Dominance in Dothan
by Hayden Lewis, PGA / Tuesday, August 3, 2021
DOTHAN, Ala. (August 3, 2021) – The 2021 Alabama–NW Florida Senior PGA Professional Championship presented by Cadillac was contested once again at Dothan Country Club where nineteen Section Members gathered for the 36-hole event. There would be three qualifying spots available for the 33rd National Senior PGA Professional Championship to be contested at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. on October 21-24, 2021.
In the first round, Todd Bailey of Timbercreek Golf Club got off to a steady start making one birdie and eight pars on his front nine. He stumbled some coming in making two bogies and a double-bogey on holes 13, 14 and 15 and finally capped off his even-par round with a birdie on hole eighteen. Ben Bates of Marcus Pointe fired a three-under-par 67 in the opening round with the help of four birdies on his back nine. This would be good enough to put him in a tie for second place heading into the final round. Todd McCorkle of Old Overton also posted an opening round of 67 to file in behind first-round leader Mike Genovese (Life Member). Genovese had four birdies and no bogies to open with a 66 and a one-shot lead heading into the final round.
In the Final Round, Bates opened with a one-over-par 36 and could not find any momentum on the back. He shot a four-over-par 39 on the back-nine which knocked him out of contention. Meanwhile, Bailey was making a run at Genovese making three birdies and no bogies on his front nine. He couldn’t keep the magic flowing and shot even-par on the back to post a final round of 67. McCorkle also made his own run by making three birdies on holes 10, 11 and 13 with no bogies on his back nine, however, this would not be enough to catch Genovese. The four-time winner this season backed up his impressive first round with another solid round of two-under-par 68. This would be good enough for Genovese to beat out McCorkle by one shot.
Genovese, McCorkle and Bailey all claimed their spot in the 33rd National Senior PGA Professionals Championship Presented by Cadillac. The Alabama–NW Florida PGA is excited to cheer them on come October when they make the trip down to Port St. Lucie. Additionally, the Section would like to extend its thanks to Section Vice-President, Kevin Klein, PGA Director of Golf at Dothan Country Club and the rest of his staff for providing an awesome venue for our Senior PGA Professionals.
The Section’s PGA Professional Championships continue next week with the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship on August 9-10 at Pine Tree Country Club. Finally, the 2021 Section PGA Professional Championship Presented by Cadillac, Club Car and Rolex will wrap up the major tournament season on September 13-14 at Shark’s Tooth Golf Club near Panama City Beach.
Media Contact: Hayden Lewis, PGA / hlewis@pgahq.com
###
ABOUT THE ALABAMA–NW FLORIDA PGA
The Alabama – NW Florida PGA is one of 41 sections that make up the PGA of America. Our Section is headquartered in the Birmingham suburb of Pelham, Alabama at Ballantrae Golf Club. Established in 1969, the Section consists of over 400 Members and Associates in the state of Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. The Section exists to support its Members who are the driving force to growing the sport and business of golf.