2026 Southern California PGA Section Championship
Rancho La Quinta CC | Sept 14-16(LA QUINTA, CA – SEPT 14, 2026) The opening round of the 2026 Southern California PGA Professional Championship, hosted at Rancho La Quinta Country Club on the Jones & Pate Courses, is complete.
This year’s Championship sees 167 PGA Professionals participating in the event, with the hopes of etching their name into the storied history of the Southern California PGA. The leaderboard is already looking stacked, and the players matched the desert heat with red-hot scores during today’s first round.
Taking the opening round lead is Lyon Lazare, PGA, of Monarch Beach Golf Links, shooting a 6-under-par 66. Lazare also leads the Section in Player of the Year points and recently won the SCPGA Match Play Championship.
Three players are tied for second behind Lazare with Natalie Vivaldi, PGA, of Goat Hill Park, leading the charge, followed by Jamie Puterbaugh, PGA, of Aviara Golf Academy, and Bruce Nakamura, PGA, of Aviara Golf Academy, all shooting scores of five-under-par 67.
This Championship serves as the Section’s qualifier for the 2027 PGA Professional Championship (PPC) hosted at Streamsong Golf Resort in Bowling Green, Florida, on April 25-28, 2027. The top 12 finishers will advance to the PPC, with five alternate positions.
Heading into moving day, the field is chasing a spot into the top 60 and ties to advance to Wednesday’s final round. The Champion will receive a spot in the 2027 PGA TOUR’s The American Express, with first and second place finishers getting a spot into the World Wide Technology Championship Monday Qualifier.
Past champions in this year’s field include Kyle Mendoza (2020, 2021, 2024), Chad Sorensen (2015), 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, Ship Sticks
SUPPORTING SPONSORS – Titleist, FootJoy, Nike, TaylorMade, Callaway
LOCAL PARTNERS – Stracka Golf, Dormie Workshop, Kradul, KM Golf Performance
PRODUCT PARTNERS – Pepsi, SCNS Sports Foods