Jeff Gove of The Idaho Club won the PNW PGA Senior Professional Championship at Astoria G&CC on September 9. He fired rounds of 67-71—138 to win by three strokes over defending champion Bob Rannow of Ocean Dunes Golf Links and Billy Bomar of Bomar Putting Company. Players competed over 36 holes for the Senior Section Championship title and a chance to advance to the 2022 Senior PGA Professional Championship presented by Cadillac, held October 13-16, 2022, at Twin Warriors & Santa Ana Golf Clubs in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM.
Gove, Rannow and Bomar are joined by Jim Pike of Sahalee CC and Rob Clark of Desert Canyon Golf Resort, who all qualified for the 2022 Senior PGA Professional Championship presented by Cadillac. PNW PGA Professional Jeff Coston has an exemption into the national event. First alternate Tom Sovay of The GC at Redmond Ridge will also represent the Pacific Northwest Section in October.
Winning the Senior Division (playing a shorter set of tees than the Championship Division) was Joe Peccia of Lake Oswego Municipal Golf Course. Rick Edwards of Washougal, WA won the Senior Net Division.
Final results: https://2022secseniorpga.golfgenius.com
History of the Championship
The PNW PGA Senior Professional Championship was established in 1952. This very popular event, for those who are 50 years and older, has seen a major jump since the days of old. Some can remember all the way back in 1965 when Harry Umbinetti was the top money winner of the event taking home a whopping $250 dollars. Back then, the championship was held at the Yakima Elks’ Golf and Country Club with only 21 professionals battling it out for the mere sum of $920 dollars. Throughout the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, the Pacific Northwest Senior PGA Championship has seen many timeless and popular venues. Places such as Royal Oaks Country Club, Eugene Country Club, Manito Golf and Country Club, and Fircrest Country Club have all been in the mix since the beginning. The famous Bob Duden won the championship six times during the 70’s and seven times overall.
Astoria G&CC
Astoria Golf and Country Club began in 1923 and is considered one of the Northwest’s premier private golf clubs. The unforgettable and challenging 18-hole golf course, built on top of ancient sand dunes near the Pacific Ocean, combines elements of both links and parkland style golf. The course features a varied configuration, with four holes laid out between the bottom of the two largest dunes on the property, other holes routed in a manner that takes full advantage of the rolling terrain of the Clatsop Plains, and two holes require a water carry from the back tees.