2020 SCPGA Section Championship
Sept 14-16 at Ironwood Country Club & Indian Wells Golf Resort
FINAL ROUND RECAP
Kyle Mendoza of The Farms Golf Club capped off a dominant performance in the desert to win the Southern California PGA Professional Championship at Ironwood Country Club and Indian Wells Golf Resort.
Mendoza, who started the final round with a two-shot cushion, got off to an early start with an electric birdie on the par-4 first hole. He then further extended his lead when he added another birdie on the par-4 7th.
From then on Mendoza grinded his way to victory with a few tough par saves and bogeys on the 9th, 16th, and 18th. Mendoza two-putted the last hole to fire a final round one-over par 72 and a seven-under par total 207.
Several competitors lurked a few shots behind Mendoza throughout the round, however, no one was able to mount a comeback attempt. The fast and firm greens at Ironwood Country Club proved a challenging test for the field.
“Feels great, a lot of hard work goes into getting ready for a tournament like this, to be able to do that and share it with my family this week is awesome” commented Kyle Mendoza after his victory.
Brian Smock of Coronado Golf Course and Michael Block of Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club finished in a tie for second at five-under par, 209. Both Block and Smock had four bogeys each during the final round which ultimately proved costly in their attempts to catch Mendoza.
The following players have qualified for the 2021 PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie: Kyle Mendoza, Brian Smock, Michael Block, Steve Saunders, Logan Scott, Mike Fergin, Alan Sorensen, Chris Boyle, Mark Geddes, Tim Parun, Shane Ponchot, Mike Mitchell, and Alison Curdt. Best of luck to these 13 professionals as they represent the Southern California PGA and vie for a chance to compete in the 2021 PGA Championship.
This Championship concluded the OMEGA Section Player of the Year point race where Michael Block finished on top. This is Block’s seventh time in the past eight years to be named SCPGA Player of the Year.
Special thanks to our rules officials, Chairman Ron O’Connor, PGA, Keith Reinking, Gary Albin, and Lee Wortman.
Finally, the Section sends a big thank you to both Ironwood Country Club and Indian Wells Golf Resort for hosting this year’s Section Championship. Thanks to PGA Professionals Joe Williams of Indian Wells Golf Resort and Michael Oberlander of Ironwood Country Club for their hospitality this week.
The 2021 Southern California PGA Professional Championship will visit The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe.
ROUND TWO RECAP
As the round two dust settled, Kyle Mendoza of The Farms Golf Club emerged with the lead heading into the final round of the Southern California PGA Professional Championship with a two-day eight-under par total 135.
An opening round 66 on the difficult Ironwood Country Club – South Course helped position Mendoza going into his second round at the Indian Wells Golf Resort – Players Course. His round didn’t start on the best of notes with a bogey on #1, a short 558-yard par-5. Mendoza was able to overcome the adversity early on and finish the rest of the round four birdies for a three-under par 69.
Sitting two strokes off the lead is 2017 and 2018 Champion Michael Block of Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, who followed up his first round 66 at Indian Wells with a one-under par 70 at Ironwood for a two-day six-under par total 137.
A host of players sit tied for third and four-strokes back looking for a shot at the title including: Brian Smock of Coronado Golf Course, Mike Mitchell of Hideaway Golf Club, Logan Scott of Oakmont Country Club, Steve Saunders of Temecula Creek Inn, and Tim Parun, also of Coronado Golf Course. The quick greens and unforgiving layout at Ironwood Country Club will be a strong test in the final round for the remaining 62 players who survived the cut at six-over par.
Special thanks to our rules officials, Ron O’Connor, PGA, who is celebrating the attendance of his 51st SCPGA Section Championship, Keith Reinking, Gary Albin, Lee Wortman.
Tomorrow’s final round will promise a dramatic and pressure-packed finish at Ironwood. Play begins at 7AM PST.
ROUND ONE RECAP
PGA Professionals have flocked to Coachella Valley for the 96th playing of the Southern California PGA Professional Championship. Steve Saunders of Temecula Creek Inn and James Schacht of Mesa Verde Country Club share the lead with opening round six-under par 66’s.
The Championship is being hosted by two top-tier facilities, Indian Wells Golf Resort and Ironwood Country Club, with 156 PGA Professionals vying for a piece of the $80,000 purse.
Saunders was clicking on all-cylinders for most of the day at the Indian Wells – Players Course stringing off a tournament best nine birdies on holes #1, #2, #5, #7. #8, #9, #11, and #12, and #17. He hit a rough patch at the tail-end of his round with three bogeys to close out his round on #15, #16, and #18 but it didn’t overshadow his stellar round.
Schacht was also on a tear with birdies on #2, #3, #5, #8, #11, #14, and #17 at Indian Wells. His lone blemish on the scorecard came at the par-3 12th.
Lurking close behind the leaders are a bevy of fierce competitors looking to etch their name on the perpetual trophy amongst some of the greatest PGA Professionals to play in the Southern California Section. Among the players within striking distance one-stroke back are Kyle Mendoza of The Farms Golf Club and 2017, 2018 Champion Michael Block of Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club at five-under par.
This Championship serves as the national qualifier for the 2021 PGA Professional Championship where the low 11 finishers will represent the Section in Port St. Lucie, Florida at the PGA Golf Club.
Concluding Tuesday’s second round, the low 60 players plus ties will make the cut into the final round which will be held on the South Course at Ironwood Country Club on Wednesday, September 16th.
Past champions in the field include: Jeff Hart, (2019), Michael Block (2017, 2018), Chad Sorensen (2015), Ryan Kennedy (2014), Alan Scheer (2013), Erik Wolf (2007), Scott Miller (2005), Geoff Dean (2003), Paul Dietsche (2002), and Paul Wise (1983, 1984).