Coston Wins PNW PGA Senior Professional Championship

PGA Professional Jeff Coston of Semiahmoo G&CC won the PNW PGA Senior Professional Championship supported by Golf Channel, John Deere and the PGA Tour in a one-hole playoff against PGA Professional Mark Keating of OGA Golf Course.

The top 5 qualifiers who also entered the National qualifier will advance directly to the 32nd Senior PGA Professional Championship, to be played October 15-18, 2020 at PGA Golf Club (Wanamaker & Ryder Courses) in Port St. Lucie, FL.  Jeff Coston is exempt.  Also representing our Section will be Bob Rannow of Ocean Dunes, Tony Robydek of Meadow Parks GC, Todd O’Neal of Riverside G&CC, Jeff Marsh of Vancouver, WA and Tom Sovay of The Golf Club at Redmond Ridge.

Additionally, top finishers at the 32nd Senior PGA Professional Championship will earn a berth in the 82nd KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.

Coston has previously won this event in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2019.  He also captured the Hugh Starkweather award, which goes to the low player for both rounds who is 60 years and older.

Steve Reuhl of Marysville, WA won the Senior Division. Don Otto of Portland, OR won the Net Senior Division.

Final results: https://2020secseniorpga.golfgenius.com

History of the Championship

The Senior PGA 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.

Click here for the list of past champions

Royal Oaks Country Club

Royal Oaks Country Club was organized in August 1945 by a group of 50 downtown businessmen who wanted to make a dream come true.  Each individual put up $1,000 and purchased 170 acres of land near Orchards – the home of the first nine holes. Royal Oaks was open for play in 1947 as a member owned club.  The second nine was opened in 1952 and a new clubhouse followed.

Royal Oaks has always been known as a long, tough tree-lined golf course.  It is a popular tournament site and has hosted many major Northwest tournaments, including the PNGA Amateur where Tiger Woods won in 1994 and Nick Flanagan in 2003.  Royal Oaks has been consistently ranked in the top 5 golf courses in the state of Washington, and has also been ranked in the top 100 nationally by Golf Digest Magazine.

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