MAPGA PROFESSIONAL LARKIN GROSS CLAIMS STATE OPEN OF VIRGINIA TITLE IN LANDSLIDE VICTORY Larkin Gross, PGA, who serves as an Assistant Golf Professional at Westwood Country Club claimed his first State Open victory at the State Open of Virginia which was held at Independence Golf Club in Midlothian, VA. He shot a record setting total score of 194 (-16) over the three-day event with individual scores of 63, 64, and 67. His three-day total is the new record low since the event switched to 54 holes, and his score in relation to par is a new record low as well. 16-under is the lowest score in the 12 years that the event has been held at Independence Golf Club. In claiming his first State Open title, Gross also became the first Class A MAPGA Golf Professional to win the State Open since 2003 (Jon Corliss), and just two days before the start of the Championship, Gross was competing in the Maryland Open where he found himself in the final pairing, and he finished T2. “Larkin is one of the most accomplished players within our Middle Atlantic PGA Section," said Jon Guhl, Executive Director, Middle Atlantic PGA. “Winning the State Open of Virginia, on the heels of competing in his third PGA Championship back in May, is another milestone in his career and we’re proud that he represents us on both the local and national levels as a PGA of America Golf Professional." Normally Gross' wife, Paige, who is also an MAPGA Golf Professional, caddies for him. However, he said that his dad, Butch, caddies for him in one event every year, the State Open of Virginia. "It means a lot," Gross said. "I just felt like this was one I wanted to get really badly, especially being a Virginia native. You take any state open win, but this one means more than the other 49 states. It's awesome. It hasn't sunk in yet, but it will. With my dad (Butch) on the bag, it's special. It just is." |
