2023 Senior Section Championship
Congratulations to Rick Garboski on winning the 2023 Senior Section Championship
RANCHO MIRAGE, CA (July 25, 2023) — Rick Garboski of the Golf Development Complex is crowned the champion at the 2023 Southern California Senior PGA Professional Championship at Mission Hills Country Club.
It marks Garboski’s first win at the Senior Section Championship as he ran away with the tournament on the back nine. Garboski started his front nine with a strong performance of 3-under-par and followed that up with a 5-under-par to win the tournament by six strokes. Garboski fired a 65-64-129 total for a 15-under-par two-day score marking the second-lowest two-day score in the section’s history (Jeff Hart, 128, 2019).
Garboski will lead eleven other PGA Professionals to the 35th Senior PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club, Wannamaker & Ryder Courses in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on October 26-29, 2023. In addition, five alternates will hope to get the call to be entered into the prestigious field.
When asked about earning an exemption into the Senior PGA Professional Championship, Garboski said, “I’m extremely excited about earning the exemption and qualifying into the Senior PGA Professional Championship. It was one of my goals to finish inside the top 10, and I just played great over the last two days. I didn’t miss a green today, and it was like I either made birdie or should have made birdie. I’m looking forward to joining my fellow professionals and representing the SoCal Section.”
Special thanks to our partners: Cadillac, Golf Channel, PGA TOUR, PuttView, ZICO, Yamaha, and Mission Hills Country Club.
Thank you to the staff, maintenance crew, and host PGA Professional Michael Holyk of Mission Hills Country Club for being gracious hosts of the Championship. Their hospitality was top notch and we are very appreciative of the kind contributions.
Lastly, thank you to our dedicated Rules Officials: Chair Person Ron O’Connor, PGA, Gary Albin, Lee Wortman.
List of Qualifying Players
Rick Garboski – Golf Development Complex
Brian Smock – Coronado Golf Course
Alan Sorensen – Buena Vista Golf Course (*Exempt)
Tim Parun – Coronado Golf Course
Jeff Hart – Life Member Active
Steve Holms – Rustic Canyon Golf Course
Mike Mitchell – Hideaway Golf Club
Bruce Nakamura – Aviara Golf Academy
Scott Mallory – Journey at Pechanga
David Magdziasz – PGA West – Jack Nicklaus Resort Course
Paul Dietsche – Redlands Country Club
Geoffrey Dean – PGA West Private Golf Courses
Alternates In Order
Bob Knee – Aviara Golf Academy
Mike Fergin – Mesa Verde Country Club
Chi Choi – Monarch Beach Golf Links
Steve Vaughn – The Crossings at Carlsbad
Scott Miller – North Ranch Country Club