, the entire staff and membership at El Niguel Country Club for their gracious hospitality.

A special thank you to the SCPGA rules committee members who volunteered their time and rules expertise at this year’s Championship – Ron O’Connor, PGA, Gary Albin, Lee Wortman, Steve Asaki, and Rick Keuter.

2022 CHAMPIONSHIP PHOTOS

2022 CHAMPION MICHAEL BLOCK

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PAST SECTION CHAMPIONS

2021 KYLE MENDOZA

2020 KYLE MENDOZA

2019 JEFF HART

2018 - MICHAEL BLOCK 2017 - MICHAEL BLOCK 2016 - KENNY PIGMAN 2015 - CHAD SORENSEN 2014 - RYAN KENNEDY 2013 - ALAN SCHEER 2012 - CHRIS STARKJOHANN 2011 - MIKE MILES 2010 - CHRIS STARKJOHANN 2009 - RON SKAYHAN 2008 - MIKE MILES 2007 - ERIK WOLF 2006 - ROSS MARCANO 2005 - SCOTT MILLER 2004 - CHRIS STARKJOHANN 2003 - GEOFFREY DEAN 2002 - PAUL DIETSCHE 2001 - MONTY LEONG 2000 - JEFF CRANFORD 1999 - JEFF FREEMAN 1998 - JEFF FREEMAN 1997 - KEN CONANT 1996 - KELLY MANOS 1995 - DAN BATEMAN 1994 - BRAD SHERFY 1993 - JERRY WISZ 1992 - JEFF FAIRFIELD 1991 - CHRIS STARKJOHANN 1990 - SCOTT MAHLBERG 1989 - SCOTT BENTLEY 1988 - SHAWN MCENTEE 1987 - SCOTT CHAFFIN 1986 - DAVE BARBER 1985 - JIM WOODWARD 1984 - PAUL WISE 1983 - PAUL WISE 1982 - CURTIS SIFFORD 1981 - RH SIKES 1980 - CURTIS SIFFORD 1979 - CHUCK MONTALBANO 1978 - DAVE BARBER 1977 - DENNIE MEYER 1976 - TOMMY JACOBS 1975 - JIMMY POWELL 1974 - PAUL MCGUIRE 1973 - RAFE BOTTS 1972 - TOMMY JACOBS 1971 - TOMMY JACOBS

1970 - JIMMY POWELL 1969 - JERRY STEELSMITH 1968 - JIMMY POWELL 1967 - MAC HUNTER 1966 - BOB MCCALLISTER 1965 - RONNIE REIF 1964 - WAYNE SLEEPY 1963 - ERIC MONTI 1962 - EMIL SCODELLER 1961 - NO CHAMPIONSHIP 1960 - BUD HOLSCHER 1959 - JERRY BARBER 1958 - JOHNNY BULLA 1957 - ERIC MONTI 1956 - ERIC MONTI 1955 - JIM FERRIER 1954 - RALPH EVANS 1953 - ERIC MONTI 1952 - ERIC MONTI 1951 - ELLSWORTH VINES 1950 - FAY COLEMAN 1949 - ZELL EATON 1948 - HARRY BASSLER 1947 - PAUL RUNYAN 1946 - FAY COLEMAN 1945 - DALE ANDREASON 1944 - CLAYTON ALRIDGE 1943 - MARVIN STAHL 1942 - WILLIE HUNTER 1941 - BUD OAKLEY 1940 - OLIN DUTRA 1939 - WILLIE HUNTER 1938 - OLIN DUTRA 1937 - STANLEY KERTES 1936 - STANLEY KERTES 1935 - ERIC SEAVAL 1934 - LEW SCOTT 1933 - OLIN DUTRA 1932 - OLIN DUTRA 1931 - OLIN DUTRA 1930 - OLIN DUTRA 1929 - CHARLIE GUEST 1928 - ED DUDLEY 1927 - CHARLIE GUEST 1926 - CHARLIE GUEST 1925 - GEORGE KERRIGAN 1924 - DICK LINARES