Genovese Captures Senior PGA Professional Championship at Wynlakes

Life Member Mike Genovese delivered an outstanding performance at Wynlakes Golf & Country Club, firing a 4-under-par total across 36 holes to secure the Alabama – NW Florida Senior PGA Professional Championship.

Genovese distinguished himself as the sole player in the field to finish under par for the tournament, recording a field-best 10 birdies over two rounds to earn a six-stroke victory.

The Championship also finalized the Section’s representation for the 2026 Senior PGA Professional Championship, scheduled for October 22–25, 2026, at Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club in Gold Canyon, Arizona. Mike Genovese, Todd Bailey, and Paul Whitman earned the Section’s three national qualifying spots.

Todd Bailey of Lake Forest Yacht & Country Club mounted a final-round surge to secure solo second place at 2-over-par. Bailey posted six birdies for the tournament, highlighted by four consecutive birdies on holes 7 through 10 during his final round to move up the leaderboard.

With Genovese and Bailey locking up the first two national qualifying positions, the final spot was decided via a sudden-death playoff after Paul Whitman (Pine Tree Golf & Country Club) and Neil Thompson (Pine Tree Golf & Country Club) finished tied for third place at 3-over-par.

Whitman defeated Thompson on the first extra hole to claim the final berth to Superstition Mountain. Thompson earned first alternate status, followed by Jeff Jordan (Mountain Brook Club), Paul Reid (Indian Hills Country Club), and Patrick Richardson (The Westerfield Club) as second, third, and fourth alternates, respectively.

In the 65+ Division, Jerry Applegate of Frank House Golf Course turned in a solid performance, posting a 4-over-par total to capture top honors. Ed Davis (Life Member) finished second at 13-over-par, followed by John Gray (Ol Colony Golf Complex) in third at 17-over-par.

Other notable performances included Ned Martin, who recorded four birdies and an eagle over 36 holes, while Jeff Jordan, Colin McKern, and Neil Thompson each tallied five birdies.

Final Leaderboards

Overall Top 10

1. Mike Genovese (Life Member) -4 (National Qualifier)

2. Todd Bailey (Lake Forest Yacht & Country Club) +2 (National Qualifier)

T3. Paul Whitman (Pine Tree Golf & Country Club) +3 (Won 1st playoff hole/National Qualifier)

T3. Neil Thompson (Pine Tree Golf & Country Club) +3 (1st Alternate)

T3. Lawrence Auer (Life Member) +3

6. Jeff Jordan (Mountain Brook Club) +4 (2nd Alternate)

7. Paul Reid (Indian Hills Country Club) +5 (3rd Alternate)

T8. Rea Schuessler (Country Club of Mobile) +8

T8. Patrick Richardson (The Westerfield Club) +8 (4th Alternate)

10. Colin McKern (Quail Creek Golf Course) +9

65+ Division (Top 3)

1. Jerry Applegate (Frank House Golf Course) +4 (65+ Division Champion)

2. Ed Davis (Life Member) +13

3. John Gray (Ol Colony Golf Complex) +17

The Section would like to thank our host PGA Professional, Steve Culter, and everyone at Wynlakes Golf & Country Club for their hospitality!

Thank you to the supporting sponsors Golf Channel and PXG for their continued support of the Section. Special thanks to our PXG Regional Sales Representative, Iain Steel, for his ongoing support of the Section and its professionals.