SOUTH FLORIDA PGA
Serving PGA Members and Growing the Game
List of Services
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PRO-SCRATCH CHAMPIONSHIP JULY 30, 2026 | BOCAIRE COUNTRY CLUBMORE INFO PRO-SCRATCH CHAMPIONSHIP
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BUSHNELL STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP AUGUST 4-5, 2026 | BALLENISLES COUNTRY CLUB / TBDMORE INFO BUSHNELL STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
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NORTH PALM BEACH COUNTRY CLUB SENIOR PRO-PRO AUGUST 7, 2026 | NORTH PALM BEACH COUNTRY CLUBMORE INFO NORTH PALM BEACH COUNTRY CLUB SENIOR PRO-PRO
What's the News?

July 8, 2026
Naples, FL - Mike Berger of Hammock Creek Golf Club and Chris Stanko of Banyan Golf Club of Palm Beach claimed the championship title with an 18-under performance at Hammock Bay Golf & Country Club and the Rookery at Marco on July 7-8, 2026. This year’s Championship returned to The Rookery at Marco and Hammock Bay, serving as the host facilities for the fifth time in the last six years. A full field of 240 South Florida PGA Professionals and Associates competed in a team four-ball format over the 36-hole event. After an 8-under opening round, Berger and Stanko were tied for sixth, only one shot behind the five teams tied for first. During the second round, Berger and Stanko fired off four birdies and an eagle on just the back nine, leading them to a 10-under score for the day. With an 18-under total for the championship, the two professionals took home the title by one stroke, finishing ahead of the teams of Andrew Filbert from West Bay Golf Club & Justin Smith of Bonita Bay, and defending champions Matt Cahill and Dakun Chang of Seminole Golf Club, who were tied for second at 17-under. In fourth place came Nick Latimer of Medalist Golf Club and Justin Hicks of Stonebridge Country Club, who wrapped the event at 16-under. The five teams, Michael Kartrude and Paul Scaletta, Zachary Wood and Patrick Ross, Maximilian Coulls and Jason Martin, Ryan Fountain and John Somers, and Daniel Lee and John Lento, finished tied at fifth place with a score of 15-under for the two days. Leaderboard

By Chance Bressler
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July 1, 2026
Atlantis, FL - Michael Kartrude and Eric Veilleux of the Bear’s Club did not shy away from the weather at the Yamaha Junior-Senior Championship. The two claimed the championship title with an 11-under performance today at Lost City Golf Club (East/North Courses). The 2026 Yamaha Junior-Senior welcomed 50 two-person teams of a junior SFPGA Member under the age of 50 and a senior SFPGA Member over the age of 50. Holes 1-6 were played in a best-ball format, while holes 7-12 were played in a modified alternate shot format, and holes 13-18 were played in a scramble format. Veilleux, a PGA Director of Golf and Kartude, a PGA Assistant Golf Professional had a bogey-free round, carding 11 birdies on the day, defeating the team of Mark Brown of The Yacht and Country Club and Matthew Sita of Boca Rio Golf Club by two shots. Finishing tied for third at 8-under were James Hamner of Windsor Club and Mike San Filippo of The Club at Lost Lake, along with Mike Berger of Hammock Creek Golf Club and Joe Kern of Mangrove Sands Golf Club. Leaderboard

By Chance Bressler
•
June 25, 2026
NAPLES, FL - John Somers wins the Championship Division while Justin Hicks wins the Senior Division at the E-Z-GO South Florida Open, played June 23-25 at Bonita Bay Club - Sabal & Cypress Courses. The second South Florida PGA Major of the year and first three-day Major featured 167 total players competing at Bonita Bay Club in Naples. Following round 2, a Senior Champion was crowned, and the field was cut to 55 players for the final round. Championship Division Hobe Sound Golf Club Assistant Professional, John Somers, opened the three-day event with a 1-under 71 to trail the round 1 leader, Justin Bertsch, by seven shots. Somers fired away in the second round with a 6-under 66, jumping up the leaderboard after round two. Continuing the momentum, Somers finished with the low round of the day, shooting an 8-under 64. Both Somers and Derron Peyton of BallenIsles Country Club finished round three tied at 15-under, leading to a playoff. After the first hole, Somers won the playoff with a birdie, earning the 2026 E-Z-GO South Florida Open Champion title. “You just gotta stay in the moment and not think too far ahead,” Somers said about heading into the playoff. “It was an amazing feeling, especially when that final putt dropped.” This marks Somers’ first win with the South Florida PGA Section since his move to Hobe Sound Golf Club last December, coming from the North Florida Section. Finishing in third with a 13-under total was Justin Hicks of Stonebridge Country Club, while Nathan Kraynyk of Wyndemere Country Club took fourth place honors at 10-under par for the three rounds. Senior Division In the Senior Division, Justin Hicks, Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Golf and Country Club, secured the title with a 10-under performance after shooting 69 and 65 for the two rounds. At the end of the first round, five players shared the top spot including Hicks, Jared Blocker of The Club at Olde Cypress, Alan Morin of The Club at Ibis, Steven Vecellio of Frenchmans Reserve Country Club, and David Startzel of Bonita Bay Club in Naples. Hick’s bogey-free second round edged out Vecellio, shooting a 67 to take his total to 8-under as the Runner-Up. Finishing at 7-under was Morin who took third place, while Colin Amaral of Country Club at Mirasol, finished in fourth at 4-under.
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?

July 8, 2026
Naples, FL - Mike Berger of Hammock Creek Golf Club and Chris Stanko of Banyan Golf Club of Palm Beach claimed the championship title with an 18-under performance at Hammock Bay Golf & Country Club and the Rookery at Marco on July 7-8, 2026. This year’s Championship returned to The Rookery at Marco and Hammock Bay, serving as the host facilities for the fifth time in the last six years. A full field of 240 South Florida PGA Professionals and Associates competed in a team four-ball format over the 36-hole event. After an 8-under opening round, Berger and Stanko were tied for sixth, only one shot behind the five teams tied for first. During the second round, Berger and Stanko fired off four birdies and an eagle on just the back nine, leading them to a 10-under score for the day. With an 18-under total for the championship, the two professionals took home the title by one stroke, finishing ahead of the teams of Andrew Filbert from West Bay Golf Club & Justin Smith of Bonita Bay, and defending champions Matt Cahill and Dakun Chang of Seminole Golf Club, who were tied for second at 17-under. In fourth place came Nick Latimer of Medalist Golf Club and Justin Hicks of Stonebridge Country Club, who wrapped the event at 16-under. The five teams, Michael Kartrude and Paul Scaletta, Zachary Wood and Patrick Ross, Maximilian Coulls and Jason Martin, Ryan Fountain and John Somers, and Daniel Lee and John Lento, finished tied at fifth place with a score of 15-under for the two days. Leaderboard

By Chance Bressler
•
July 1, 2026
Atlantis, FL - Michael Kartrude and Eric Veilleux of the Bear’s Club did not shy away from the weather at the Yamaha Junior-Senior Championship. The two claimed the championship title with an 11-under performance today at Lost City Golf Club (East/North Courses). The 2026 Yamaha Junior-Senior welcomed 50 two-person teams of a junior SFPGA Member under the age of 50 and a senior SFPGA Member over the age of 50. Holes 1-6 were played in a best-ball format, while holes 7-12 were played in a modified alternate shot format, and holes 13-18 were played in a scramble format. Veilleux, a PGA Director of Golf and Kartude, a PGA Assistant Golf Professional had a bogey-free round, carding 11 birdies on the day, defeating the team of Mark Brown of The Yacht and Country Club and Matthew Sita of Boca Rio Golf Club by two shots. Finishing tied for third at 8-under were James Hamner of Windsor Club and Mike San Filippo of The Club at Lost Lake, along with Mike Berger of Hammock Creek Golf Club and Joe Kern of Mangrove Sands Golf Club. Leaderboard

By Chance Bressler
•
June 25, 2026
NAPLES, FL - John Somers wins the Championship Division while Justin Hicks wins the Senior Division at the E-Z-GO South Florida Open, played June 23-25 at Bonita Bay Club - Sabal & Cypress Courses. The second South Florida PGA Major of the year and first three-day Major featured 167 total players competing at Bonita Bay Club in Naples. Following round 2, a Senior Champion was crowned, and the field was cut to 55 players for the final round. Championship Division Hobe Sound Golf Club Assistant Professional, John Somers, opened the three-day event with a 1-under 71 to trail the round 1 leader, Justin Bertsch, by seven shots. Somers fired away in the second round with a 6-under 66, jumping up the leaderboard after round two. Continuing the momentum, Somers finished with the low round of the day, shooting an 8-under 64. Both Somers and Derron Peyton of BallenIsles Country Club finished round three tied at 15-under, leading to a playoff. After the first hole, Somers won the playoff with a birdie, earning the 2026 E-Z-GO South Florida Open Champion title. “You just gotta stay in the moment and not think too far ahead,” Somers said about heading into the playoff. “It was an amazing feeling, especially when that final putt dropped.” This marks Somers’ first win with the South Florida PGA Section since his move to Hobe Sound Golf Club last December, coming from the North Florida Section. Finishing in third with a 13-under total was Justin Hicks of Stonebridge Country Club, while Nathan Kraynyk of Wyndemere Country Club took fourth place honors at 10-under par for the three rounds. Senior Division In the Senior Division, Justin Hicks, Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Golf and Country Club, secured the title with a 10-under performance after shooting 69 and 65 for the two rounds. At the end of the first round, five players shared the top spot including Hicks, Jared Blocker of The Club at Olde Cypress, Alan Morin of The Club at Ibis, Steven Vecellio of Frenchmans Reserve Country Club, and David Startzel of Bonita Bay Club in Naples. Hick’s bogey-free second round edged out Vecellio, shooting a 67 to take his total to 8-under as the Runner-Up. Finishing at 7-under was Morin who took third place, while Colin Amaral of Country Club at Mirasol, finished in fourth at 4-under.







