(Second round of two)
 

GEORGE WINS CPGA HEAD PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP,
BLACKBURN EARNS RBC HERITAGE SPOT

Champion Larry George, PGA

(Hilton Head Island, SC) - Larry George earned an overtime victory at the 2017 Carolinas PGA Head Professional Championship held at Wexford Golf Club.

George, the PGA Head Professional at River Landing Country Club in Wallace, NC, opened the tournament with a 71 (-1) and sat four strokes behind Brooks Blackburn, the PGA Head Professional from Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, SC who had posted first round 67 (-4).  Unfortunately, both competitors had tougher second rounds.  Blackburn closed with a rocky 36-42=78 (+6) including a wrong ball penalty to finish at 145 (+6).  George carded a 37-37=74 (+2) to tie Blackburn at 145 (+6).

The playoff went to the challenging par-4 #18.  Blackburn pushed his drive into the lateral water hazard running down the right side of the hole and was forced to take relief with a penalty stroke.  To compound matters, he then played his third stroke into the greenside bunker where his ball buried on the flashed face.  George calmly found the fairway and the left edge of the putting green.  Not feeling much pressure, George left his first putt well short and missed his second attempt.  However, his one-foot putt for a bogey 5 was enough to beat Blackburn's 6 by one stroke.

Despite not winning the championship playoff, Blackburn still has plenty to celebrate.  With his first round score, Blackburn won the Carolinas PGA's 18-hole PGA Member qualifier for the 2017 PGA Tour RBC Heritage taking place at Sea Pines Resort's Harbour Town Golf Links from April 13-16.  The CPGA wishes Blackburn the best of luck.

Brooks Blackburn, PGA

Partners

Sun Mountain presented each contestant with a beautiful performance outerwear piece.
www.SunMountain.com

BirdieBox gave each person a box of assorted lifestyle and technology gifts.
www.BirdeBox.com

Evolve Golf conducted its Total Driving Challenge tracking shots on the tenth hole where distance and accuracy were combined to rate each participant.  1st prize - $150, 2nd - $100, 3rd - $50.
www.EvolveGolf.com
 

About Wexford Golf Club


Special thanks to Head Professional Scott Hunter, PGA, and Assistant Professional James Scales and the club's members and staff for graciously hosting the championship and for their hospitality to our staff and CPGA professionals.

Wexford Plantation is a highly acclaimed, gated residential community on Hilton Head Island, SC. Membership at Wexford is reserved exclusively for property owners and is included with ownership. Owning property in Wexford entitles you to the use of all of the club amenities, and is limited to less than 500 member families. There are no special "categories of membership" at Wexford; all club facilities and amenities are maintained solely for the enjoyment of property owners, families and their invited guests.

Following a major renovation, Arnold Palmer opened his Signature Course at Wexford Plantation in 2011. The 18–hole Wexford Course was originally designed by Willard C. Byrd and opened in 1983. After the renovation, each hole retained a distinctive and timeless look while adding numerous risk and reward challenges that offer interestingly delicate plays that require thought, imagination and a well honed short game.

In addition to the outstanding recently renovated Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course, APDC also renovated the Wexford driving range and golf practice area, mirroring the renovation of the golf course with target greens and practice bunkers.

An accomplished Director of Golf and staff provide high quality golf instruction and clinics for all members with a particular emphasis on the very active junior section.

www.wexfordplantation.com


About the Carolinas PGA Section

Since its inception in 1923, the Carolinas PGA Section has been committed to nurturing and improving the quality of the game for the thousands of golfers using its member facilities.  Now the largest of the PGA’s forty-one sections, the Carolinas PGA Section of the Professional Golfers’ Association boasts nearly 2,000 professional members and represents more than 700 golf facilities within North and South Carolina as well as portions of southern Virginia.

PGA professionals are responsible for conducting a variety of golf-related functions which include human resource management, golf shop merchandising, golf instruction, tournament operations, junior golf programs, growth of the game initiatives, golf club repair, administering the rules, public relations and much more.  For more information, contact Liz Muroski, Director of Media and Promotions at 336-398-2742 or lmuroski@pgahq.com.

www.Carolinas.PGA.com