SOUTH FLORIDA PGA
Serving PGA Members and Growing the Game
What's the News?
By Chance Bressler & Lilah Demmy
•
August 19, 2026
Jupiter, FL - Justin Hicks fires off a 13-under performance in two days to win the South Florida PGA Senior PGA Professional Championship, held August 18-19, 2026 at The Loxahatchee Club. Out of the gate in round one, Justin Hicks, PGA Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Country Club, started steady by making only pars on the first five holes and finishing the nine at 2-under. Making the turn, Hicks turned it up a notch, making four birdies and an eagle, finishing the round at 8-under. At the conclusion of the first round, Hicks led by six shots over John Nieporte, PGA Director of Golf at Trump National Golf Club (Jupiter), and Daniel Escalera, PGA Teaching Professional at La Gorce Country Club. 2012 Champion, John Lee, PGA General Manager at Imperial Golf Club, trailed the leader by eight shots at even-par in fourth place. “I've tried a few championship qualifiers this year, and they slapped me around pretty good out there. So, I'm trying to kind of treat each round almost like, a qualifier” Hicks explained. Hicks carried that mindset into round two putting together a strong and steady performance, recording five birdies while consistently making par throughout his round finishing the day at 5-under. “Oh, this is kind of fun. Maybe I'll run this up and see how much, how many under I can get it, "Hicks said. Over 36 holes Hicks finished the championship with a bogey-free 13-under performance. Runner Up Daniel Escalera, PGA Teaching Professional at La Gorce Country Club trailed Hicks finishing the tournament 2-under with 8 total birdies. Escalera had a steady second round, shooting even par and securing a spot in the National Senior PGA Professional Championship set to take place this October 22-25 at Superstition Mountain in Golden Canyon, Arizona. Joining Hicks and Escalera at the National Senior PGA Professional Championship in third place is John Nieporte, PGA Director of Golf at Trump International Golf Club (-1), tied for fourth is Tim Cantwell, PGA Teaching Instructor at PGA National Golf Club (E) and Roger Kennedy Jr, PGA Assistant Professional at The Club at Quail Ridge (E), and in fifth place is Michael Kostelnik, PGA Head Golf Professional at Lost Tree Club (+1). “I do think we have one of the strongest sections, if not the strongest section in the U.S. ” Hicks said. Leaderboard | Event Photos
By Chance Bressler
•
August 7, 2026
North Palm Beach, FL - Paul Scaletta and Tim Turpen fired a 9-under 62 to win the Senior Pro-Pro Championship held at North Palm Beach Country Club on August 7, 2026. This year’s event welcomed 43 two-person teams of senior PGA Professionals playing in a four-ball format. Paul Scaletta, PGA Teaching Professional at the Bear’s Club, and Tim Turpen, PGA General Manager at The Preserve at Ironhorse, teamed up for the first time in the 2025 Senior Pro-Pro Championship and finished tied for third. This year, the two managed to break the streak of three-time champions Mark Brown, PGA Teaching Professional at Stuart Yacht and Country Club, and Mark Mielke, PGA Teaching Professional at High Ridge Country Club. Starting on hole number 17, the Scaletta and Turpen team had a steady start, finishing the first three holes at 1-under. With two birdies and an eagle, they advanced to 5-under through nine holes played. With seven holes to play, the duo made five additional birdies to finish the event at 9-under, which led to the tournament win. Finishing in the runner-up spot was the team of Justin Hicks, PGA Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Country Club, and Matt Ball, PGA Director of Instruction at Delray Indoor Golf Center. Tied in third were reigning champions Mielke and Brown, along with Jeff Raimer, PGA Director of Golf at The Gate Golf Club, and Daniel Heaslip, PGA Director of Golf at Windstar on Naples Bay. Rounding out the top five were teams of Colin Amaral, PGA Director of Instruction at Country Club at Mirasol, and Roger Kennedy Jr., PGA Assistant Golf Professional at The Club at Quail Ridge, who were tied with Michael Kostelnik, PGA Head Golf Professional at Lost Tree Club, and Alan Morin, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Ibis Golf & Country Club. Leaderboard | Event Photos
By Chance Bressler
•
August 5, 2026
Palm Beach Gardens, FL - Palm Beach Gardens, FL - Michael Kartrude wins at the third of four South Florida PGA Major Championships, the Bushnell I Foresight Stroke Play Championship, shooting 9-under, played August 4-5 at Trump National Golf Club - Jupiter and BallenIsles Country Club - East Course. In addition to Kartrude, Joe Kern claimed the Senior Division title with a 6-under performance. After the first round, Taylor Collins, PGA Teaching Professional at Coral Ridge Country Club, Andrew Filbert, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at West Bay Golf Club, and Nicholas Tenuta, Teaching Professional at Hobe Sound Golf Club, were tied in first place at 5-under. Tim Cantwell, PGA Teaching Professional at PGA National Golf Club, followed closely behind at 4-under along with Michael Kartrude, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at The Bear’s Club. After nine holes were completed in the second round, Cantwell held a narrow one-stroke lead over Collins. While Collins remained steady on the back nine, Lost Tree Club Assistant Professional Brant Peaper caught fire, carding back-to-back birdies to tie Collins for the lead. Peaper eventually pulled away, finishing his final round at Trump National Golf Club - Jupiter at 8-under. However, over at BallenIsles, Kartrude mounted a late charge after an hour-long weather delay. With Peaper in at 8-under, Kartrude holed out the short par-4 15th and made eagle, then followed up with a birdie on the par-5 17th, which catapulted him into the lead by one shot with one hole remaining. By making par on the final hole, Kartrude finished his round at 5-under and claimed the two-day championship with a final score of 9-under par. “I knew exactly where we were on the leaderboard,” Kartrude said, reflecting on the final stretch. “After the hour-long weather delay, I knew exactly what we needed to do.” After stringing together multiple top-5 finishes over the year, this marks Kartrude’s first individual victory on the Section Schedule for the 2026 season, with his last win being the 2025 South Florida PGA Section Championship. Kartrude states, “I just think that this section is getting better and better. The guys here are getting better and better. South Florida is such a hotbed, so to win one of the majors on this schedule makes me proud.” With the 5-under second-round performance, Peaper managed the runner-up spot, and Filbert, Tenuta, and Zachary Wood, PGA Caddie at The Seagate Country Club, rounded out the top five at 6-under. Senior Division In the Senior Division, Joe Kern, PGA Director of Golf at Mangrove Sands Golf Club, managed a two-day total of 6-under to win the Senior title by one over Justin Hicks, PGA Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Country Club. With this win, Kern managed his first victory of the 2026 South Florida PGA season, with his last win coming from the 2023 Pro-Junior Championship. Paul Scaletta, PGA Teaching Professional at The Bears Club, Mark Brown, PGA Teaching Professional at Stuart Yacht and Country Club, and Cantwell rounded out the top five at 4-under. Additionally, Brown carded an ace on the fourth hole at BallenIsles Country Club’s East Course during the first round. Leaderboard | Event Photos
About SFPGA
The South Florida Section of the PGA of America is an association of golf professionals whose mission is to promote interest, participation and enjoyment in the game of golf; establish and maintain professional standards or practice; and enhance the well-being of golf professionals.
What's the News?
By Chance Bressler & Lilah Demmy
•
August 19, 2026
Jupiter, FL - Justin Hicks fires off a 13-under performance in two days to win the South Florida PGA Senior PGA Professional Championship, held August 18-19, 2026 at The Loxahatchee Club. Out of the gate in round one, Justin Hicks, PGA Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Country Club, started steady by making only pars on the first five holes and finishing the nine at 2-under. Making the turn, Hicks turned it up a notch, making four birdies and an eagle, finishing the round at 8-under. At the conclusion of the first round, Hicks led by six shots over John Nieporte, PGA Director of Golf at Trump National Golf Club (Jupiter), and Daniel Escalera, PGA Teaching Professional at La Gorce Country Club. 2012 Champion, John Lee, PGA General Manager at Imperial Golf Club, trailed the leader by eight shots at even-par in fourth place. “I've tried a few championship qualifiers this year, and they slapped me around pretty good out there. So, I'm trying to kind of treat each round almost like, a qualifier” Hicks explained. Hicks carried that mindset into round two putting together a strong and steady performance, recording five birdies while consistently making par throughout his round finishing the day at 5-under. “Oh, this is kind of fun. Maybe I'll run this up and see how much, how many under I can get it, "Hicks said. Over 36 holes Hicks finished the championship with a bogey-free 13-under performance. Runner Up Daniel Escalera, PGA Teaching Professional at La Gorce Country Club trailed Hicks finishing the tournament 2-under with 8 total birdies. Escalera had a steady second round, shooting even par and securing a spot in the National Senior PGA Professional Championship set to take place this October 22-25 at Superstition Mountain in Golden Canyon, Arizona. Joining Hicks and Escalera at the National Senior PGA Professional Championship in third place is John Nieporte, PGA Director of Golf at Trump International Golf Club (-1), tied for fourth is Tim Cantwell, PGA Teaching Instructor at PGA National Golf Club (E) and Roger Kennedy Jr, PGA Assistant Professional at The Club at Quail Ridge (E), and in fifth place is Michael Kostelnik, PGA Head Golf Professional at Lost Tree Club (+1). “I do think we have one of the strongest sections, if not the strongest section in the U.S. ” Hicks said. Leaderboard | Event Photos
By Chance Bressler
•
August 7, 2026
North Palm Beach, FL - Paul Scaletta and Tim Turpen fired a 9-under 62 to win the Senior Pro-Pro Championship held at North Palm Beach Country Club on August 7, 2026. This year’s event welcomed 43 two-person teams of senior PGA Professionals playing in a four-ball format. Paul Scaletta, PGA Teaching Professional at the Bear’s Club, and Tim Turpen, PGA General Manager at The Preserve at Ironhorse, teamed up for the first time in the 2025 Senior Pro-Pro Championship and finished tied for third. This year, the two managed to break the streak of three-time champions Mark Brown, PGA Teaching Professional at Stuart Yacht and Country Club, and Mark Mielke, PGA Teaching Professional at High Ridge Country Club. Starting on hole number 17, the Scaletta and Turpen team had a steady start, finishing the first three holes at 1-under. With two birdies and an eagle, they advanced to 5-under through nine holes played. With seven holes to play, the duo made five additional birdies to finish the event at 9-under, which led to the tournament win. Finishing in the runner-up spot was the team of Justin Hicks, PGA Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Country Club, and Matt Ball, PGA Director of Instruction at Delray Indoor Golf Center. Tied in third were reigning champions Mielke and Brown, along with Jeff Raimer, PGA Director of Golf at The Gate Golf Club, and Daniel Heaslip, PGA Director of Golf at Windstar on Naples Bay. Rounding out the top five were teams of Colin Amaral, PGA Director of Instruction at Country Club at Mirasol, and Roger Kennedy Jr., PGA Assistant Golf Professional at The Club at Quail Ridge, who were tied with Michael Kostelnik, PGA Head Golf Professional at Lost Tree Club, and Alan Morin, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Ibis Golf & Country Club. Leaderboard | Event Photos
By Chance Bressler
•
August 5, 2026
Palm Beach Gardens, FL - Palm Beach Gardens, FL - Michael Kartrude wins at the third of four South Florida PGA Major Championships, the Bushnell I Foresight Stroke Play Championship, shooting 9-under, played August 4-5 at Trump National Golf Club - Jupiter and BallenIsles Country Club - East Course. In addition to Kartrude, Joe Kern claimed the Senior Division title with a 6-under performance. After the first round, Taylor Collins, PGA Teaching Professional at Coral Ridge Country Club, Andrew Filbert, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at West Bay Golf Club, and Nicholas Tenuta, Teaching Professional at Hobe Sound Golf Club, were tied in first place at 5-under. Tim Cantwell, PGA Teaching Professional at PGA National Golf Club, followed closely behind at 4-under along with Michael Kartrude, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at The Bear’s Club. After nine holes were completed in the second round, Cantwell held a narrow one-stroke lead over Collins. While Collins remained steady on the back nine, Lost Tree Club Assistant Professional Brant Peaper caught fire, carding back-to-back birdies to tie Collins for the lead. Peaper eventually pulled away, finishing his final round at Trump National Golf Club - Jupiter at 8-under. However, over at BallenIsles, Kartrude mounted a late charge after an hour-long weather delay. With Peaper in at 8-under, Kartrude holed out the short par-4 15th and made eagle, then followed up with a birdie on the par-5 17th, which catapulted him into the lead by one shot with one hole remaining. By making par on the final hole, Kartrude finished his round at 5-under and claimed the two-day championship with a final score of 9-under par. “I knew exactly where we were on the leaderboard,” Kartrude said, reflecting on the final stretch. “After the hour-long weather delay, I knew exactly what we needed to do.” After stringing together multiple top-5 finishes over the year, this marks Kartrude’s first individual victory on the Section Schedule for the 2026 season, with his last win being the 2025 South Florida PGA Section Championship. Kartrude states, “I just think that this section is getting better and better. The guys here are getting better and better. South Florida is such a hotbed, so to win one of the majors on this schedule makes me proud.” With the 5-under second-round performance, Peaper managed the runner-up spot, and Filbert, Tenuta, and Zachary Wood, PGA Caddie at The Seagate Country Club, rounded out the top five at 6-under. Senior Division In the Senior Division, Joe Kern, PGA Director of Golf at Mangrove Sands Golf Club, managed a two-day total of 6-under to win the Senior title by one over Justin Hicks, PGA Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Country Club. With this win, Kern managed his first victory of the 2026 South Florida PGA season, with his last win coming from the 2023 Pro-Junior Championship. Paul Scaletta, PGA Teaching Professional at The Bears Club, Mark Brown, PGA Teaching Professional at Stuart Yacht and Country Club, and Cantwell rounded out the top five at 4-under. Additionally, Brown carded an ace on the fourth hole at BallenIsles Country Club’s East Course during the first round. Leaderboard | Event Photos
