3115 6th St., Suite 110, Metairie, LA 70002
Email: gulfstates@pgahq.com Website: Gulf States Office: (504) 799-2444
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LAUREL, MS – JULY 14, 2026: Reed Hughes, PGA Life Member, once again claimed the title of the 2026 GSPGA Senior Professional / Senior Section Champion. Overcoming the persistent challenges of Laurel Country Club, Hughes recorded a two-day aggregate of 145 to finish at 1-over par. Hughes, who has won this event multiple times, including last year, continues to play at a high level, turning back the clock every time he tees it up.
Jake Narro, PGA of Golf Cars of LA, and Reg Adams, PGA of Huntington Park GC, join Hughes as qualifiers for the 2026 PGA of America National Senior Professional Championship at Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club. Former Laurel Country Club Professional and PGA Life Member, Rich Fulkerson, PGA, was our Super Senior Champion.
Laurel Country Club continues to be a challenging layout as the annual host for the Section’s Senior Professional / Senior Section Championship. Superintendent Scott Hampton had the golf course in tournament-ready shape, testing the Section’s best seniors in all facets of their game. Kevin Landry, PGA, came out of the gate strong in round one, shooting a very impressive -1 (71), with Hughes only 2 shots behind with his +1 (73).
Early in round two, bogeys seemed to plague the entire field as the only two players to finish under par on the front nine were Reg Adams, PGA & Emlyn Aubrey, PGA. Hughes and Narro quickly flipped the script by opening hole #10 with birdies and regaining their spot towards the top of the leaderboard. In the end, Hughes rattled off three birdies in his last four holes to secure the individual championship, with Narro & Adams close behind.
We had the pleasure of having Jeff Jungers of Yamaha & Casey Simoneaux with PXG on-site for two days supporting the event. We must thank them, along with Alvin Newell of Maui Jim, Taylor Erkman of Strackaline, the PGA Tour, and the Golf Channel for their support.
Last but not least, a note of appreciation for Andy Loving, PGA, Jeff Trecost, PGA, Scott Hampton, and the entire membership at Laurel Country Club for the tremendous hospitality we receive every year at this event! We now set our sights ahead to the GSPGA Assistant Professional Championship at Shell Landing Golf Club in Biloxi, Mississippi!
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HATTIESBURG, MS – JUNE 9, 2026: Jacob Ross, PGA, the Director of Instruction at The Country Club of Jackson, clinched the 2026 Ladd’s/Club Car Mississippi Chapter Championship at Hattiesburg Country Club in dramatic fashion.
After a crowded Day 1 led by Joseph Dendy’s impressive 65 (-7), the tough, multi-tiered greens of Hattiesburg CC brought the field back together during Round 2. Trailing a packed leaderboard, Ross mounted a stellar comeback, fueled by excellent iron play. Tied for the lead at 4-under par on his final hole, Ross stuck a clutch wedge shot to within three feet, sinking the birdie putt to post a final-round 68 (-4) and secure the title.
With the win, this is Ross's second Mississippi Chapter title in three years. Ross had to outlast a fierce final-round charge from the Section’s top talent. Joseph Dendy, Head Golf Coach at Belhaven University, and Jake Narro, PGA, Sales Rep for Golf Cars of LA, pushed Ross to the limit, both finishing in a tie for second at 4-under par. They weren't alone in the hunt, as Nic Ishee, PGA, Director of Golf at Metairie CC, Cory Cooper, PGA, Director of Golf at The Country Club of Jackson, Jared Smith, Assistant Golf Professional at Windance CC, and local favorite Kyle Ramey, PGA, all mounted serious second-round charges to keep the pressure on until the very last putt.
In the Senior Division, Quincy Morrison, PGA, Head Golf Professional at Clarksdale Country Club, put together a gritty performance to capture the crown, navigating the challenging conditions to finish at +3 overall.
A massive thank you to Hattiesburg CC, Director of Golf, Kyle Ramey, PGA, Head Golf Professional, Winston Sizemore, PGA, and Assistant Golf Professional, Camilo Avila Salazar for their first-class hospitality. Special recognition goes to Superintendent Frank Ogletree, who had the course in phenomenal condition despite massive recent rainfall.
Thank you to Ladd’s & Brooks Baldwin for continuing to support this event as the title sponsor, and thank you to supporting sponsors Kolbe Verdun of TurtleBox, Cam Smith, PGA of Donald Ross Sportswear, Alvin Newell of Maui Jim, Taylor Erkman of StrackaLine, and Tom Eubank of Golf Sign & Design. Their support enables events like this to flourish.
SHREVEPORT, LA – JUNE 2, 2026: Cameron Alford, PGA, the Director of Golf at Southern Trace Country Club, protected his home turf to secure the 2026 Golf Cars of LA/Club Car Louisiana Chapter Championship. A first-round 69 (-3) positioned Alford in the lead heading into the final round, closely followed by Golf Cars of LA Sales Rep Jake Narro, PGA, and Reunion Golf & CC Head Professional Christian Gutierrez, PGA. Setting up for a tightly contested battle in round 2, between some of the Section’s top players.
The final group came out of the gates firing with Narro birding hole #1, followed by Alford & Gutierrez birdies on #2. Southern Trace’s straightforward but punishing if off-line nature proved to cause some volatility amongst the leaders. As the field got through 9 holes, we saw 4 lead changes among Jake Narro, PGA; Kyle Ramey, PGA; Joseph Dendy; and Alford. All shared a portion of the lead at some point before Alford regained his place among the top. Alford would find himself on the green in two at the par-5 18th, just lipping out for eagle, and securing a tap-in birdie for the host professional and final round 71 to finish at 4-under for the tournament. Alford, who was our 2025 Match Play Champion, has proved to be one of the Section’s best, even in his limited tournament appearances.
While certainly impressing on the playing side of things. Alford and his team also shined as hosts for the event. Southern Trace CC in Shreveport, LA was an exceptional host, providing two days of a true championship test. We cannot thank host professional Cameron Alford, PGA / GM Robert Kearney, PGA / Assistant Professionals, Jeff Berry, PGA, Steven Gore, Andy Durbin & the rest of the staff enough for their hospitality.
Thank you to John Viator, Kevin Byrd, & Jake Narro, PGA of Golf Cars of LA/Club Car, for being the title sponsor for this championship, and thank you to supporting sponsors Tom Eubanks of Golf Sign & Design, Taylor Erkman of StrackaLine, Cam Smith, PGA of Donald Ross Sportswear, and Alvin Newell of Maui Jim. These partners enable great events like this to take place. We cannot thank them enough for supporting our Membership so well.
We look forward to seeing everyone at our next event, the 2026 Ladd’s/Club Car MS PGA Championship at Hattiesburg Country Club in Hattiesburg, MS!
Please join us in giving a warm welcome to the newest addition to our team, Christopher Todd!
Christopher brings over a decade of experience in golf operations and tournament coordination. Many of you might already know him from the Louisiana golf community—he previously served as an Assistant Golf Professional at the Country Club at the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles, worked alongside Past President Todd Robertson, PGA, at Les Vieux Chenes Golf Course in Lafayette, and spent several years with Jack Sauers, PGA, at Canebrake Club in Alabama.
On the personal side, Christopher is married to Annie Dronet Todd of Lafayette, and they keep plenty busy with their four young children. He’s a massive fan of Auburn Tiger athletics (and was absolutely thrilled to see them win this year’s National Championship in Golf!). When he isn’t working, you’ll likely find him spending time with his family, playing a round of golf himself, watching sports, or fishing.
