2024 Southern California PGA Section Championship Preview Book

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HILLCREST COUNTRY CLUB RANCHO PARK GOLF COURSE SEPTEMBER 16-18, 2024

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. Rounds One & Two will be hosted at Hillcrest Country Club and Rancho Park Golf Course. Round Three will be hosted at Hillcrest Country Club STARTING TIMES All rounds to begin at 7:30 a.m. and will be a single tee start off Hole #1. (Players will flip golf courses from Round One and Round Two) AWARDS An awards ceremony will take place immediately following the conclusion of play.

PURSE The anticipated purse is expected to exceed $100,000!

WHAT THE CHAMPION TAKES HOME Winner will receive $17,000 and an exemption into the PGA TOUR American Express and Monday Qualifier for the World Wide Technology Championship. Second place will receive an exemption into the Monday Qualifier for the World Wide Technology Championship.

WHAT’S ON THE LINE The top 11 finishers will qualify for the 2025 PGA Professional Championship hosted at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida on April 27-30, 2025. There will be 5 alternates.

Top 20 from National PPC qualify into 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., May 12-18, 2025.

WHO’S EXEMPT IN PPC Michael Block, Kyle Mendoza THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS!

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION In a historic celebration, the Southern California PGA, a distinguished Section of the PGA of America, proudly marks its 100th anniversary in 2024. Since its establishment in 1924, the SCPGA has been an influential force in shaping Southern California’s golf landscape, which currently has 1,693 PGA Golf Professionals across 509 facilities in a vast geographic area extending from Baywood Park / Los Osos to the Mexican border and the Pacific Ocean to the Nevada and Arizona borders.

In 1924, the SCPGA’s inception was marked by the collaborative efforts of 25 charter clubs, with PGA Members actively participating in the signing and formation of the Section. On November 3rd, 1924, in Los Angeles, these visionary clubs listed below officially signed the Section charter, laying the cornerstone for a century of golfing excellence.

To celebrate the SCPGA’s Centennial year, our goal was to have each of our major events hosted by our original 17 active charter clubs. This year’s Section Championship will be hosted by both Hillcrest Country Club and Rancho Park Golf Course, as two of those charter clubs and we would like to thank them for hosting this monumental Championship.

Hacienda Golf Club

Hillcrest Country Club

Oakmont Country Club

(Host to 2024 Senior Section Championship)

(Co-Host to 2024 Section Championship)

(Host to 2024 Senior-Junior Championship)

Palos Verdes Golf Club

Rancho Park Golf Course

San Gabriel Country Club

(Host to 2024 Pro-Club-Member Championship)

(Co-Host to 2024 Section Championship)

Victoria Club

(Host to 2024 Pro-Junior Championship)

(Host to 2024 Honor’s Cup Matches)

COURSE OVERVIEW HILLCREST COUNTRY CLUB CLUB ESTABLISHED: 1920 ARCHITECT: Willie Watson (1920), Kyle Phillips (2019) DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Andrew Bostrom, PGA HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONALS: Chris Miller, PGA, and Graham Slater, PGA

COURSE OVERVIEW RANCHO PARK GOLF COURSE CLUB ESTABLISHED: 1921 ARCHITECT: William P. Bell HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL: Derrick Allen

PLAYERS TO WATCH

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

MARK GEDDES VINNIE PONCINO CORONADO GOLF COURSE

SAN CLEMENTE GOLF COURSE

KYLE MENDOZA HACIENDA GOLF CLUB

STEVE SAUNDERS TEMECULA CREEK GOLF CLUB

2023 CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP MICHAEL BLOCK CLAIMS HIS FOURTH SECTION TITLE Block now becomes one of four players in the storied history of the event to claim the title four times or more.

The Southern California PGA Professional Championship also served as a national qualifier into the PGA Professional Championship that will be hosted on April 28-May 1, at Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco East & West Courses in Frisco, Texas.

Congratulations to the 14 SCPGA Section Members who will be representing the Section:

THOUSAND OAKS, CA - Congratulations to Michael Block, PGA, of Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, on capturing the 99th installment of the 2023 Southern California PGA Professional Championship at Sherwood Country Club.

Entering the day, Block stood two shots behind the leader but was able to make it all square through 16 holes. In dramatic fashion, Block birdied holes 17 and 18 to win his fourth SCPGA Section Championship and his second in consecutive years with an 11-under-par 205 total. He ended his day tying the tournament low round with a 6-under-par 66.

“Thank you to Sherwood Country Club and Jeff Fowler for putting this event on and getting us out here,” said Block. “I rolled in a couple of putts down that final stretch, and the tide turned pretty quickly. I was lucky enough to come away with the trophy, and I’m grateful for all the support and comradery we have here in the Section.”

With the win today, Block has locked up the Southern California PGA Player of the Year honors, marking his 10th Player of the Year honors in the last 11 years.

Finishing in second place was Steve Saunders, PGA, of Temecula Creek Golf Club, with a 7-under-par 209 total.

The victory for Block earns him an exemption into the PGA Tour’s The American Express and earns a custom Club Car for a year.

*Michael Block – Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club Steve Saunders – Temecula Creek Golf Club Lyon Lazare – Monarch Beach Golf Links Mark Geddes – Coronado Golf Course Kyle Mendoza – Hacienda Golf Club Brian Smock – Coronado Golf Course Brice Busse – Hillcrest Country Club Bruce Nakamura – Aviara Golf Academy **Kenny Pigman – Shandin Hills Golf Course Logan Scott – Oakmont Country Club Simon Allan – The Plantation Golf Club Mike Mendoza – South Hills Country Club Thomas Chu – San Diego Country Club ** Steve Holmes – Rustic Canyon Golf Course *Exempt via Past Champion status at PGA Professional Championship ** Exempt via top-20 finish in 2023 PGA Professional Championship Thank you to all of our partners for supporting the Championship and allowing the professional purse to surpass $115,000. A big thank you to presenting partners, Club Car, Rolex, and Corebridge Financial for their continued support of the PGA of America.

Thank you to host professional Jeff Fowler, PGA, Director of Golf, the Golf Course Superintendent Neil Edwards, and the entire staff and membership at Sherwood 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 – Gary Albin, Lee Wortman, and Steve Asaki.

2023 CHAMPIONSHIP PHOTOS

2023 CHAMPION MICHAEL BLOCK

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PAST SECTION CHAMPIONS

2022 MICHAEL BLOCK

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