SOUTH FLORIDA PGA

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SFPGA Spring TOPICS Newsletter
19 May, 2024
By PGA of America LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (May 18, 2024) - PGA of America Golf Professionals Jeremy Wells (South Florida Section) and Braden Shattuck (Philadelphia Section) made the cut at the 106th PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. It’s the first time since 2021 that more than one PGA of America Golf Professional will play the weekend at the PGA Championship. Wells (2-under), the PGA Director of Player Development at Cypress Lake Golf Club in Fort Myers, Florida, finished his second round Saturday morning after play was suspended due to darkness on Friday. A good night’s rest isn’t always easy to come by for a father of three. Trying to sleep with two holes still to play to make his first cut at the PGA Championship may be even harder. “We woke our kids up at 4:30 to get to the golf course,” Wells said. We were in blankets in the clubhouse. Yeah, I didn't sleep very well, but it wasn't the first time I felt that way." “Fortunately, I got to play 8 and 9 this morning, which are kind of normal holes here. But even still, I knew I was going to have to stand over a couple 3- footers.” With a two-putt par on the par-3 8th hole, Wells had a shot to spare to make the 1-under cut on his 36th hole, alleviating some stress for the 2-footer that finished his even-par round. Wells made the Corebridge Financial Team in 2023 at Oak Hill, but missed the cut. Making the weekend this year was the ultimate goal. “We have a Section Championship which leads to the National Championship (PGA Professional Championship), which leads to the PGA Championship, and then you have a cut at the PGA Championship,” Wells said. “Now that I've made this cut, hopefully some of the pressure is off because these next two days are kind of the goal for my year. I'm fortunate enough to get this far to the PGA Championship.” Wells will begin his third round at 1:01 p.m. ET off the 10th tee paired with 2010 PGA Champion Martin Kaymer (2-under) and Tyrell Hatton (2-under). Shattuck, the PGA Director of Instruction at Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pennsylvania, made the cut after missing last year in his first appearance in the PGA Championship. Beginning the second round on the 10th hole, Shattuck got off to a quick start with birdies on holes 11-13. He made the turn at 2-under, however bogies on holes 3 and 4 nudged him outside the cutline. He needed at least one birdie over the final two holes to get within the top-70 and ties to reach the weekend. The birdie came on the par-3 8th hole (his 17th of the round) courtesy of draining a 35-footer. On the par-4 9th, he found the fairway bunker off the tee and a greenside bunker with this approach. He stared down a 4-footer then holed it for par. “The cup looked like the size of a thimble on that last 4-footer,” Shattuck said, smiling, “but, thankfully, it found its way to the middle.” Shattuck had to rebuild his swing due to a car accident in 2019, herniating two disks in his back and unable to swing a golf club for two years. He won the 2023 PGA Professional Championship to play at Oak Hill, where missing the cut last year left him wanting more. This will be his first time playing the weekend of a Major Championship as part of the Corebridge Financial Team. “That’s something you take a lot of pride in,” he said. “It’s nice to represent the PGA of America out here.” Shattuck will begin his third round at 1:34 p.m. ET off the 10th tee paired with S.H. Kim and Stephan Jaeger. The last time more than one PGA of America Golf Professional made the cut at the PGA Championship was 2021 at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, when Ben Cook (Michigan Section) and Brad Marek (Northern California Section) played the weekend. Corebridge Financial broadened its partnership with the PGA of America to include title sponsorship of the PGA of America Member teams, formerly known as the Team of 20 (PGA Championship); Team of 35 (KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship); and Team of 9 (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship). Each group will now be recognized as the Corebridge Financial Team. The PGA Championship continues May 18-19 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. You can stream, watch or listen on the networks of CBS, CBS Sports Network, Paramount, ESPN, ESPN+ and SiriusXM Radio. About PGA of America The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who love the game, are expert coaches, operators and business leaders, and work daily to drive interest, inclusion and participation in the sport. The PGA of America owns and operates numerous championships and events, including major championships for men, women, seniors and the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s foremost sporting events. For more information, visit PGA.com and follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Media Contacts Jesse Dodson, PGA of America, jdodson@pgahq.com Jared Minski, Mastro Communications, jared@mastrocomm.com
14 May, 2024
Jupiter, Fl - Tim Cantwell, PGA, fires back-to-back sub-par rounds to capture the 37th Annual South Florida Senior Open, supported by Wilson Golf at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club. The South Florida Senior Open is the inaugural Senior Section event of the 2024 season, played May 13-14 on the Medal course at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club. After an opening round, 2-under 70, Cantwell, a Teaching Professional at PGA National Golf Club, managed to match the tournament low round of 4-under 68 in round two to beat out Mark Mielke, PGA, Mark Brown, PGA and Brett Melton, PGA by one shot. Cantwell concluded play at 6-under 70-68–138. Cantwell led the field with 11 birdies, seven of them coming in the final round. In the 60-69 age division, Mike Gray, PGA Life Member, carded two consecutive 2-under par rounds of 70, beating Peter Oakley, PGA Life Member, by one shot. Behind matching the tournament low round of 4-under 68 in round one, Kevin Morris, PGA Life Member won the 70-74 age division, beating Jay Horton, PGA by one shot. Morris finished the 36-hole event at 2-under, 67-75–143. Fred Harkness, PGA Life Member and former long-time Director of Golf at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club from 1978-2014, won the 75+ age division, finishing at 1-over, 73-72–145. The South Florida Senior Open at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club was supported by Wilson Golf. The SFPGA Section season will continue next Monday at the Fort Lauderdale Open at Grande Oaks Golf Club and Lago Mar Country Club.  Leaderboard
By Matt De Tullio 02 May, 2024
West Palm Beach, FL - South Florida PGA of America Professionals Evan Bowser, Tyler Collet and Jeremy Wells qualified for the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, finishing in the top-10 yesterday at the PGA Professional Championship at PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch. Bowser, Assistant Professional at LaPlaya Golf Club (Naples), Collet, Assistant Professional at John’s Island Club (Vero Beach) and Wells, Director of Development at Cypress Lake Golf Club (Fort Myers) will join 17 other PGA of America Professionals as the Corebridge Financial PGA Team at Valhalla Golf Club. The PGA Professional Championship (PPC) is the annual “National Championship” for PGA of America Golf Professionals who qualify for the event through the 41 Section’s individual championships. For the first time in Section history, the South Florida PGA will have three representatives at the PGA Championship. “Having three Section Members make the PGA Championship for the first time in Section history validates how strong of players PGA Professionals are in the South Florida Section,” said Geoff Lofstead, Executive Director of the South Florida PGA. This year’s PPC was held, for the first time, at PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch. Due to weather, the start of the opening round was delayed substantially, ultimately causing delays for the rest of the week, adding another layer of difficulty. “This week was full of just grind mode,” said Collet. “With weather delays, fog delays, wind and gnarly rough, I was very happy to walk with a top-20 finish.” Collet obtained his Class-A PGA Membership in 2018 after graduating from Eastern Kentucky University with a Professional Golf Management degree. After finishing in a tie for sixth yesterday, Collet will be making his third PGA Championship start, with prior starts being in the 2021 and 2022 PGA Championships. The 28-year-old Collet has enjoyed an exciting 2024 playing season, already making starts at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches and the Puerto Rico Open, where he made his first cut on the PGA TOUR. “This just keeps the momentum going for me and gives me more and more confidence going forward,” explained Collet. Bowser made his first trip to the PGA of America Frisco Headquarters last year as an associate for his level three PGA seminar, the very same week as the 2023 PPC. “I thought to myself, I should be playing in this event next year,” said Bowser who became a full member in 2023 and finished tied for eighth yesterday at his first PPC. “It is amazing how it all came together.” The week was incredibly special for Bowser and his entire family as his sister was on the bag all week with his Dad and wife following along showing their support. “Honestly they are happier than me,” said Bowser. “Plus I'm thankful for all my supporters at LaPLaya Golf Club for helping me achieve this goal.” During the 2023 PPC, Wells entered the final round in a tie for 29th. He managed to match the final round low, moving up the leaderboard to seventh place, clinching his first Major Championship berth in his first attempt at the PPC, much like Bowser this year. Entering the 2024 final round, Wells was in a tie for 44th, making his attempt for consecutive PGA Championship berths a tall task. Once again, Wells was up for the challenge, firing the final round low (70) by two shots and moving 37 spots up the leaderboard to finish in a tie for eighth. “I shot 80 (in round three) and I'm still kind of in it, "explained Wells. “That's how hard that place was. If I just go out and shoot under-par, I have a really good chance.” Tomorrow, Wells will officially be a Class-A PGA Member for two years, he is now on his way to making his second PGA Championship start. “To make it through in my first two tries to the PGA Championship, I am incredibly proud of that,” said Wells. “There are 30,000 of us and to get down to the top-20 twice in a row, I wouldn't of predicted that.” Bowser, Collet and Wells will all travel to Valhalla Golf Club to represent the South Florida PGA and their respective facilities at the 2024 Championship, May 16-19.
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About SFPGA

The South Florida Section of the PGA of America is an association of golf professionals whose mission is to promote interest, participation and enjoyment in the game of golf; establish and maintain professional standards or practice; and enhance the well-being of golf professionals.

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19 May, 2024
By PGA of America LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (May 18, 2024) - PGA of America Golf Professionals Jeremy Wells (South Florida Section) and Braden Shattuck (Philadelphia Section) made the cut at the 106th PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. It’s the first time since 2021 that more than one PGA of America Golf Professional will play the weekend at the PGA Championship. Wells (2-under), the PGA Director of Player Development at Cypress Lake Golf Club in Fort Myers, Florida, finished his second round Saturday morning after play was suspended due to darkness on Friday. A good night’s rest isn’t always easy to come by for a father of three. Trying to sleep with two holes still to play to make his first cut at the PGA Championship may be even harder. “We woke our kids up at 4:30 to get to the golf course,” Wells said. We were in blankets in the clubhouse. Yeah, I didn't sleep very well, but it wasn't the first time I felt that way." “Fortunately, I got to play 8 and 9 this morning, which are kind of normal holes here. But even still, I knew I was going to have to stand over a couple 3- footers.” With a two-putt par on the par-3 8th hole, Wells had a shot to spare to make the 1-under cut on his 36th hole, alleviating some stress for the 2-footer that finished his even-par round. Wells made the Corebridge Financial Team in 2023 at Oak Hill, but missed the cut. Making the weekend this year was the ultimate goal. “We have a Section Championship which leads to the National Championship (PGA Professional Championship), which leads to the PGA Championship, and then you have a cut at the PGA Championship,” Wells said. “Now that I've made this cut, hopefully some of the pressure is off because these next two days are kind of the goal for my year. I'm fortunate enough to get this far to the PGA Championship.” Wells will begin his third round at 1:01 p.m. ET off the 10th tee paired with 2010 PGA Champion Martin Kaymer (2-under) and Tyrell Hatton (2-under). Shattuck, the PGA Director of Instruction at Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pennsylvania, made the cut after missing last year in his first appearance in the PGA Championship. Beginning the second round on the 10th hole, Shattuck got off to a quick start with birdies on holes 11-13. He made the turn at 2-under, however bogies on holes 3 and 4 nudged him outside the cutline. He needed at least one birdie over the final two holes to get within the top-70 and ties to reach the weekend. The birdie came on the par-3 8th hole (his 17th of the round) courtesy of draining a 35-footer. On the par-4 9th, he found the fairway bunker off the tee and a greenside bunker with this approach. He stared down a 4-footer then holed it for par. “The cup looked like the size of a thimble on that last 4-footer,” Shattuck said, smiling, “but, thankfully, it found its way to the middle.” Shattuck had to rebuild his swing due to a car accident in 2019, herniating two disks in his back and unable to swing a golf club for two years. He won the 2023 PGA Professional Championship to play at Oak Hill, where missing the cut last year left him wanting more. This will be his first time playing the weekend of a Major Championship as part of the Corebridge Financial Team. “That’s something you take a lot of pride in,” he said. “It’s nice to represent the PGA of America out here.” Shattuck will begin his third round at 1:34 p.m. ET off the 10th tee paired with S.H. Kim and Stephan Jaeger. The last time more than one PGA of America Golf Professional made the cut at the PGA Championship was 2021 at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, when Ben Cook (Michigan Section) and Brad Marek (Northern California Section) played the weekend. Corebridge Financial broadened its partnership with the PGA of America to include title sponsorship of the PGA of America Member teams, formerly known as the Team of 20 (PGA Championship); Team of 35 (KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship); and Team of 9 (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship). Each group will now be recognized as the Corebridge Financial Team. The PGA Championship continues May 18-19 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. You can stream, watch or listen on the networks of CBS, CBS Sports Network, Paramount, ESPN, ESPN+ and SiriusXM Radio. About PGA of America The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who love the game, are expert coaches, operators and business leaders, and work daily to drive interest, inclusion and participation in the sport. The PGA of America owns and operates numerous championships and events, including major championships for men, women, seniors and the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s foremost sporting events. For more information, visit PGA.com and follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Media Contacts Jesse Dodson, PGA of America, jdodson@pgahq.com Jared Minski, Mastro Communications, jared@mastrocomm.com
14 May, 2024
Jupiter, Fl - Tim Cantwell, PGA, fires back-to-back sub-par rounds to capture the 37th Annual South Florida Senior Open, supported by Wilson Golf at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club. The South Florida Senior Open is the inaugural Senior Section event of the 2024 season, played May 13-14 on the Medal course at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club. After an opening round, 2-under 70, Cantwell, a Teaching Professional at PGA National Golf Club, managed to match the tournament low round of 4-under 68 in round two to beat out Mark Mielke, PGA, Mark Brown, PGA and Brett Melton, PGA by one shot. Cantwell concluded play at 6-under 70-68–138. Cantwell led the field with 11 birdies, seven of them coming in the final round. In the 60-69 age division, Mike Gray, PGA Life Member, carded two consecutive 2-under par rounds of 70, beating Peter Oakley, PGA Life Member, by one shot. Behind matching the tournament low round of 4-under 68 in round one, Kevin Morris, PGA Life Member won the 70-74 age division, beating Jay Horton, PGA by one shot. Morris finished the 36-hole event at 2-under, 67-75–143. Fred Harkness, PGA Life Member and former long-time Director of Golf at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club from 1978-2014, won the 75+ age division, finishing at 1-over, 73-72–145. The South Florida Senior Open at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club was supported by Wilson Golf. The SFPGA Section season will continue next Monday at the Fort Lauderdale Open at Grande Oaks Golf Club and Lago Mar Country Club.  Leaderboard
By Matt De Tullio 02 May, 2024
West Palm Beach, FL - South Florida PGA of America Professionals Evan Bowser, Tyler Collet and Jeremy Wells qualified for the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, finishing in the top-10 yesterday at the PGA Professional Championship at PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch. Bowser, Assistant Professional at LaPlaya Golf Club (Naples), Collet, Assistant Professional at John’s Island Club (Vero Beach) and Wells, Director of Development at Cypress Lake Golf Club (Fort Myers) will join 17 other PGA of America Professionals as the Corebridge Financial PGA Team at Valhalla Golf Club. The PGA Professional Championship (PPC) is the annual “National Championship” for PGA of America Golf Professionals who qualify for the event through the 41 Section’s individual championships. For the first time in Section history, the South Florida PGA will have three representatives at the PGA Championship. “Having three Section Members make the PGA Championship for the first time in Section history validates how strong of players PGA Professionals are in the South Florida Section,” said Geoff Lofstead, Executive Director of the South Florida PGA. This year’s PPC was held, for the first time, at PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch. Due to weather, the start of the opening round was delayed substantially, ultimately causing delays for the rest of the week, adding another layer of difficulty. “This week was full of just grind mode,” said Collet. “With weather delays, fog delays, wind and gnarly rough, I was very happy to walk with a top-20 finish.” Collet obtained his Class-A PGA Membership in 2018 after graduating from Eastern Kentucky University with a Professional Golf Management degree. After finishing in a tie for sixth yesterday, Collet will be making his third PGA Championship start, with prior starts being in the 2021 and 2022 PGA Championships. The 28-year-old Collet has enjoyed an exciting 2024 playing season, already making starts at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches and the Puerto Rico Open, where he made his first cut on the PGA TOUR. “This just keeps the momentum going for me and gives me more and more confidence going forward,” explained Collet. Bowser made his first trip to the PGA of America Frisco Headquarters last year as an associate for his level three PGA seminar, the very same week as the 2023 PPC. “I thought to myself, I should be playing in this event next year,” said Bowser who became a full member in 2023 and finished tied for eighth yesterday at his first PPC. “It is amazing how it all came together.” The week was incredibly special for Bowser and his entire family as his sister was on the bag all week with his Dad and wife following along showing their support. “Honestly they are happier than me,” said Bowser. “Plus I'm thankful for all my supporters at LaPLaya Golf Club for helping me achieve this goal.” During the 2023 PPC, Wells entered the final round in a tie for 29th. He managed to match the final round low, moving up the leaderboard to seventh place, clinching his first Major Championship berth in his first attempt at the PPC, much like Bowser this year. Entering the 2024 final round, Wells was in a tie for 44th, making his attempt for consecutive PGA Championship berths a tall task. Once again, Wells was up for the challenge, firing the final round low (70) by two shots and moving 37 spots up the leaderboard to finish in a tie for eighth. “I shot 80 (in round three) and I'm still kind of in it, "explained Wells. “That's how hard that place was. If I just go out and shoot under-par, I have a really good chance.” Tomorrow, Wells will officially be a Class-A PGA Member for two years, he is now on his way to making his second PGA Championship start. “To make it through in my first two tries to the PGA Championship, I am incredibly proud of that,” said Wells. “There are 30,000 of us and to get down to the top-20 twice in a row, I wouldn't of predicted that.” Bowser, Collet and Wells will all travel to Valhalla Golf Club to represent the South Florida PGA and their respective facilities at the 2024 Championship, May 16-19.
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