Omar Uresti of Austin, Texas, sank a par putt on the second playoff hole to defeat Dave McNabb and win the 50th PGA Professional Championship on the Crosswater Course at Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Ore.
The 48-year-old Uresti, who was a regular on the PGA Tour from 1995 to 2010, and 19 others earned spots in the PGA Championship in August at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C.
“So many good players in this association and so many good people,” said Uresti, who has won six times as a pro but was winless in 351 starts on the PGA Tour. “It means a lot to come out on top. It’s been 10 years. I’m very proud to represent the PGA of America.
“It wasn’t that easy today, but fortunately I was able to stay focused. I really worked hard to focus on that last one-foot putt. I tried to keep my emotions in check, and remembered to keep my head down on that last putt.”
Uresti posted a score of 73-69-72-69–283, 4-under-par, while McNabb, head pro at Applebrook Golf Club in Malvern, Pa., finished at 74-67-73-69–283.
Mike Small, golf coach at University of Illinois who has won this tournament three times, shot 71-71-70-73–285 and wound up two strokes back in a tie for third with Paul Claxton of Sea Island, Ga., who totaled 70-70-74-71–285.
Defending champion Rich Berberian Jr. of Derry, N.H., posted a score of 67-70-78-71–286 and was three shots behind in a tie for fifth with Adam Rainaud of South Hadley, Mass., who finished at 73-71-69-73–286 and Jamie Broce, golf coach at University of Toledo, who came in at 70-67-75-74–286.
Rod Perry, the 2013 champion from Port Orange, Fla., finished eighth at 68-70-70-79–287, while Jaysen Hansen of Solon, Ohio, shot 74-72-73-69–288 to tie for ninth with Alex Beach (75-70-72-71–288) of Ridgewood, N.J.; J.J. Wood (70-73-73-72–288) of Houston; Chris Moody (74-73-69-72–288) of Provo, Utah; Greg Gregory (70-73-71-74–288) of Joshua, Texas; Ryan Vermeer (71-71-71-75–288) of Omaha, Neb., and Brian Smock (74-64-75-75–288) of Coronado, Calif.
Kenny Pigman of Mira Loma. Calif., finished in a tie for 16th at 74-71-71-73–289.
