Michael Block is on a roll.
Only days after posting a 4-1 record to help lead the United States win the 30th PGA Cup over Great Britain and Ireland in Surrey, England, Block returned home and captured the Southern California PGA Professional Championship for the third time by five strokes at El Niguel Country Club in Laguna Nigel.
“I didn’t think I had jet lag, but I was hitting it (only) 250 off the tee on the first day,” said Block, the 2014 PGA Professional champion who is head pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Cub in Mission Viejo and recently shot a course-record a 14-under-par 58 on the North Course at Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club.
“I was struggling a bit on day one, but I got the legs back and I was feeling good from there on.”
Block, who also won the SCPGA Four-Ball Championship, the Summer Meeting and Team Stableford Championship earlier this season after claiming six titles last year, carded a score of 76-68-70—214, 2-under-par.
Block’s other titles in the SCPGA Championship came in 2017 and 2018.
Steve Holmes of Westlake Golf Course in Westlake Village was second at 71-77-71—219, followed by 2016 champion Kenny Pigham of Bahama Golf in Corona at 73-73-74—220, and Mark Geddes of Coronado Municipal Golf Course at 71-78-72—221.
Brian Smock of Coronado Municipal Golf Course posted a score 77-70-76—223 to tie for fifth with Nate Williams of Plantation Golf Club in Indio, who finished at 75-72-76—223, while Jack Allen of The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe totaled 77-76-71—224 to tie for seventh with Michael Mendoza of Tamarisk Country Club in Rancho Mirage, who shot 75-74-75—224, and Vinnie Poncino of San Clemente Municipal Golf Course, who wound up at 71-74-79—224.
Steve Saunders of Temecula Creek Golf Club in Temecula carded a score of 72-79-74—225 to tie for 10th with Bruce Busse of Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles, who came in at 69-79-77—225.
Two-time defending champion Kyle Mendoza of The Farms Golf Club tied for 12th at 74-81-71—226, while 2014 winner Ryan Kennedy of Rustic Canyon Golf Course in Moorpark tied for 24th at 77-78-73—228, 2013 champ Alan Scheer of Steele Canyon Golf Club in Jamul tied for 29th at 74-76-79—229, and three-time champion Chris Starkjohann of Starkjohann Golf Academy in Carlsbad tied for 33rd at 76-78-77—231.
For complete results, visit https://scpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/scpga22/event/scpga22120/contest/1/leaderboard.htm
