The win guarantees Bilal a spot in the PGA Professional Championship in April of 2022.
September 1, 2021
St. Simons Island, GA. — Jabir Bilal, PGA Director of Instruction at Crystal Lake Golf & Country Club in Hampton won the 62nd L&J Golf Georgia PGA Championship presented by BIOLYTE, Golf Max, LAB Golf, Golf Surprize and the PGA Tour on Wednesday at a breezy Sea Island Golf Club’s Seaside Course. The tournament was contested August 31-September 1.
Bilal led wire-to-wire over the three-round tournament to be crowned the champion at 10-under par 200. His win made him the first African American to win the Georgia PGA Championship and only the second to win any of the 41 PGA Section Championships in the 105-year history of the Association.
Bilal shot rounds of 65-66-69 for a 10-under 200, good enough for a five-shot win over Tim Weinhart of the Heritage Golf Links in Tucker. Jacob Tilton of Ansley Golf Club in Atlanta was third at 2 under, and Anthony Cordes of Cherokee Town and Country Club in Atlanta was fourth at 1 under.
“This very special. … It’s something I’ll never forget,” Bilal said.
He started the final round with a three-shot lead over PGA Assistant Professional Anthony Cordes of Cherokee Town & Country Club who slid down the leaderboard to fourth place with a final round 5-over 75. Three-time Champion and PGA Director of Instruction at Heritage Golf Links Tim Weinhart finished as runner-up at 5-under par 205. PGA Instructor Jacob Tilton at Ansley Golf Club shot a final round of 3-under 67 to finish in third at 2-under 208.
Bilal admitted he was nervous on the first tee and opted to safely “bunt it to get it in play,” he said. That resulted in a birdie and he made the turn 2 under. His first bogey came at No. 13 when the wind started gusting 25 mph, but he got it back with a birdie at No. 15.
“The round was up and down, but I was able to keep my composure,” he said.
Balal was first introduced to the game of golf as a youngster, while being involved with the Boys & Girls Club in his community and was the PGA Georgia Section 2017 Player Of The Year. Today, the 35-year-old Conyers, Ga., resident carries a 0 handicap.
Bilal is a graduate of Southwest DeKalb High School and Grambling State, where he played on the golf team. He previously was an assistant professional at Foss Park Golf Course in North Chicago.
With his win, Bilal joins an elite group of Section Champions with names riddled throughout Georgia golf lore. Names such as Davis Love Jr., Dewitt Weaver Jr., Gregg Wolff, Tim Weinhart, Stephen Keppler and James Mason.
The win guarantees Bilal a spot in the PGA Professional Championship in April of 2022. The Seaside Course at Sea Island is a par 70 and played at 6,757 yards for the Championship. Brannen Veal is the PGA Director of Golf and Johann Emanuel, and John Olson are the Co-Head PGA Professionals. The L&J Golf Georgia PGA Championship is the only 54-hole event conducted by the Georgia PGA.
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About the Georgia PGA
The Georgia PGA is one of the 41 Sections of the PGA of America. Its membership includes nearly 870 PGA professionals working at over 260 golf courses, clubs, and ranges throughout the state. Additionally, more than 35 Georgia PGA members compete on one of the PGA Tours. In keeping with the fundamental objectives laid down by its founders, one of the Georgia PGA’s primary goals is promoting the game of golf through clinics, junior and minority golf programs, consumer programs, and print, radio and television media.
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