Becoming a Major Champion - Pete Oakley, PGA (July Member Spotlight)

"My life is changing right before my very eyes."


With Tom Kite and Eduardo Romero in the clubhouse at 3-under, the stage was set for an unlikely figure to prevail. On the 72nd hole of the 2004 Senior British Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club, Pete Oakley, PGA, held a one-shot lead. Standing on the 18th green, Oakley was a 10-foot par putt away from etching himself into golf history as a Major Champion.


"I knew my best chance at winning this event was going to be right then and there, and you know, I better get it done," Oakley told himself. "Lo and behold, it went in the hole; that ball went in like it knew where it was going."


At that moment, Oakley, a PGA of America Golf Professional, was a Major Champion. 


While most can only dream of this experience, Oakley lived it. His journey to being crowned a champion on one of the biggest stages in golf is nearly as incredible as the win itself. 

A PGA Life Member in the South Florida PGA Section, Oakley's journey in golf began in his hometown of Panama City, Florida. A talented junior and amateur golfer, Oakley wanted to follow his older brother to the University of Florida and compete on the golf team. After an unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the team, Oakley spent two years at Florida before deciding to start a professional career. 


Confident in his abilities and eager to be involved in golf, Oakley took an Assistant job at International Town and Country Club in Fairfax, Virginia, the first golf course Oakley had ever played at. During this time, Oakley got a head start on his professional working career while playing professionally at the same time. 


From Virginia, Oakley moved to Delaware and became a PGA Member in the Philadelphia PGA Section and saw great success as a player. For the next 20+ years, Oakley worked full-time, and continued to pursue a full-time playing career but was unable to get his big break.


This was until a recommendation from his older brother, who was playing very well on the European Senior Tour, having already notched four wins:


"It (Europe) is really different from golf in the U.S.; you would do well over here," Oakley recalled the conversation with his older brother.


Taking his brother's advice, Oakley traveled to Portugal to compete in qualifying school for the European Senior Tour. In the final round, Oakley was one-over through the first seven holes and needed to get to one-under to have a chance. 


On the eighth hole, Oakley was left with a blind approach shot with an eight iron in his hand.


"I'll be very honest; I scalded that 8 iron, and I'm running up the top of the hill because I couldn't see it land," Oakley said. "I see some guy standing by the green, and he throws his arms up in the air, and my ball happens to hit the flagstick and drops into the hole for a two."


With momentum and a little luck, Oakley qualified on the number to join just seven others to make it through. While overwhelmed with emotion, Oakley had to compete in a playoff for seeding purposes - the importance of which he was unfamiliar with.


On the first playoff hole, Oakley made a birdie to secure the fourth seed which allowed him to get an entire season's worth of starts on the European Senior Tour. 


In 2004, Oakley began playing full-time in Europe and while his position at 21 on the money list helped him confirm internally that he belonged, it wasn’t good enough. Only the top-20 on the money list were exempt into the Major, again, forcing Oakley to qualify. 


While not pleased at the time, Oakley traveled to Portstewart Golf Club to attempt to qualify. After the first nine holes of pushing his bag, Oakley was approached by a local caddie who told him that he was a friend of his brother who was staying at his house and offered to caddie for him. 


Oakley brought him on the bag for the final nine holes, and with two holes to play, the conditions completely switched to 40-mile-an-hour winds. 


"It was impossible to play in," recalled Oakley. "I played the last two holes in par, bogey to shoot 72, and nobody, maybe one guy, qualified in the afternoon. I got under that and out of that mess before the afternoon and qualified."


With no time to celebrate, Oakley had one day to prepare for the biggest event of his life. Going into the first day, Oakley has one goal in mind. 


"My intent was, let's make the cut; if you make the cut, you make a check, and you will maintain your position on the European order of merit," explained Oakley. 


Oakley was undoubtedly on his way to cashing a check. After rounds of 73, 68, and 73 in horrible conditions, Oakley was the 54-hole leader heading into the final round. 


At this time, the nerves had not set in for Oakley. He still did his regular nightly routine and managed to sleep on the lead just fine. It was not until the morning that it began to set in, nearly throwing up before teeing off. 


Still undeterred by the situation, Oakley felt he belonged, even playing with the guys he had idolized. On the 14th hole, facing a long par-3 into a galling wind, Oakley hit a 3-wood to about 35-40 feet and drilled the birdie putt. 


"Suddenly, my name goes up there on the leaderboard, and I'm 5-under, and the closest guy to me was 2-under," explained Oakley. "I'm thinking, Pete Oakley, you could even win this thing."


Oakley proceeded to par the 15th and bogey the 16th hole, bringing him to 4-under total. At the same time, Tom Kite and Eduardo Romera made birdies on the 17th and 18th holes to get into the clubhouse at 3-under. 


Knowing his position, Oakley managed to par the par-5, 17th hole, leaving only the 450-yard, par-4 18th hole left to play. 


After his tee ball ended left of a fairway bunker, Oakley was left with 195 yards to a green protected by a "gaping" green side bunker short and left, where his ball ultimately finished. 


While he could not see the pin, Oakley's bunker shot ended 10 feet from the hole, a putt away from winning the Senior British Open. 


"I saw a big scoreboard up there, Tom Kite, Eduardo Romero, and me sitting on top, and I had it by one shot," said Oakley, walking to his ball on the green surrounded by the gallery. 


Oakley and his caddie accounted for a small left-to-right break, and the rest is forever part of golf history. 


"Pandemonium breaks loose, and I just can't believe I had just won the Senior British Championship; I am now a Major winner," exclaimed Oakley.

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July 24, 2025
Naples, FL - For the third consecutive year, Justin Hicks, PGA, and Robbie Wight claim the Pro-Scratch Championship, presented by Srixon | Cleveland, played July 22-23 at Talis Park Golf Club and Grey Oaks Country Club. Hicks and Wight first teamed up in the 2022 Pro-Scratch Championship, where they finished in the top-25. Since then, the duo has won three straight, making them the first pair to win three consecutive titles in the event's 45-year history. Finishing at 19-under, 62-63–125, Hicks and Wight outlasted the teams of Michael Kartrude, PGA of The Bear’s Club, with amateur partner, Justin Grondahl, and the team of Brant Peaper of Lost Tree Club and amateur partner, Mackenzie Edwards, by one. With rain falling throughout the front nine of the final round for Hicks and Wight, they managed a 3-under performance, which saw them trail by two going into the final nine holes. As the rain subsided, Hicks and White caught fire, playing the final six holes at 5-under, including an eagle on the par-5 13th hole from Hicks. “We get a sandwich at the turn and somehow go gangbusters on the back, which was a lot of fun, " said Hicks. “We managed to really ham and egg it well on the back nine and saw ourselves go from chasing to the ones being chased.” Finishing in fourth was the Bowser team of Evan Bowser, PGA of LaPlaya Golf Club, and sister Elayna Bowser, who finished at 17-under. Rounding out the top-5 were the teams of Kenny Leech, PGA of Don Law Academy @ Osprey Point, with Elijah Zamarron, and the team of Kyle Horvath, PGA of Quail Creek Country Club, and partner, Victor Prokop, at 15-under. This year’s Pro-Scratch Championship was held at Grey Oaks Country Club and Talis Park Golf Club. Grey Oaks Country Club is led by PGA Directors of Golf, Martin DeAngelo and Leslye Dyke, PGA Head Professional of Golf Professional Avery Radunz. Talis Park Golf Club is led by PGA Director of Golf, David Witt, and Associate Head Professional, Cory Briney. Srixon and Cleveland were the presenting partners, while Airshare, Ghost Golf, Kohler Wisconsin, The Back Nine Golf, Florida Window and Door, and Unknown Golf were the supporting partners. Leaderboard
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Naples, FL - Seminole Golf Club Professionals, Matt Cahill and Dakun Chang, win the Yamaha Pro-Pro Championship, presented by Callaway, July 8-9 at The Rookery at Marco and Hammock Bay Golf Club. Head Professional, Cahill, and Assistant Professional, Chang completed the wire-to-wire victory with a 21-under performance, adding their third team championship together but first Pro-Pro victory. This year’s Championship returned to The Rookery at Marco and Hammock Bay, serving as the host facilities for the fourth time in the last five years. A full field of 240 South Florida PGA Professionals and Associates competed in a team four-ball format over the 36-hole event. After an 11-under opening round, Cahill and Chang held a one-shot lead over Andrew Filbert, PGA of West Bay Club, and Justin Smith, PGA of Bonita Bay Club. Leaving no room for question, the duo of Cahill and Chang opened the final round with five straight birdies to expand their lead. The two again managed five straight birdies on the back nine on holes 12-16 to ultimately finish at 21-under and three shots ahead of Filbert and Smith. In third place came the Peaper duo of Brian and Brant, who wrapped the event at 17-under. Finishing in a tie for fourth at 16-under were the teams of Greg Martin and Michael Kartrude, Ashley Grier and Alan Morin, and Mark Mielke and Mark Brown. The 2025 Yamaha Pro-Pro Championship was presented by Callaway and supported by Dunning/Greg Norman, Global Golf Sales, Heritage Creations, Hole In One USA, JumboMax Grips, and Toptracer. The Rookery at Marco is led by PGA Director of Golf, Scott Lien, PGA Head Professional, Phillip Ott and PGA Assistant Professionals, Tony Kelley and Nicholas Fairneny. Hammock Bay is led by PGA General Manager, Anthony Schmid and PGA Assistant Professionals, Raymond Miron and Brandon Rowcliffe. Leaderboard
July 2, 2025
Atlantis, FL - Brian Herring, PGA, and Christian De Greiff, PGA, claim the Yamaha Junior-Senior with a bogey-free, 10-under performance today at Lost City Golf Club. The 2025 Yamaha Junior-Senior welcomed 50 two-person teams of a junior SFPGA Member under the age of 50 and a senior SFPGA Member over the age of 50. Holes 1-6 were played in a best-ball format, while holes 7-12 were played in a modified alternate shot format, and holes 13-18 were played in a scramble format. Herring, a Don Law Academy Teaching Professional, and De Greiff, a Coral Ridge Country Club Teaching Professional, birdied the final three holes en route to a 6-under back-nine, defeating the teams of Justin Hicks, PGA, and Taylor Morgan, PGA, and the team of Alan Morin, PGA, and Taylor Collins, PGA, by one shot. The team from The Breakers Rees Jones Course, Richard Terga, PGA, and Timothy Collins, PGA, finished in fourth place, shooting an 8-under 64. Originally slotted for a 9 AM shotgun start, the event was delayed due to inclement weather, with the start moved to 11 AM. Yamaha was this year’s title partner, while Global Golf Sales, Levelwear, and OluKai were all supporting partners. For the fourth straight year, Lost City Golf Club has hosted the Championship, which is led by PGA Director of Golf Mason Colling and PGA Head Professional Peter Haupt. Leaderboard
June 26, 2025
Miromar Lakes, FL - Dakun Chang, PGA wins the Championship Division while Justin Hicks, PGA wins the Senior Division at the E-Z-GO South Florida Open, played June 24-26 at Miromar Lakes Golf Club and Bonita Bay Club. The second South Florida PGA Major of the year and first three-day Major featured 167 total players competing at Miromar Lakes Golf Club and Bonita Bay Club. Following round 2, a Senior Champion was crowned, and the field was cut to 51+ ties for the final round. Seminole Golf Club Assistant Professional, Dakun Chang, PGA, opened the three-day event with a 5-under 67 to trail John Lento, PGA, by one. Chang managed a shot better in the second round, firing a 6-under 66 to hold the lead by one over Justin Hicks, while managing a clean scorecard through the first 36-holes. Chang's first bogey didn't come until the 14th hole in the final round as he held a two-shot lead over the field. “After I made my first bogey on 14, I had to look at the leaderboard," Chang said. “I felt like I was in a pretty comfortable position, and after I looked, it did help me understand what I had to do.” Following his first bogey, Chang birdied the par-5 16th before making a double bogey on the 17th hole, narrowing his lead to one. Chang rebounded with a birdie on the 18th to secure the win by two with a final score of 67-66-71–204. “I have been working on my game pretty hard this summer, and things have been turning around for me,” Chang said. “The putter was very clutch this week. I am pretty excited for this win.” Capitulating himself up the leaderboard over the final 18 holes was Brant Peaper of Lost Tree Club, who fired a tournament round low of 8-under 64 to finish in a tie for second at 10-under, tied with Michael Kartrude, PGA of the Bear’s Club. Hicks finished in fourth at 9-under while Evan Bowser, PGA of LaPlaya Golf Club rounded out the top-5 at 7-under. In the Senior Division, Justin Hicks, PGA Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Golf and Country Club secured the title with a pair of 5-under 67 performances. After trailing Mark Mielke, PGA of High Ridge Country Club for the majority of the final round, Hicks managed to birdie three of the last four holes, including the 18th, to earn the win by one shot over Mielke. Hicks, who is coming off a start in the U.S. Open at Oakmont now adds his first South Florida PGA Senior Championship win of his career. Finishing in third at 6-under was Tim Cantwell, PGA of PGA National Golf Club, while Matt Lucchesi, PGA of the Loxahatchee Club, and Joe Kern, PGA of Mangrove Sands Golf Club, finished in a tie for 5th at 5-under. The E-Z-GO South Florida Open is the second of four South Florida PGA Major Championships to be played throughout the 2025 season. E-Z-GO served as the event's title partner while Ahead, Ballz4Change, Foresights Sports, Perry Weather, StrackaLine, StickX, and Winners Award Group served as supporting partners. Miromar Lakes Golf Club and Bonita Bay Club boast 15 combined PGA Members. Miromar is led by PGA General Manager Kenneth McMaster and PGA Head Professional Daniel Lee, while Bonita Bay Club is led by PGA Director of Golf Elliott McDonnell and PGA Head Professionals Andrew Gibson and Kyle Heaton. Leaderboard | Event Photos
June 20, 2025
Tom Patri, PGA Director of Player Development at The TwinEagles Club, completed his ninth annual Golf Marathon, raising more than $12,000 by playing 100 holes in a single day. The proceeds will benefit the South Florida PGA Foundation and its local community programs. Since launching the marathon in 2017, Patri has played over 1,000 holes of golf and raised nearly $80,000, using his passion for the sport to make a meaningful impact across South Florida. The South Florida PGA Foundation is dedicated to changing lives through the game of golf, with a charitable focus on youth, military, and families. “I just completed my ninth annual golf marathon to support the South Florida PGA Foundation, and I couldn’t be happier to dedicate a day to such a wonderful cause,” said Patri. “My only hope is that the funds raised will positively impact lives in South Florida. As long as I’m alive, I will continue to support the Foundation. Thank you to the South Florida PGA headquarters for all your support; I could not do this without you.” Patri’s annual challenge—to play as many holes as possible in one day—has become a tradition of giving back. Click here to support Patri’s Golf Marathon. Click here to learn more about the South Florida PGA Foundation and its programming.
By Morgan Nichol June 16, 2025
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By Matt De Tullio June 13, 2025
(West Palm Beach, FL - June 13, 2025) - Eric Veilleux, PGA, was elected the 24th South Florida PGA President yesterday at the SFPGA Annual Meeting, hosted at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens. A PGA of America Golf Professional since 1993, Veilleux is the Director of Golf at The Bear’s Club, a position he has held since 1999 when the Club was founded. Before his time with The Bear’s Club, Veilleux was on the bag for the golden bear, Jack Nicklaus, for five years. Veilleux succeeds Paul Clivio, PGA Director of Golf at St. Andrews Country Club, who completed his two-year term as President and will now serve as the Honorary Past President of the Section and Secretary of the SFPGA Foundation. Jeff Waber, PGA, follows Veilleux as Vice President. Waber is the Director of Golf at Broken Sound Club - Old Course and has served as the Section Secretary for the last two years. Ben Bauer, PGA Director of Golf at Hunter Run Golf & Racquet Club, was elected by the Membership as the new Section Secretary. In addition to the Section Officer Election, yesterday’s annual meeting marked the first in-person meeting since 2019 and was hosted at the SoFi Center, gathering over 200 South Florida PGA Professionals and partners. CJS Global served as the presenting partner of the Meeting, while Airshare, Florida Window & Door, and PGA National Resort served as supporting partners.
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(Fort Myers, FL - June 10, 2025) - Apogee Club Professionals, Austin Davenport, PGA, and Nick Beddow, PGA, captured the Pro-Assistant Championship, presented by Club Car, with a 20-under performance over the last two days at The Verandah Club.
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The South Florida PGA hosted its annual Travel Pro-Am in Northern Michigan, playing three different facilities, June 1-5. The event was supported by Kickpoint and featured 11 teams comprised of one South Florida PGA Professional and three amateurs. The competition consisted of three rounds played at High Pointe Golf Club, Arcadia Bluffs the Bluffs Course, and Grand Traverse Resort the Bear Course. Each day featured a different format, along with a low professional division scored based on stableford. Winning this event at twenty-eight under for the week was the team from Trump Jupiter Golf Club, led by PGA Professional Alastair Mackenzie and amateurs Matt Lindahl, Tony Assawamatiyanont, and Imaad Qureshi. Capturing low professional honors was Assistant Professional at Lost Tree Club, Brant Peaper 122 earning points. Special thanks to all those who joined us, as next year's trip will head to Scotland. Leaderboard
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In September of 2024, Tim Cantwell, PGA, qualified for the 2025 Senior PGA Championship after finishing T17 in the 2024 Senior PGA Professional Championship, allowing him to make his second career Senior PGA Championship start. Incredibly proud and honored by the achievement, Cantwell was later faced with a nightmare decision: His 18-year-old son Chandler had his high school graduation on the Friday of the Major. A Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour member for over five years, Chandler knew what the opportunity meant to his Dad. In talks with his son, Tim told Chandler he would fly back down for the graduation to ensure he doesn't miss this moment for his son. In response, Chandler said, “No, Dad. I want to come up there, I want to watch you play, and I want to experience it with you.” With full support, the entire Cantwell family made the trip to Congressional Country Club for the 85th Senior PGA Championship. After an opening round of 5-over 77, Tim’s chances of making the cut had become slim as he sat in 105th place. In watching the round, Chandler noticed a flaw in his Dad’s putting stroke and offered him a tip following the round. “Dad, you just are not staying down through your putting stroke,” Chandler shared. The two went over to the putting green to practice before a vital second round. With his newfound confidence on the putting green and a better understanding of the course, Tim bounced back in an inspiring way, matching the second-round low score of the day with a 4-under 68, catapulting him over 70 spots up the leaderboard to make the cut. The difference was the putter, Tim said proudly. “Chandler deserves a lot of credit for that Friday round, I putted really well.” With a lifetime dedicated to golf and over 30 years of playing professionally, Tim was headed to the weekend for the first time in a Major Championship. “I love the opportunities PGA of America gives to play,” Tim said. “It means a lot to me to compete.” After 20+ years of caddying at Seminole Golf Club while playing full-time, Tim transitioned to a full-time career with the PGA of America in 2019, serving as a Teaching Professional at PGA National Golf Club. Since then, Tim has won the 2022 South Florida PGA Professional Championship, qualifying him for the Puerto Rico Open on the PGA TOUR. He has also secured wins at the 2024 E-Z-GO South Florida Open, 2024 South Florida Senior Open, and 2025 Florida Senior Open. During his time at Seminole, Tim was encouraged by longtime Head Professional Bob Ford, PGA, and current Head Professional Matt Cahill, PGA, to enter the PGA program, a move for which Tim is incredibly thankful. Lastly, Tim could not be more thankful for the opportunities PGA National gives him to teach while taking advantage of every playing opportunity that comes with being a PGA of America Golf Professional.