Kyle Mendoza of The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe captured the 96th Southern California PGA Professional Championship by two strokes over Brian Smock of Coronado Golf Club and Michael Block of Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club at Ironwood Country Club in Palm Desert.
Mendoza, who started the final round with a two-stroke lead, padded his margin with birdies on the first and seventh holes before holding on despite carding bogeys on the ninth, 16th and 18th.
“It feels great,” Mendoza said. “A lot of hard work goes into getting ready for a tournament like this, to be able to do that and share it with my family this week is awesome.”
Mendoza posted a score of 66-69-72—207, 7-under-par, while Block, who claimed the SCPGA title in 2017 and 2018, finished at 67-70-72—209, and Smock wound up at 69-70-70—209.
Block finished atop the Omega Section Player of the Year points race and earned the SCPGA Player of the Year Award for the seventh time in eight years.
Steve Saunders of Temecula Creek Golf Club was fourth at 66-73-71—210, followed by Logan Scott of Oakmont Country Club in Glendale at 70-69-72—211.
Mike Fergin of Mesa Verde Country Club in Costa Mesa carded a score of 71-72-69—212 to tie for sixth with Alan Sorensen of Buena Vista Golf Course in Taft, who shot 70-71-71—212, and Chris Boyle of CB Golf Performance, who totaled 71-70-71—212, while Mike Geddes of Coronado Golf Club finished at 70-71-72—213 to tie for ninth with Tim Parun, also of Coronado, who came in at 70-69-74—213.
Defending champion Jeff Hart of Del Mar Golf Center tied for 29th at 70-75-75—220.
Each player in the top 10 earned a berth in the 2021 PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., along with Shane Ponchot of Hideaway Golf Club in La Quinta, Mike Mitchell, also of Hideaway, and Alison Curdt of Wood Ranch Golf Club in Simi Valley.
Mendoza will defend his title in the 2021 SCPGA Professional Championship on his home course at The Farms Golf Club.
For complete results, visit https://scpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/scpga20/event/scpga20143/contest/1/leaderboard.htm
