Tim Weinhart, PGA teaching professional from the Tim Weinhart Golf Academy at Heritage Golf Links in Tucker won the Georgia PGA Professional Championship, which was conducted at Jennings Mill Country Club in Watkinsville. Weinhart will lead five Georgia Section PGA Professionals to compete in the 53rd PGA Professional Championship, April 26 – April 29, 2020, at the Omni Barton Creek Resort in Austin, Texas.
Weinhart turned in a winning total of 5-under par 139 and won by two shots over the hard-charging newly elected PGA member Anthony Cordes, an assistant professional at Cherokee Town & Country Club in Sandy Springs. Cordes was 7-under through 16 holes on his second round, but back-to-back bogeys on the final two holes still gave him the championship low round of 5-under par 67 and a tournament total of 3-under par 141 to advance to Barton Creek.
This marks the record sixth-time that Weinhart has won the Georgia PGA Professional Championship. For his efforts Weinhart earned the first place check of $3,700. Weinhart also earned his record-setting 10th Georgia PGA OMEGA/Billy Weir Player of the Year title, and another record 9th Gregg Wolff Award title that is awarded for the low stroke average by a Georgia PGA member in a calendar year.
Finishing alone in third place at 1-under par 143 was assistant PGA professional Jake Keen of Maple Ridge Golf Course in Columbus. Rounding out the final Georgia PGA qualifiers; Justin Martin of Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta alone in 4th place at 1-over par 145, after carding a final round of 2-under par 70. The final two spots were earned by 2017 Georgia PGA OMEGA/Billy Weir Player of the Year Kyle Owen of Dunwoody Country Club and the 2018 Georgia PGA OMEGA/Billy Wier Player of the Year, PGA Life Member Paul Claxton from Claxton. The duo both tied for 5th place at 3-over par 147. It will be the debut for both Cordes and Keen in the PGA Professional Championship.
The Championship brings together a field of 312 contestants representing the PGA of America’s 41 nationwide Sections. The PGA Professional Championship, carrying a $550,000 total purse this year, is broadcast (all four rounds) by Golf Channel. Following 36 holes of play, the field will be trimmed to the low 90 scorers and ties, and following 54 holes of play, the field will be trimmed to the low 70 scorers and ties.
The low 20 scorers in 2019 will earn berths into the 102nd PGA Championship, May 14-17, 2020, at Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco, California.