As the 2024 playing season came to a close across the country, the PGA Tournament Series presented by GolfPass entered its 48th year of providing additional playing opportunities for PGA of America Golf Professionals and Associates during the winter season.”
With South Florida as the host, the series of six events, presented by GolfPass, is open to PGA of America Members, as well as PGA Associates currently registered in the PGA PGM Program who are in good standing.
A review of all six PGA Tournament Series events, which were each hosted at PGA Golf Club’s Dye, Wanamaker and Ryder courses in Port St. Lucie, Florida, follows:
Despite lost ball, Newman still prevails
It took Dylan Newman about three minutes to make the dreaded drive in his golf car back to the 13th tee on the Ryder Course at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Enough time to cool down.
Leading Event No. 1 in the PGA Tournament Series by a shot on Dec. 3, Newman had just “sniped” his drive on the par-5 hole, leading to a lost ball.
“I was very annoyed with myself when I was driving back to the tee,” said Newman of New Rochelle, New York. “Just hit a horrible drive. But when I got to the tee, I calmed down and said, ‘Let’s just make a bogey with a birdie on the second ball.’”
That’s exactly what Newman did, going over the green in two shots and chipping it close. It was the definition of a good bogey.
“That helped me secure the victory,” Newman said after an even-par 71 left him at 3-under 139. “I never lost the lead.”
Newman birdied the par-5 17th hole to break away from a late five-way tie for the lead to earn a one-shot Event No. 1 victory over Domenico Geminiani (69) of Italy and Tim Pearce (69) of Birmingham, Michigan, on a cold, breezy day at PGA Golf Club.
“There was a decent amount of adversity on the back nine,” Newman said. “Not sure if I ever won a tournament with a lost ball.”
The victory was Newman’s third in the last four PGA Tournament Series events (he won Nos. 4 and 5 in December of 2023).
No surprise Geminiani was on Newman’s heels, as Geminiani won 2023s PGA Tournament Series Event No. 6.
The PGA Tournament Series is presented by GolfPass.
Gabriele captures first PGA Tournament Series win
Chris Gabriele of West Harrison, New York, won’t forget the 6-under 66 he shot Dec. 6 and the plaque he took home.
You don’t forget your first professional victory, especially when it comes with a short birdie on the final hole and against one of your buddies, Dylan Newman of New Rochelle, New York. Gabriele won PGA Tournament Series Event No. 2 by a single shot at 7-under 137.
“This is my first professional win, so I put it right at the top,” said a smiling Gabriele, who is a PGA of America Assistant Professional at Quaker Ridge Golf Club. “It’s been hard to cross the finish line, but I got over it today.”
The 28-year-old Gabriele was tied with Newman for the lead at the 18th hole of the Dye Course when he took care of business. After splitting the fairway, Gabriele fired a 48-degree sand wedge from 117 yards to two and a half feet. The birdie was almost a gimme for the $5,000 first prize.
“I hit my drive way farther than I thought, probably because of adrenaline,” Gabriele said. “I took a little off the 48 because I was worried about adrenaline again, and it just happened to be the right number.”
Newman birdied the 14th and 15th holes to take the lead at 7-under as he was trying to win his second consecutive PGA Tournament Series event and fourth in his last five starts. But he bogeyed the par-3 16th hole, didn’t birdie the par-5 17th and couldn’t match Gabriele’s birdie at 18.
First-round leader Jeff Sorenson of Blaine, Minnesota, shot a final-round 74 to finish third at 4-under 140. Adam Rainaud of New Canaan, Connecticut, shot 68 and tied for fourth with Tim Pearce (72) of Birmingham, Michigan.
Sorenson claims sixth career victory
Jeff Sorenson of Blaine, Minnesota, was trending toward a runner-up finish Dec. 10 after placing fourth and third in the first two 2024 PGA Tournament Series events.
He did even better, shooting a 3-under 69 on the Wanamaker Course to win PGA Tournament Series Event No. 3 at PGA Golf Club. Sorenson finished at 5-under 139 to beat Eric Steger (72) of Westfield, Indiana, and Rick Morton (70) of Jacksonville, North Carolina, by a shot.
“It’s been a while since I’ve won a PGA Tournament Series event,” Sorenson said after his sixth career Series title. “I’m driving the ball well and putting the ball well. If you combo that, you’re going to play decent.”
Steger was tied for the lead when he hit his approach to the 18th hole from 175 yards – but he said he had no idea where he stood. The ball bounced over the green, leaving him with a delicate shot from about 20 feet below the green.
He elected to putt and the ball barely made it up the hill to the fringe. He missed the 20-foot par putt.
Morton was tied for the lead until he bogeyed the 17th hole. He needed to birdie the 18th to catch Sorenson, but his 40-footer barely missed.
Dylan Newman (New Rochelle, New York) needed to hole his chip from another difficult lie over the 18th green for a birdie to also force a playoff. He missed the chip, then the putt, to finish tied for fourth with John Somers (69) of Trinity, Florida.
At age 46, Sorenson doesn’t hit it as far as he used to, but he’s become a more cerebral golfer.
“I’m trying to be more veteran and not let stuff rattle me,” he said. “Like today, I hit a bad chip on the 13th hole, but I didn’t let it bother me.”
