Genovese on a Roll
by Hayden Lewis, PGA / Monday, Aug. 23, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Aug. 23, 2021) – The 2021 Alabama–NW Florida PGA Stroke Play Series ended on Monday with its fifth and final event at the historic Highland Park Golf Course in the heart of Birmingham. The event marked a conclusion to the season-long race across multiple locations in every corner of our Section. The oldest golf course in the state of Alabama, and playing at 5,818 yards, Highland Park provides a multitude of options for players who step onto the grounds. “It’s just a fun golf course,” says Robbie Blackwell, PGA Director of Instruction at Hoover Country Club. “It gives players a chance to go low and enjoy a different type of golf.” Of the thirty-five players who teed it up on Monday, twenty shot even-par or better. Additionally, there were 151 total birdies made throughout the day at Highland Park.
The day got started like any typical August morning in Alabama – it was hot. With heat indices reaching over 100 degrees the last three days in central Alabama, players were welcomed to Highland Park with a similar forecast for the day ahead. Todd McCorkle from Old Overton Club put on a show during his front nine, making birdies on holes 1, 2, 6 and 7 to make the turn in four-under-par 32. He followed up with a seamless back-nine and two more birdies on holes 12 and 14 to finish his round at six-under-par 64. Noah Miller of Valley Hill Country Club also sprinted out of the gate making birdies on holes 1, 2 and 3 and posted a front-nine score of three-under-par 33. He was able to match his front nine birdie count with three more on holes 12, 14 and 15 to match McCorkle with a six-under-par 64. Lawrence Auer of Azalea City Golf Course, Austin Barr of Vestavia Hills Country Club and Jacob Greer from Mountain Brook Club all finished in the tied for the fourth position with solid rounds of five-under-par 65.
Meanwhile, Life Member Mike Genovese posted an unbelievable six-under-par 30 on his front nine. Continuing his blemish-free round, he was able to carve out four more birdies on the back-nine and was poised to capture the rarity of shooting a 59. On his last hole of the day, the par-four eighteenth, he positioned his approach shot about ten feet below the hole. Unfortunately, he would leave his putt about six inches short of the hole to settle for a ten-under-par 60, and with it, the title.
With the victory, Genovese also finished first in the 2021 Stroke Play Series points list with 187 points in four events. Todd McCorkle would come in second place with 128 points and Henry Westmoreland of Pensacola Country Club finished third place with 117.50 points in his debut season with the Section. The full 2021 Stroke Play Series Points List can be found on the Alabama–NW Florida Section website. The Section would like to thank Evan Godfrey and the rest of the Highland Park staff for helping set up an unforgettable final event in the 2021 Stroke Play Series. An additional thanks and praise to Chris Orphey of GT Golf Supplies, Hunter Bremer of Biolyte and the PGA Tour for their support of PGA Professionals in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
As August comes to a close, the Section looks ahead to ease into the end of its 2021 season with the Alabama–NW Florida PGA Professional Championship Presented by Cadillac, Club Car and Rolex on September 13-14 at Shark’s Tooth Golf Club, the Gulf Coast Chapter Championship on October 4-5 and finally the Team Championship on November 15-16.
Media Contact: Hayden Lewis, PGA / hlewis@pgahq.com
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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.