WHAT: The 49th PGA Professional Championship,
Presented by: Club Car, Mercedes-Benz and OMEGA
WHEN: June 26-29, 2016
WHERE: Turning Stone Resort – Verona, N.Y. Atunyote Golf Club & Kaluhyat Golf Club (Atunyote Golf Club – site of final two rounds)
EXCLUSIVE MEDIA PARTNER: Golf Channel
CONTRIBUTING PARTNER: PGA Tour
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Matt Dobyns, Glen Head, N.Y.
28-year-old Wyatt Worthing truly earned his way into the field for the upcoming PGA Championships at Bultrasol. Just how did he do it? Wyatt was at 7-over par to start the final round of the PGA Professional National Championship, and inside his head, he knew that his next few strokes would either make him, or break him, in achieving his goal.
That Wednesday at the Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon course, his wish came true as the PGA Golf Instructor who works at the Golf Depot at Central Park in Gahanna, Ohio, came up one stroke shy of his goal; but scored just good enough to tie for low-round of the week honors.
Worthington shot a 3-under 67 to soar up the leaderboard.
The 2016 PGA Professional Championship features a $550,000 purse. The 2016 Champion’s name will be inscribed on the Walter Hagen Cup, which is enshrined at the PGA Gallery at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The 2016 PGA Professional Champion receives exemptions for the following:
The 2016 PGA Championship
Six PGA Tour events over a 12-month period
The low 20 scorers in the Championship earn a berth in the 2016 PGA Championship, July 28-31, at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey.
The Walter Hagen Cup
Presented to the PGA Professional Champion, the Walter Hagen Cup is named after the legendary golfer, five-time PGA Champion and one of the 35 charter members of the PGA of America. Hagen elevated the role of the PGA Professional throughout his career. Hagen’s inspirational career is reflected by today’s PGA Professionals in the national championship – displaying playing skills under a national spotlight while also serving their respective clubs and golf communities as managers, merchandisers, and respected teachers of the game. The PGA Professional Champion receives a replica of the crystal Walter Hagen Cup, which is 14ó inches high, 12 inches wide, and weighs 17ó pounds.
Method of Play
Stroke play, four rounds, 18 holes daily on two courses. The entire field of 312 will compete on each course once in the first two rounds, with the final two rounds contested at Atunyote Golf Club. Following the first 36 holes of play, the field will be reduced to the low 90 scorers and ties. Following completion of the third round, the low 70 scorers and ties will play the final round. In the event of a tie for first place upon completion of play, there will be a hole-by-hole playoff starting on the 18th hole. If still tied, players will advance to hole No. 10 and continue through the 17th hole. That process will be repeated until a Champion is determined. The playoff for the top 20 to advance to the PGA Championship will be a hole-by-hole format beginning 15 minutes after the completion of play. The playoff will begin on Hole No. 12, and if still tied, continue on holes 13-18 then hole No. 10 and hole No. 11. If a tie continues, the process will be repeated until all 20 positions and alternates are determined.
Eligibility
The field of 312 will be limited to those PGA members who are eligibly employed as PGA Professionals and in certain pre-established membership classifications as of May 11, 2016. The PGA of America reserves the right to determine whether or not any applicant is so employed and to reject any applicant who does not meet the requirements.
No player will be eligible if he or she has played in more than ten 10 combined Adams Golf Pro Tours, Asian Tour, Australia/New Zealand Tour, Champions TOUR, European Challenge Tour, European Senior Tour, European Tour, JPGA Senior Tour, JPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour (LET), LPGA Futures Tour (Symetra Tour), LPGA Tour, Mackenzie Tour Canada, OnCore Gateway Tour (eGolf Gateway Tour), PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, PGA TOUR LatinoAmerica, SwingThought.com Tour (eGolf Tour), The Safari Tour, The Sunshine Tour and web.com TOUR tournaments between May 11, 2015 and May 10, 2016. The U. S. Open, U.S. Senior Open, PGA Championship and Senior PGA Championship are not included in the 10- tournament count.
The National Car Rental PGA Assistant Champion will be exempt into the national field, provided that he or she was a PGA member at the time he or she won the Championship, and is eligibly employed or in an eligible PGA classification at the time of entry into the PGA Professional National Championship.
Rules and Regulations
The Rules of Golf, which govern play, are determined by the United States Golf Association and applied by the PGA of America Rules Committee. The PGA Professional National Championship is subject to the overall supervision of the board and the PGA Rules Committee.
The PGA Professional Championship returns to Central New York – Atunyote & Kaluhyat Golf Clubs Challenge Nation’s Finest PGA Professionals
Two of the country’s premier public/resort courses form the backdrop for the 49th PGA Professional Championship, the showcase event for PGA Professionals. The national championship returns to Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York, which hosted the 2006 Championship. The 312-player field will be challenged by Atunyote Golf Club and Kaluhyat Golf Club, separated by six miles. Turning Stone Resort is the only New York site to host the PGA Professional Championship, which originated in 1968.
Atunyote Golf Club, located southeast of Turning Stone’s headquarters in Vernon, New York, first attracted PGA Professionals in 2004 for the 2004 Eastern PGA Professional Championship before the Regional Championship format was discontinued in order that more emphasis may be placed on enhancing the 41 PGA Section Championships. The Section Championships have determined the PGA Professional Championship field through today.
Atunyote, a Tom Fazio design, opened for play in July 2004. The course was listed by Travel & Leisure Golf as one of the “10 Best New Public/Resort Courses” and in 2015 was among Golf Digest’s “100 Greatest Public Golf Courses.” From 2007-10, Atunyote was the site of the Turning Stone Resort Championship on the PGA TOUR.
Atunyote, (pronounced “uh-DUNE-yote ”), is the Oneida nation word for “eagle.” The course features traditional parkland setting with gently rolling hills, rock formations, a preserved deadwood marsh, a stream and waterfalls and several lakes and ponds. Large undulating greens and steep-faced bunkers are hallmarks of a Fazio design. The largest body of water, measuring 13 acres, runs along three fairways including the 18th hole. During the Championship, the par-72 Atunyote layout will play to 7,327 yards from the men’s tees and 6,218 yards for women.
Kaluhyat (pronounced “ga-LU-yut ”) is the Oneida nation phrase for “the other side of the sky.” Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., and opened for play in August 2003, Kaluhyat has been among Golf Digest’s 2015 lists of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” and “Best Courses You Can Play State-by- State.” Kaluhyat is a classic shotmaker’s course, rewarding accuracy as much as length. It is marked by dramatic changes in elevation, as well as mature forested areas, ancient wetlands and native plant life. Plateau settings offer spectacular views, while five lakes add to the ambience and a golfer’s course management skills. During the PGA Professional Championship, the par-72 Kaluhyat layout will play to 6,950 yards from the men’s tees and 5,870 yards for women.
PAR AND YARDAGES: The Atunyote Golf Club and Kaluhyat Golf Club will be used during the Championship’s first two rounds. Atunyote will host the final two rounds, and play to 7,327 yards for men and 6,218 yards for women, and to a par of 36-36-72. Kaluhyat will play to 6,950 yards for men; 5,870 yards for women, and to a par of 36-36-72.
ATUNYOTE GOLF CLUB – HOLE-BY-HOLE (Par-72, 7,327 yards- Men; 6,218 yards – Women)
| HOLE | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | TOTAL |
| PAR | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 |
| Men’s Yardage | 397 | 447 | 197 | 412 | 548 | 183 | 432 | 575 | 458 | 3,649 |
| Women’s Yardage | 340 | 379 | 167 | 347 | 466 | 153 | 366 | 491 | 387 | 3096 |
| HOLE | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | TOTAL |
| PAR | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 36 |
| Men’s Yardage | 421 | 210 | 536 | 416 | 409 | 440 | 176 | 465 | 605 | 3,678 |
| Women’s Yardage | 366 | 183 | 455 | 353 | 348 | 369 | 139 | 388 | 521 | 3,122 |
KALUHYAT GOLF CLUB – HOLE-BY-HOLE (Par-72, 6,950 yards – Men; 5,870 yards – Women)
| HOLE | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | TOTAL |
| PAR | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 |
| Men’s Yardage | 532 | 408 | 419 | 357 | 153 | 535 | 448 | 196 | 432 | 3,480 |
| Women’s Yardage | 471 | 342 | 356 | 302 | 130 | 406 | 369 | 165 | 367 | 2,908 |
| HOLE | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | TOTAL |
| PAR | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 |
| Men’s Yardage | 364 | 598 | 426 | 530 | 397 | 171 | 404 | 180 | 400 | 3,470 |
| Women’s Yardage | 304 | 520 | 363 | 462 | 335 | 145 | 342 | 150 | 341 | 2,962 |
PGA Professional Championship – The PGA Professional’s Showcase
The PGA Professional Championship began in 1968, to provide additional playing opportunities for PGA Professionals. In more than three decades, it has become a showcase event for PGA Professionals, featuring some of the finest players in the Association. Formerly a 360-player field, the format of the PGA Professional Championship was converted from 1997-2005 to a larger nationwide event featuring the finest 156 players at the peak of their games.
Previously, the Championship was contested after the golf season had ended across much of the United States. In 1997, local Sectional PGA Professional Championships were created, along with four new Regional PGA Professional Championships. The Championship then moved its dates to one month prior to the PGA Championship. Following the 2004 fall season, the Regional PGA Professional Championships were discontinued, focusing more on the Section Championships and PGA Professional Championship.
The Championship has been conducted in 16 states in the previous 48 years: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin.
The list of Champions over the past 48 years includes: Sam Snead, Bob Rosburg, Ed Dougherty, Bruce Fleisher; Larry Gilbert; Rex Baxter Jr., Don Massengale, Laurie Hammer, Larry Webb, Bob Boyd, Brett Upper, Bruce Zabriski, Mike Small and Matt Dobyns.
In 1997, the 30th PGA Professional Championship was the first to be televised live by Golf Channel to millions of viewers across the U.S., Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Latin America, Malaysia, the Middle East, Scandinavia and Singapore. This year’s PGA Professional Championship has a potential audience of 110 million.
The 49th PGA Professional Championship features a field of 312 players who have advanced from the 41 PGA Section Championships, along with eligible past Champions. The final 36 holes, conducted on one course, features the low 90 scorers and ties after 36 holes; followed by a 54-hole cut to the 70 scorers and ties prior to the final round. The Championship will distribute a total purse of more than $1.65 million, which will be awarded in both the Section and PGA Professional Championships.
