SOUTH FLORIDA PGA

Naples, FL - The 2026 South Florida PGA Section tournament season began April 16 with the Club Car Pro-Official at Wilderness Country Club in Naples. The event featured 34 two-person teams, each consisting of a South Florida PGA Professional and an Official from the same facility. Evan Bowser, PGA Head Professional at Wilderness Country Club, and amateur Ray Cool won the gross division with a 4-under 67, edging out Justin Rountree, PGA of Eagle Lakes Golf Club and amateur Will Latreille in a scorecard playoff. Their round included six birdies and two bogeys. Josh Brunet, PGA General Manager at Eagle Lakes Golf Club, and amateur Anthony Hack won the net division with a 7-under 64, highlighted by a 5-under 31 on the back nine. Eagles Lakes defeated the team of Rountree and Latreille and the team of Austin Jarchow, PGA and John Collings of Boca West Country Club in a scorecard playoff. Jarchow captured the low professional title with a 3-under 68 which included an eagle on the par-5 16th hole.  Teams played in a one best ball of two format, with amateurs receiving 85% of their handicap. Club Car served as the title partner, with Golf Sign & Design as the presenting partner. Additional support was provided by BlueGolf, DLL Financial Solutions, Earth Networks, ExecuSearch, Holderness & Bourne, Prize Possessions and RELAY. The South Florida PGA Section thanks Wilderness Country Club for hosting the event, including PGA Director of Golf Sara Dickson, PGA Head Professional Evan Bowser and the staff and membership at Wilderness for their sup port.

Palm Beach Gardens, FL - The 2026 South Florida PGA Play Yellow Birdie Bash raised over $539,000, a record-breaking number, through its annual 81-hole marathon to support the South Florida PGA Foundation and the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. The annual event now in its fifth year features an 81-hole challenge across The Match and The Staple courses at PGA National Resort, where two-person teams compete to make as many birdies as possible. Each birdie is tied to donor pledges, directly contributing to the event’s fundraising total. This year a total of 1,151 birdies were made, also setting a new record. Proceeds from the Birdie Bash benefit the South Florida PGA Foundation and the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. Funds support youth development programs, military initiatives, scholarships and pediatric health care services, including efforts at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. The event has become one of the South Florida PGA Foundation’s primary fundraisers, generating more than $2 million in the last five years. The 2026 edition continued that trend, with PGA Professionals across the Section participating in both fundraising and on-course competition. Forty-two South Florida PGA members competed in two person teams, combining endurance and performance with charitable outreach. Participants engaged their networks to secure pledges, with fundraising totals linked to birdies made throughout the day. The Birdie Bash format connects competition with fundraising, as scoring directly impacts the amount raised. The event remains a recurring initiative within the South Florida PGA schedule, supporting charitable programs through member participation and donor contributions. Donations will be accepted through Friday, April 10th. Please click here to see the event leaderboard and or to make a donation.