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By: Sloan Aubrey
As the 2026 season unfolds, the Georgia PGA Player of the Year race once again takes center stage, serving as the competitive throughline of the year ahead. With a defined slate of qualifying events on the calendar, consistency across the season will be critical as players chase one of the Section’s highest honors.
The new season follows a standout campaign by Matt Sanders, PGA Assistant Professional at West Pines Golf Club, who capped off a stellar year by capturing the 2025 Rolex Georgia PGA Player of the Year title at the Milton Martin Honda Classic. His performance set the standard, and as the standings reset, attention now turns to which players will emerge as contenders in 2026.
The 2026 Georgia PGA Player of the Year standings will be determined by performance in the following qualifying events:
● Match Play Championship — May 18–20, Valdosta Country Club
● Yamaha Atlanta Open — June 1–2, Pinetree Country Club
● West Pines Classic — June 29–30, West Pines Golf Club
● Golf Pro Payments Georgia Open — August 6–9, Kinderlou Forest Golf Club
● Georgia PGA Championship — September 28–30, Champions Retreat
● Milton Martin Honda Classic — October 12–13, Chattahoochee Golf Club
The top 72 players and ties in the season-long standings will qualify for The Drew, the season-ending showcase at East Lake Golf Club. The event will be contested in an 18-hole stroke-play format, culminating in a winner-take-all playoff among the leading finishers. The champion will earn a $50,000 prize, the largest single payout in Georgia PGA history.
With points on the line at each qualifying event, the Player of the Year race rewards consistency across the full season. Strong early finishes can establish momentum, while late-season performances often determine final positioning as the standings take shape.
The final Player of the Year standings will also determine qualification for the Billy Peters Cup, a Ryder Cup–style competition featuring the top 10 regular players and two senior players. The team will represent the Georgia PGA against the Georgia State Golf Association November 23–24 at The Standard Club.
From the opening matches of the spring to the season’s final points race in the fall, the 2026 Georgia PGA Player of the Year race provides a clear competitive framework, highlighting the depth, consistency, and performance required to contend at the highest level within the Section.
