Michael Block Holds Opening Round Lead!
2025 SCPGA Section Championship | Ironwood C.C. & Mission Hills C.C.
ROUND ONE RECAP
PALM DESERT, CA (September 15, 2025) — The opening round of the 2025 Southern California PGA Professional Championship is complete at Ironwood Country Club and Mission Hills Country Club, as Michael Block, PGA, of Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, holds a two-shot lead over the field with an opening round 9-under-par 63.
This year’s Championship saw 183 PGA Professionals participate in the event, with the hopes of etching their name into the storied history of the Southern California PGA. Concluding Tuesday’s second round, the low 60 players plus ties will make the cut into the final round.
A four-time winner of the SCPGA Professional Championship, Block finds himself in familiar territory after the first round, as he fired a bogey-free 9-under-par on the day. Mark Geddes, PGA, of Coronado Golf Course, who played with Block at Mission Hills Country Club, finds himself two shots back after a 7-under-par 65.
Jon Fiedler, PGA, of Las Posas Country Club, and Nate LeBlanc, PGA, of Indian Ridge Country Club, are three back after carding 6-under-par 66, and it’s a bunched-up leaderboard after that with the top-10 having six players all tied up at 4-under-par.
This Championship serves as the national qualifier for the 2025 PGA Professional Championship hosted at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon, on April 26-29, 2026. The top 13 finishers will earn an exemption plus there will be five alternates. The top 20 from National PPC qualify into the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, May 11-17, 2026.
The Champion will also receive a spot in the 2026 PGA TOUR’s The American Express, with first and second place finishers getting a spot into the World Wide Technology Championship Monday Q.
Past champions in this year’s field include Michael Block (2023, 2022, 2018, 2017), Kyle Mendoza (2024, 2021, 2020), Chad Sorensen (2015), Alan Scheer (2013), Ryan Kennedy (2014), Scott Miller (2005), Geoff Dean (2003), Paul Dietsche (2002), and Paul Wise (1983, 1984).
A big thank you to the following partners for supporting this event:
PRESENTING SPONSORS – Club Car, Corebridge Financial, Rolex
SUPPORTING PARTNERS – PGA TOUR, Golf Channel, Gallagher, KM Golf Performance
SUPPORTED SPONSORS – Titleist, Footjoy, Nike, TaylorMade, Callaway
LOCAL PARTNERS – Strackaline, Kradul
PRODUCT PARTNER – Pepsi