Three South Florida PGA Members Qualify for 2024 PGA Championship
West Palm Beach, FL - South Florida PGA of America Professionals Evan Bowser, Tyler Collet and Jeremy Wells qualified for the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, finishing in the top-10 yesterday at the PGA Professional Championship at PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch.
Bowser, Assistant Professional at LaPlaya Golf Club (Naples), Collet, Assistant Professional at John’s Island Club (Vero Beach) and Wells, Director of Development at Cypress Lake Golf Club (Fort Myers) will join 17 other PGA of America Professionals as the Corebridge Financial PGA Team at Valhalla Golf Club.
The PGA Professional Championship (PPC) is the annual “National Championship” for PGA of America Golf Professionals who qualify for the event through the 41 Section’s individual championships. For the first time in Section history, the South Florida PGA will have three representatives at the PGA Championship.
“Having three Section Members make the PGA Championship for the first time in Section history validates how strong of players PGA Professionals are in the South Florida Section,” said Geoff Lofstead, Executive Director of the South Florida PGA.
This year’s PPC was held, for the first time, at PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch. Due to weather, the start of the opening round was delayed substantially, ultimately causing delays for the rest of the week, adding another layer of difficulty.
“This week was full of just grind mode,” said Collet. “With weather delays, fog delays, wind and gnarly rough, I was very happy to walk with a top-20 finish.”
Collet obtained his Class-A PGA Membership in 2018 after graduating from Eastern Kentucky University with a Professional Golf Management degree. After finishing in a tie for sixth yesterday, Collet will be making his third PGA Championship start, with prior starts being in the 2021 and 2022 PGA Championships.
The 28-year-old Collet has enjoyed an exciting 2024 playing season, already making starts at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches and the Puerto Rico Open, where he made his first cut on the PGA TOUR.
“This just keeps the momentum going for me and gives me more and more confidence going forward,” explained Collet.
Bowser made his first trip to the PGA of America Frisco Headquarters last year as an associate for his level three PGA seminar, the very same week as the 2023 PPC.
“I thought to myself, I should be playing in this event next year,” said Bowser who became a full member in 2023 and finished tied for eighth yesterday at his first PPC. “It is amazing how it all came together.”
The week was incredibly special for Bowser and his entire family as his sister was on the bag all week with his Dad and wife following along showing their support.
“Honestly they are happier than me,” said Bowser. “Plus I'm thankful for all my supporters at LaPLaya Golf Club for helping me achieve this goal.”
During the 2023 PPC, Wells entered the final round in a tie for 29th. He managed to match the final round low, moving up the leaderboard to seventh place, clinching his first Major Championship berth in his first attempt at the PPC, much like Bowser this year.
Entering the 2024 final round, Wells was in a tie for 44th, making his attempt for consecutive PGA Championship berths a tall task.
Once again, Wells was up for the challenge, firing the final round low (70) by two shots and moving 37 spots up the leaderboard to finish in a tie for eighth.
“I shot 80 (in round three) and I'm still kind of in it, "explained Wells. “That's how hard that place was. If I just go out and shoot under-par, I have a really good chance.”
Tomorrow, Wells will officially be a Class-A PGA Member for two years, he is now on his way to making his second PGA Championship start.
“To make it through in my first two tries to the PGA Championship, I am incredibly proud of that,” said Wells. “There are 30,000 of us and to get down to the top-20 twice in a row, I wouldn't of predicted that.”
Bowser, Collet and Wells will all travel to Valhalla Golf Club to represent the South Florida PGA and their respective facilities at the 2024 Championship, May 16-19.
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