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Michael Hopper captured the 51st Southwest PGA Match Play Championship after defeating Erik Matthewson of Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas, 2 Up, in the championship match at Ancala Country Club in Scottsdale.
“It’s incredible to win my sixth match play title in the Section,” said Hopper. “It takes a lot out of you to play six matches over three days with the quality of players we have here in the Southwest PGA. To say I have a record in the Section means the world to me.”
Hopper, the PGA Head Golf Professional at Lookout Mountain Golf Club in Phoenix, lost the first three holes before battling back to tie the match after winning three of the next four holes. Matthewson went 1 Up on No. 11, and the match remained that way until Hopper won Nos. 16, 17 and 18 to close out the victory.
The title is Hopper’s record sixth Southwest PGA Match Play Championship, breaking his tie with John Jackson for the most victories in tournament history. His previous Match Play titles came in 2011, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021.
In the morning semifinal matches, Hopper defeated Jesse Mueller, PGA General Manager at Grand Canyon University Golf Course in Phoenix, 7 & 5. Matthewson advanced to the championship match with a 6 & 4 victory over Aaron Purviance, PGA Director of Instruction at Desert Forest Golf Club in Scottsdale.
The Southwest PGA Senior Championship/PPC is set for Aug. 24-25 at Camelback Golf Club in Scottsdale. This 36-hole stroke play event also doubles as a qualifier for the 2026 Senior PGA Professional Championship, scheduled for October 22-25 at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club in Gold Canyon, Ariz. The top 35 finishers in the 2026 Senior PGA Professional Championship will earn a spot on the Corebridge Financial Team to compete in the 2027 Senior PGA Championship, April 15-18, 2027, at the Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida. PGA Life Member Jerry Smith claimed last year’s title in a playoff over Dean Vomacka and Jon Stanley, who all finished with a 4-under-par total of 140 (72-68).
The Southwest PGA Assistant Championship will take place August 31-September 1 at Camelback Golf Club in Scottsdale. This 36-hole stroke play event also serves as a qualifier for the 2026 Assistant PGA Professional Championship, scheduled for Nov. 12-15 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. D.K Kim, PGA Assistant Professional at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, claimed last year’s title with an11-under-par total of 133 (67-66).
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- Bill Ibrahim
