South Florida PGA

Naples, FL - Justin Hicks and Chris Black won the Senior Pro-Scratch Championship on October 5 at Imperial Golf Club’s East Course. The Senior Pro-Scratch Championship is an 18-hole, four-ball stroke-play event featuring two-person teams composed of one senior PGA Professional and one senior amateur. Justin Hicks, PGA Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Country Club, and his amateur partner, Chris Black, opened strong with an eagle on the first hole, followed by two birdies. They maintained their momentum, firing off three additional birdies to finish the front nine at a 7-under 29. Carrying a three-stroke lead into the back nine, the duo carded two more birdies and a second eagle to finish the tournament at 11-under. This performance secured a three-shot victory over runners-up Matt Markle, PGA Club Fitter at True Spec Golf, and his partner Billy Barton. Jeff Raimer, PGA Life Member, and his partner Bill Barnes finished at 7-under to earn third place. Three teams tied for fourth place at 6-under: Scott Newhouse (PGA Director of Golf at The Forest Country Club) and Kevin Wallon John Lee (PGA General Manager at Imperial Golf Club) and Scott Fredstrom Nick Fortunato (PGA General Manager at Inverrary Country Club) and John Wegmann

The South Florida PGA has announced the roster of 12 PGA Professionals who will represent the South Florida PGA Section at the 2026 Challenge Cup matches played against the North Florida PGA Section. This Ryder Cup format event will be played October 13-15, 2026, at John’s Island Club’s West Course in Vero Beach, Florida. The team was determined through the 2026 ROLEX Player of the Year Points Standings, where the top 12 players were invited to compete. Joe Allinder, PGA Head Professional at Imperial Golf Club, will lead the South Florida team as captain. Allinder has previously participated ten times in the Challenge Cup, contributing to the current all-time record of 29 wins for the South Florida Section, and now will attempt to contribute once more as the captain to get to 30 wins, meaning six straight victories for the team. “It’s not about me; it’s about these guys and what they have accomplished through the year,” Allinder stated. “All 12 of these professionals have a lot of talent, with guys making cuts on PGA Tour and Champions Tour events, and two guys playing on the PGA Cup Team. Speaking to his role as captain for such a seasoned roster, Allinder emphasized his trust in the team's depth and experience. "We've got great putters, great golf ball strikers," Allinder noted. Highlighting the remarkable talent level across the entire roster, he added, "It's kind of like a team where you could just almost toss the balls up and let them go because all 12 of them are that good." 2026 South Florida PGA Challenge Cup Team Nick Beddow (Hobe Sound, Fla.) - APOGEE Evan Bowser (Naples, Fla.) - Wilderness Country Club Matt Cahill (West Palm Beach, Fla.) - Seminole Golf Club Tyler Collet (Vero Beach, Fla.) - John’s Island Club Andrew Filbert (Naples, Fla.) - West Bay Golf Club Justin Hicks (Wellington, Fla.) - Stonebridge Country Club Austin Jarchow (Delray Beach, Fla.) - Boca West Country Club Michael Kartrude (Port Saint Lucie, Fla.) - NOKOSI Derron Peyton (Boynton Beach, Fla.) - BallenIsles Country Club John Somers (Port Saint Lucie, Fla.) - Hobe Sound Golf Club Justin Smith (Estero, Fla.) - Bonita Bay Club Jeremy Wells (Estero, Fla.) - Cypress Lake Golf Club First played in 1981, the Challenge Cup is an annual contest between professionals from the South Florida and North Florida PGA Sections. The Ryder Cup-style event is contested by teams of 12 players over three days, with four-ball matches and foursome matches on the first day, and singles matches on the final day. The South Florida PGA Team will be reaching for its sixth consecutive Challenge Cup victory. The last time the Challenge Cup was contested, the South Florida PGA Section won 17-7 at the Ritz-Carlton Members’ Club, led by 2025 Captain Dan Heaslip, PGA Director of Golf at Windstar on Naples Bay.