Kyle Mendoza Claims 2024 Southern California PGA Professional Championship
Hillcrest Country Club & Rancho Park Golf Course
FINAL ROUND RECAP
LOS ANGELES, CA (September 18, 2024) — Congratulations to Kyle Mendoza, PGA, of Hacienda Golf Club, on capturing the 100th installment of the 2024 Southern California PGA Professional Championship at Hillcrest Country Club.
After an impressive bogey-free 5-under-par 66 in the second round, Mendoza entered the day with a two-shot lead over a stacked field. He picked up where he left off on Tuesday’s round, producing another bogey-free final round of 4-under-par 67 to cruise to victory. His impressive play over the last two rounds was highlighted by 36 holes of bogey-free golf with nine birdies on the card.
When Mendoza was asked about today’s victory, he said, “My round today was clean again with no bogeys, and it was good that I was able to keep the mindset that I had of trying to get to a certain number with no one chasing me.”
Finishing in second place was defending champion and four-time winner Michael Block, PGA, of Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, with a 7-under-par 206 total.
The victory for Mendoza earns him an exemption into the PGA Tour’s The American Express and a custom Club Car for a year. Mendoza has now etched his name into the historic Section Championship for a third time after winning the title in back-to-back years (2020, 2021).
The Southern California PGA Championship also served as the national qualifier for the 2025 PGA Professional Championship hosted at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on April 27-30, 2025.
Mendoza has made two starts in the PGA Championship after a T-16 finish in the 2024 PGA Professional Championship earned him a spot at Valhalla and a T-6 in the 2022 PGA Professional Championship to earn a spot in the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills. When asked about qualifying for the PGA Professional Championship again, Mendoza said, “Winning the National PGA Professional Championship would be huge for me, that’s the last thing I want to do in my Professional career. I don’t know how much longer I will be able to maintain the level of practice and play I do now and to win that would be super cool.”
Congratulations to the 13 members that will be representing the Section in the 2025 PGA Professional Championship:
**Kyle Mendoza – Hacienda Golf Club
*Michael Block – Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club
Logan Scott – Oakmont Country Club
Brian Smock – Coronado Golf Course
Blair Harkins – Rolling Hills Country Club
Scott Cherry – Mission Hills Country Club
Alberto Ruiz Nava – Querencia Golf Club
Steve Saunders – Temecula Creek Golf Club
Brice Busse – Hillcrest Country Club
David Magdziasz – PGA West – Jack Nicklaus Resort Course
Mark Geddes – Coronado Golf Course
Ryan Kolk – Murrieta Valley Golf Range
Vinnie Poncino – San Clemente Golf Course
*Exempt via Past Champion status at PGA Professional Championship
** Exempt via top-20 finish in 2023 PGA Professional Championship
Thank you to all of our partners for supporting the Championship and allowing the professional purse to surpass $100,000. A big thank you to presenting National partners, Club Car, Rolex, and Corbridge Financial for their continued support of the PGA of America.
Thank you to host professional Andrew Bostrom, PGA, Director of Golf, Head Golf Professional, Chris Miller, PGA, General Manager, Head Golf Professional Graham Slater, PGA, Dan Meherin, the Superintendent Matt Muhlenbruch, and the entire staff and membership at Hillcrest Country Club for their gracious hospitality.
Also, thank you to Rancho Park Golf Course for collaborating and hosting the first two rounds of the SCPGA Section Championship, Rick Reinschmit of LA City Golf, and Superintendent Virginia Micka.
A special thank you to the SCPGA Rules Committee who volunteered their time and rules expertise at this year’s Championship – Gary Albin, Lee Wortman, Steve Asaki, Bob Livingstone, Marc Dauber, Luke Scoville, Betsy Gretton, and Tom Reul.
LEADERBOARD
PHOTO ALBUM
ROUND TWO RECAP
LOS ANGELES, CA (Sept. 17, 2024) — The second round of the 2024 Southern California PGA Professional Championship has concluded at Hillcrest Country Club and Rancho Park Golf Course, with past champion Kyle Mendoza, PGA, of Hacienda Golf Club, emerging as the 36-hole leader at 7-under-par 135 total in the 100th edition of the Championship.
Mendoza played a perfect second round with a bogey-free 5-under-par 66 on the day, moving up five spots from day one to take the top spot. When asked about his first two rounds, Mendoza said, “Luckily, my putter is always there for me, and I have a pretty good short game right now, so tomorrow, I need to just focus on being a little more accurate with my approach shots to give myself a chance.” Mendoza is no stranger to victory at this championship after his back-to-back wins in 2021 at The Farms Golf Club and 2020 at Ironwood Golf Club, which will play host for this event again in 2025.
Sitting in solo second at 5-under-par is Logan Scott, PGA, of Oakmont Country Club, who is chasing his first Section Championship title, while defending champion Michael Block, PGA, of Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, is T-3 at 4-under-par, along with Mark Geddes, PGA, of Coronado Golf Course.
Sixty-one players made the cutline at 7-over-par and are set to tee off in the final round tomorrow, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion as they compete for the Championship title at the esteemed Hillcrest Country Club.
This Championship serves as the national qualifier for the 2025 PGA Professional Championship hosted at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on April 27-30, 2025. The top 11 finishers will qualify with five alternates. Both Michael Block and Kyle Mendoza are already exempt into the PPC. The top 20 from National PPC qualify into the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., May 12-18, 2025. The Champion will also receive a spot in the 2025 PGA TOUR’s The American Express, with both first and second place finishers getting a spot into the World Wide Technology Championship Monday Q; second, third, and fourth will earn an exemption into the Monday Q for Farmers Insurance Open.
Past champions in this year’s field include Michael Block (2022, 2018, 2017), Kyle Mendoza (2021, 2020), Chris Starkjohann (2012, 2010, 2004, 1991), Ryan Kennedy (2014), Geoff Dean (2003), Paul Dietsche (2002), and Paul Wise (1983, 1984).
LEADERBOARD
PHOTO ALBUM – ROUND TWO
ROUND ONE RECAP
LOS ANGELES, CA (Sept. 16, 2024) —- The first round of the 2024 Southern California PGA Professional Championship is complete at Hillcrest Country Club and Rancho Park Golf Course with Vinnie Poncino, PGA, of San Clemente Municipal Golf Course leading the field by 4 strokes after an opening round of seven-under-par, 64, at Hillcrest.
This year’s Championship saw 169 PGA Professionals participate in the event, with the hopes of etching their name into the storied history of the Southern California PGA. This year marks the 100-year anniversary of the SCPGA, as this event is being hosted at two of the founding charter clubs that signed the Section charter, laying the cornerstone for a century of golfing excellence.
Concluding Tuesday’s second round, the low 60 players plus ties will make the cut into the final round.
This Championship serves as the national qualifier for the 2025 PGA Professional Championship hosted at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on April 27-30, 2025. There will be five alternates. The top 20 from National PPC qualify into the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., May 12-18, 2025. The Champion will also receive a spot in the 2025 PGA TOUR’s The American Express, with first and second place finishers getting a spot into the World Wide Technology Championship Monday Q; second, third, and fourth will earn an exemption into the Monday Q for Farmers Insurance Open.
Past champions in this year’s field include Michael Block (2022, 2018, 2017), Kyle Mendoza (2021, 2020), Chris Starkjohann (2012, 2010, 2004, 1991), Ryan Kennedy (2014), Geoff Dean (2003), Paul Dietsche (2002), and Paul Wise (1983, 1984).