Bailey Wins Section Championship
The 2023 Alabama – NW Florida PGA Professional Championship presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial, and Rolex was held at Watersound Club – Shark’s Tooth in Panama City Beach, Florida on September 11-12.
Play began Monday morning as players competed for the top four qualifying spots for the 2024 PGA Professional Championship at Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco in Frisco, Texas on April 28-May 1, 2024.
At the end of the first round of play, Ryan McLean led at 2-under-par 70. Todd Bailey, Jordan DeBonis, and Steve Cutler were one stroke behind at 1-under-par 71. Ron Stromeyer, Andrew Peyton, and Mike Genovese all tied at even par 72 to round out the top of the leaderboard after the first round.
Following play on Monday night, Club Car/Jerry Pate Company in conjunction with the Section and the Watersound Club, hosted a Player’s Party. This event provided an opportunity for our Section Members to connect with each other and some of our sponsors in a more informal setting off the course.
Play came to a stop Tuesday afternoon due to lightning in the area with only about half of the field in the clubhouse. After an hour-and-a-half delay, players headed back out on the course to finish the second round.
Bailey had a great second round, shooting a 7-under-par 65 to put him at 8-under par for the tournament. The low round of the tournament earned Bailey the Championship victory.
DeBonis was the only other player to finish the tournament under par. He shot a 3-under-par 69 to finish the tournament 4-under par. Cutler finished even par, and Stromeyer finished 1-over par to clinch the remaining qualifying spots.
Peyton defeated McLean in a playoff to take the first alternate spot while McLean and Dominic Diaz took the second and third alternate spots, respectively.
Thank you to all of our sponsors, including our supporting sponsors Titleist/FootJoy, Callaway, Nike, and TaylorMade. Additional thanks to our supporting partners, the Golf Channel and the PGA Tour.
The Section is looking forward to supporting these Members as they advance!
2023 Alabama – NW Florida PGA Professional Championship
@ Watersound Club – Shark’s Tooth
