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PGA Golf Club to Host 2025 PGA Professional Championship Starting Sunday

The 2025 PGA Professional Championship presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial and Rolex returns this week to a familiar setting—PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, a venue with an extensive history in hosting PGA of America Member Championships.  The 57th PGA Professional Championship will be contested April 27-30 on PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker […]

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PGA Golf Club to Host 2025 PGA Professional Championship Starting Sunday

The 2025 PGA Professional Championship presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial and Rolex returns this week to a familiar setting—PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, a venue with an extensive history in hosting PGA of America Member Championships. 

The 57th PGA Professional Championship will be contested April 27-30 on PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker and Ryder Courses. This marks the second edition of the Championship to take place at PGA Golf Club (2021), while the Club also has hosted numerous Senior and Assistant PGA Professional Championships as well as the PGA of America’s annual Tournament Series and Winter Championships. 

First held in 1968, the PGA Professional Championship is golf’s largest all-professional national championship. The 312-player field of PGA of America Golf Professionals represents all 41 PGA Sections.

The Champion and top 20 finishers will earn a spot in the 107th PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, May 12-18, as members of the Corebridge Financial Team. 

Defending Champion Ben Polland (Jackson, Wyo.) will be making his seventh start in the PGA Professional Championship. The 34-year-old shot 2-under-par 286 to win the 2024 PGA Professional Championship by three strokes at Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco. He was the lone player to finish under par and became the first player from the Rocky Mountain PGA Section to win the PPC. 

That victory propelled Polland to 2024 PGA Professional Player of the Year honors and earned him six PGA TOUR starts this season. The PGA Director of Golf at Shooting Star of Jackson Hole has made the most of those opportunities, making three consecutive cuts at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, Puerto Rico Open and last week’s Corales Puntacana Championship.

“I’ve had a lot of confidence in general after winning it last year,” said Polland. “It’s a big deal. It’s our National Championship. I know how many great golfers there are and how difficult it is to win. Last year on that last day coming down the stretch on the back nine and holding onto the lead gave me a lot of confidence. That has helped me in these TOUR events this year, making these cuts. All of these experiences are feeding me for the next one.”

Polland looks to take full advantage of that confidence and valuable experience as he defends his title. 

“There are obviously a lot of great players that qualified for this,” said Polland. “The experience of playing in a four-day tournament isn’t necessarily there for everyone. Making the cut is the first goal and that is a really hard one to do, 312 players cut down to 90. You have to really play conservative, smart golf to do that and not make any silly mistakes. The last two days is managing everything to make sure you have a chance to win or finish in that top 20. That’s everyone’s goal.” 

Polland owns a strong track record at PGA Golf Club, highlighted by a fifth-place finish in the 2021 PGA Professional Championship and a victory at the 2016 Assistant PGA Professional Championship. 

“I was excited to see that venue,” said Polland. “I’ve played there before, won before, but so have 100 other players. We play that course a lot in the winter series events and a bunch of other tournaments. Everyone is really familiar with it. There’s not really an advantage there to who knows the course better than others because everyone knows it. 

“I think it’s great, especially the Wanamaker, a great Championship course because of how demanding it is with the wind and water on so many holes. You have to plot your way around and play smart, which I think is a strength of mine.”

Polland is one of 16 past PGA Professional Champions in the field: Alex Beach (2019), Rich Berberian Jr. (2016), Michael Block (2014), Matt Dobyns (2012 & 2015), Scott Hebert (2008), David Hutsell (2011), Darrell Kestner (1996), Jesse Mueller (2022), Rod Perry (2013), Ron Philo Jr. (2006), Jeff Roth (1993), Steve Schneiter (1995), Braden Shattuck (2023), Bob Sowards (2004) and Ryan Vermeer (2018). 

Evan Bowser

Evan Bowser

The South Florida PGA Section will be represented by 21 players in the field, the most of any PGA Section. Evan Bowser (LaPlaya Golf Club), Matt Cahill (Seminole Golf Club), Dakun Chang  (Seminole Golf Club), Tyler Collet (John’s Island Club), Tom Cooper (Pine Tree Golf Club), Eric Costa (West Bay Club), Drew Dietter (The Club at Olde Cypress), Andrew Filbert (West Bay Club), Domenico Geminiani (Old Corkscrew Golf Club), Ashley Grier (The Legacy Golf and Tennis Club), Justin Hicks  (Stonebridge Golf & Country Club), Jared Isaacs (Adios Golf Club), Michael Kartrude (The Bear’s Club), David Ladd (Champions Club at Summerfield), Nick Latimer (Medalist Golf Club), Justin McCarraher (Heritage Bay Golf & Country Club), Mike Midgette (Delaire Country Club), (Alan Morin – The Club At Ibis), Ron Philo Jr. (Palm Beach State College), Justin Smith (Bonita Bay Club) and Jeremy Wells (Cypress Lake Golf Club). 

Preston Cole, the Lead Assistant PGA Golf Professional at Quail Hollow Club, will attempt to become the first PGA of America Golf Professional from that year’s PGA Championship host site to earn a spot in the field through the PGA Professional Championship. 

Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth

Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth

Darrell Kestner, PGA Director of Golf at Deepdale Golf Club, is slated to compete in his 31st PGA Professional Championship and surpass Jim White’s record for most PGA Professional Championship appearances. 

Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth, PGA Teaching Professional at San Jose Country Club and 2023-24 Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year, returns for her fourth PPC following a T-26 finish in 2024. Connelly Eiswerth is one of 10 women in the field. 

The Championship will offer a $750,000 purse and $66,700 to the Champion. A 36-hole cut will take place Monday to the low 90 scorers and ties, and a 54-hole cut Tuesday to the low 70 scorers and ties. 

All four rounds will be broadcast by NBC/Golf Channel. All times listed are Eastern. 

Sunday, April 27: 4-6 p.m. (NBC Sports App & Web) and 7-9 p.m. (GOLF Channel tape delay)

Monday, April 28 – Wednesday, April 30: 3 – 6 p.m. (GOLF Channel)

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Men’s Track and Field Wins Third-Straight IC4A Title; Women Place Sixth in ECAC Championship

Story Links FAIRFAX, Va. – The Navy men’s track and field team won its third-consecutive IC4A Championship on Sunday at George Mason Stadium in Fairfax, Va. The Mids won four events and scored 128 total points to better second-place UMBC’s tally by 21 points. The Navy women’s squad finished in […]

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FAIRFAX, Va. – The Navy men’s track and field team won its third-consecutive IC4A Championship on Sunday at George Mason Stadium in Fairfax, Va. The Mids won four events and scored 128 total points to better second-place UMBC’s tally by 21 points. The Navy women’s squad finished in sixth place in the ECAC Championship, which was held at the same venue, with 53.5 points.  Jia Anderson’s victory in the 100m hurdles headlined the efforts for the women’s team.
 

“I thought it was a really good weekend. We went in there with the intention of trying to hit certain marks and give some younger kids another opportunity to compete,” said director of track & field Jamie Cook. “The younger athletes were impressive from Cooper [Wakley], Wyatt [Shaw] and Zoie [Tesi]. Everyone had a lot of fun this weekend and it was exciting on our part as coaches to see them having fun. We had a lot of guys who performed well who don’t normally get a lot of opportunities.”

Men’s Recap

The Mids won a pair of relay events during the championship.

 

The 4x100m relay team of Marcel Jackson, Nathan Kent, Jonah Johnson and Tyler Yurich ran a winning time of 39.68, the third-fastest time in program history. The quartet now owns the five fastest times in Navy history, all of which were set this season.

 

“These guys have been amazing this year and to win today’s race by over a second is impressive. The chemistry is strong and that’s what makes this group great,” said Cook.

 

The Mids won their second relay event when the 4x400m relay team of David Walker, Cooper Wakley, Conor McFadden and Pete deJonge ran a time of 3:11.42.

 

In the field events, Wyatt Shaw and Benjemen Schneider each cleared 2.08 meters (6′ 9.75″) in the high jump to place first and second, respectively.  Then three Mids finished in the top five in the pole vault led by Wakley’s first-place mark of 5.09m (16′ 8.25″). Brian Schloeder cleared 4.99m (16′ 4.5″) to take second, while Gavin Anderson was fifth with a vault of 4.89m (16′ 0.5″).

 

Navy had five more second-place showings during the meet.  Jackson competed in the 100m sprint where he finished second in a time of 10.67. Yurich tied his season-best placement in the 200m with a second-place time of 21.09.  Walker battled to a second-place finish (by nine-hundredths of a second) in the 400m hurdles as clocked a 52.43. Logan Flament took second place in the 5,000 meters with a time of 14:33.53. It marked the second time this season he has placed second or better in the event.  Rounding out the list was Malachi Cummings, who finished in second place in the javelin with a career-best throw of 64.84m (212-8).

 

Sean Miller recorded his second-fastest 3,000-meter steeplechase time of the season to finish third in 9:17.02.  Shaw continued his strong weekend with a third-place finish in the long jump as he recorded a leap of 7.17m (23′ 6.25″). Colby Fahrney placed fifth in the event with a jump of 6.98m (22′ 10.75″).  Reilly Payne and Adam Szatanek both finished in the top seven in the discus. Payne threw 48.06m (157-8) to place fourth, while Szatanek placed seventh with a mark of 46.27m (151-9).  Also, deJonge clocked a sixth-place time in the 400m of 47.81 seconds and Gary Choice placed seventh in the triple jump with a leap of 14.08m (46-4.25).

 

Women’s Recap

Anderson edged Sacred Heart’s Magdalena Brogioli by two-tenths of a second to win the 100m hurdles title with a time of 14.03. 

 

The Mids had two silver medalists at the meet.  First, Zoie Tesi placed second in the high jump with a leap of 1.69m (5′ 6.5″). Tesi has had an impressive rookie campaign as she finished first or second in every meet she competed in.  Then Taylor Woodworth had a strong 400m as she clocked the seventh-best time in program history at 54.29 to place second in the field.

 

Nalina Smith had a standout weekend with career-best marks in both the discus (45.02 meters / 147′ 8″) and the hammer throw (51.23m / 168′, 1″) to place third in each event.

“Nalina [Smith] did a really good job this weekend. She’s starting to come in her own, it was good to see her hit some career marks this weekend. She’s worked very hard and I’m excited for her career and development,” said Cook.

 

Additionally for the Mids, Gracie Emerick registered the seventh-best pole vault mark in Navy history at 3.92m (12′ 10.25″) to finish in fourth place, Emma Miller led the Mids in the javelin with a fifth-place throw of 39.10m (128′ 3″) and May McConkey recorded a sixth-place finish in the 5,000m with a time of 17:49.85.



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Prep talk: Alyssa Lee of El Camino Real achieves coaching ‘Triple Crown’

Alyssa Lee of El Camino Real has achieved something few volleyball coaches can claim. With El Camino Real’s boys team winning the City Section Open Division championship on Saturday after an upset over No. 1-seeded Venice, Lee has won City titles coaching El Camino Real’s boys, girls and beach volleyball teams, the Triple Crown of […]

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Alyssa Lee of El Camino Real has achieved something few volleyball coaches can claim.

With El Camino Real’s boys team winning the City Section Open Division championship on Saturday after an upset over No. 1-seeded Venice, Lee has won City titles coaching El Camino Real’s boys, girls and beach volleyball teams, the Triple Crown of volleyball coaching.

“That’s very impressive,” said Granada Hills coach Tom Harp, who had Lee on his girls’ team when she graduated in 2009.

Harp, a future Hall of Fame coach in the City Section, said Lee is calm and comfortable on the bench and knows strategy well.

El Camino Real opens the state playoffs on Tuesday in Division 2 with a home game against Escondido Classical Academy.

Mira Costa is seeded No. 1 in Division 1…

The CIF Southern California tennis championships will be held Friday and Saturday at Claremont Club. Here’s the bracket…

Southern Section golf team championships are set for Monday and Tuesday. The individual championship will be Thursday. The City Section championships are Wednesday at Harding Golf Course.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.



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Mike Krukow declares ‘Oaklamento Athletics’ official name

How, exactly, should the wandering Athletics be referred to? That MLB team, currently playing in Sacramento following a relocation from Oakland and ahead of a planned move to Las Vegas, wants no city name attached. But many broadcasters aren’t willing to abide by that, with long-time San Francisco Giants’ voice Mike Krukow offering a new […]

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Patriots Crowned ECAC Champions at Final Home Meet of the Season

Fairfax, Va. – The George Mason Women’s Track and Field team closed out their 2025 home season in spectacular fashion, claiming the title of ECAC Champions at the final home meet of the year. Freshman Cameron Portis got the day started with a strong showing in the discus, placing fifth with a mark of 46.77 […]

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Fairfax, Va. – The George Mason Women’s Track and Field team closed out their 2025 home season in spectacular fashion, claiming the title of ECAC Champions at the final home meet of the year.

Freshman Cameron Portis got the day started with a strong showing in the discus, placing fifth with a mark of 46.77 meters. Fellow freshman Morgan Ryerson reached the podium in the 100m hurdles, securing third place with a time of 14.47 seconds.

On the men’s side, the 110m hurdles proved to be a standout event. Davian Burke captured first place with a time of 14.30 seconds, followed closely by Albert Asare, who took second with 14.32 seconds.

In the 400m hurdles, Helena Santacana turned in a solid performance, placing fourth with a time of 1:01.82. Ashton King recorded a new personal best in the 200m, finishing in 21.48 seconds to take sixth place.

Distance standout Ellie Desmond claimed the individual title in the 3000m, crossing the finish line in 9:47.19. Teammate Nourene Nabbus, competing just a day after the 3000m steeplechase, ran a new personal best in the 3000m with a time of 10:16.25.

Next Up:

George Mason heads to Jacksonville, Florida, for the NCAA First Round, aiming to qualify for the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.





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Illini West’s Coleman Gilpin looks to continue progress with SCC track and field

QUINCY (WGEM) – Illini West High School’s Coleman Gilpin will be traveling north after signing with Southeastern Community College track and field recently. Gilpin shared he plans to specialize in the 400-meter dash during his college career. After only starting track his sophomore year of high school, he’s excited for more growth and new experiences […]

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QUINCY (WGEM) – Illini West High School’s Coleman Gilpin will be traveling north after signing with Southeastern Community College track and field recently. Gilpin shared he plans to specialize in the 400-meter dash during his college career. After only starting track his sophomore year of high school, he’s excited for more growth and new experiences with his new team.

“I’m looking forward to going to different places,” said Gilpin. “I think they go to places like Florida and Kansas City. I’m hoping to get as far as I can, honestly, and improve upon myself. Just me versus me and find out the best runner I can be.”

Gilpin still has a couple more weeks in an Illini West uniform. He’ll take to the track for sectionals this coming Friday.



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Atwwood homers twice and drives in four to send No. 6 Texas past UCF 9-0

Atwwood homers twice and drives in four to send No. 6 Texas past UCF 9-0 – myMotherLode.com   Link 0

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Atwwood homers twice and drives in four to send No. 6 Texas past UCF 9-0 – myMotherLode.com






























































 




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