PGA Professional National Championship / June 28-July 1, 2009
The 2009 PGA Professional National Championship (PPNC) got underway today in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. The 72-hole tournament begins with a 312-man field representing 43 states and 41 PGA Sections. They will play two golf courses, Twin Warriors Golf Club and Santa Ana Golf Club. The field will be cut after 36 holes to low 70 and ties, and the final two rounds will be contested on the host course, Twin Warriors.
This is the PGA of America's most important championship for club professionals. The top 20 finishers earn spots in the 2009 PGA Championship, the year's final major being played at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. Just to make the PPNC field is a real honor, and I am proud to have three students in this week's competition:
Billy Anderson, 2008 Carolinas PGA Professional Champion
Jeff Hull, 2008 Georgia PGA Professional Champion
Curt Sanders, 2008 Carolinas PGA Player of the Year
Well with 312 players on 2 courses the weather has definately made an impact. I started on the 10th hole at Twin Warriors (a longer and much tougher course than Santa Anna) dead into about a 30 mph wind. The wind howled throughout the entire round and then started to rain with 4 to play. I played very solid and really hit the driver well. I made a bad club decision on the 7th hole (my 16th of the day) and made bogey then 3 putted the next for bogey.
Later on in the day the winds calmed, the rain stopped, and the scores came down. We are supposed to have a pretty nice day today so scoring should be much better.
I am playing the easier of the two courses today and know what I have to do. I was in this position last year and made the cut so I expect to do the same today. I anticipate the cut going to 2 or 3 over par so anything in the 60s should do the trick.
Well with 312 players on 2 courses the weather has definately made an impact. I started on the 10th hole at Twin Warriors (a longer and much tougher course than Santa Anna) dead into about a 30 mph wind. The wind howled throughout the entire round and then started to rain with 4 to play. I played very solid and really hit the driver well. I made a bad club decision on the 7th hole (my 16th of the day) and made bogey then 3 putted the next for bogey.
Later on in the day the winds calmed, the rain stopped, and the scores came down. We are supposed to have a pretty nice day today so scoring should be much better.
I am playing the easier of the two courses today and know what I have to do. I was in this position last year and made the cut so I expect to do the same today. I anticipate the cut going to 2 or 3 over par so anything in the 60s should do the trick.
I will report back later.
Thanks for this, Jeff. Your LBG cyber-gallery appreciates it and is cheering you on!
So now we have the PGA of America's foremost club professional's championship. We also have the conclusion of 36 holes of play. Time for a cut, right? Right!
Well, how many players? I presume 70 and ties, since that is the PGA TOUR standard. On the other hand, the TOUR typically tees off 144 players, not 319. Somebody at the PGA knew how many the cut would include, but sadly, those of us on the cyber-outside looking in could not find out.
And just who made that cut? Well, from the PGA's website, go here http://www.pga.com/nationalchampionship/2009/scoring/. The scoreboard tells us that 87 players made the cut at 144 (+2), but what about the 222 others?
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