Simmons Prevails in Two-Hole Playoff to Win Section PGA Professional Championship
Cooper Simmons, Assistant Professional at Willow Point Golf & Country Club, captured the Alabama – NW Florida PGA Professional Championship title at Pensacola Country Club, defeating Jordan DeBonis on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.
Simmons and DeBonis finished 36 holes of regulation play tied at 8-under-par 136. Simmons posted rounds of 65 and 71, while DeBonis closed with a 67 to force extra holes. After both making par on the first playoff hole, Simmons birdied the second hole to claim the championship title.
The Championship determined the Section’s qualifiers for the 2027 PGA Professional Championship. Simmons, DeBonis, and third-place finisher Andrew Peyton earned the Section’s three national berths and will compete April 25–28, 2027, at Streamsong Golf Resort in Bowling Green, Florida.
Simmons anchored his victory with 11 birdies across 36 holes, while DeBonis matched him at the top of the leaderboard with 10 birdies and an eagle. Peyton claimed solo third place and the final qualifying spot at 7-under-par 137 by making a birdie on his final hole.
Christian Bosso delivered a notable final-round surge. Following an opening 1-over-par 73, Bosso fired a second-round 7-under-par 65 on Tuesday, highlighted by four consecutive birdies on holes 3 through 6. He finished solo fourth at 6-under-par 138 with a tournament-high 12 birdies. Jeff Jordan rounded out the top five at 5-under-par 139.
1. Cooper Simmons (Willow Point Golf & Country Club) -8 (65-71–136) (Won on 2nd playoff hole / National Qualifier)
2. Jordan DeBonis (The Ledges) -8 (69-67–136) (National Qualifier)
3. Andrew Peyton (Indian Hills Country Club) -7 (66-71–137) (National Qualifier)
4. Christian Bosso (Pensacola Country Club) -6 (73-65–138) (1st Alternate)
5. Jeff Jordan (Mountain Brook Club) -5 (69-70–139) (2nd Alternate)
T6. Glenn Garnett (Greystone Golf & Country Club) -3 (73-68–141)
T6. Shea Balch (Colonial Golf Course) -3 (69-72–141) (3rd Alternate)
T8. Dominic Diaz (Mountain Brook Club) -1 (76-67–143)
T8. David Hanson (Watersound Club at Camp Creek) -1 (69-74–143)
T8. Paul McClure (RTJ Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove) -1 (68-75–143)
The Section would like to thank presenting sponsors, Club Car, Corebridge Financial, and Rolex for their continued sponsorship of the Section’s PGA Professional Championship at the national level.
The Section would also like to thank Gallagher, Golf Channel, PGA Tour, and ShipSticks; supporting sponsors Titleist/FootJoy, Callaway, Nike, and TaylorMade; and our local sponsor StrackaLine, who provided custom yardage books to the field.
Special thanks to Host PGA Professional, Andrew Boston, and the entire staff at Pensacola Country Club for providing an exceptional venue, as well as Club Car and the Jerry Pate Company for hosting Monday evening’s Player’s Party.
Congratulations to our champion, Cooper Simmons, and best of luck to Simmons, DeBonis, and Peyton as they represent the Section at Streamsong in April!