(Fairborn, OH) – The Southern Ohio PGA will be represented by eight PGA of America Golf Professionals at the 2024 Professional Championship presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial and Rolex. The championship begins today, Sunday, April 28 and will continue to the final round on Wednesday, May 1, on the Fields Ranch East and West courses at PGA Frisco in Frisco, Texas.

The PGA Professional Championship, the national championship for PGA of America Golf Professionals, features a 312-player field representing all 41 PGA of America Sections. The top-20 finishers will earn a spot on the Corebridge Financial Team to compete two weeks later in the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, from May 13-19, 2024.

The Southern Ohio contingent is led by Bob Sowards, PGA and Ben Kern, PGA. Sowards, the PGA Director of Instruction at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club, is one of the most decorated PGA of America Professionals on the golf course. He claimed the title in 2004 when the championship was played at Longaberger Golf Club in Nashport, OH, and has competed in nearly every championship since 1996. Kern, the PGA General Manager at Hickory Hills Golf Club in Grove City, has qualified for the event every year since 2018. He has finished inside the top 20 twice, in 2018 and 2023, earning a spot in the PGA Championship both years. 

The Southern Ohio PGA will be represented by the following Members (all time CST):

  • Mike Auterson, PGA – Milford, OH – Hickory Woods Golf Course 
    • First Round – 8:32am – #1 – Fields Ranch West  
    • Second Round – 1:47pm – #10 – Fields Ranch East
  • Dave Bahr, PGA – Cincinnati, OH – Maketewah Country Club
    • First Round – 8:28am – #10 – Fields Ranch East
    • Second Round – 2:03pm – #1 – Fields Ranch West
  • Kyle Booher, PGA – Troy, OH – Miami Shores Golf Course
    • First Round – 2:42pm – #1 – Fields Ranch East
    • Second Round – 9:12am – #9 – Fields Ranch West
  • Ricky Denny III, PGA – Miamisburg, OH – Jamaica Run Golf Course
    • First Round – 1:26pm – #9 – Fields Ranch West
    • Second Round – 8:06am – #1 – Fields Ranch East
  • Ben Kern, PGA – Grove City, OH – Hickory Hills Golf Club
    • First Round – 7:44pm – #9 – Fields Ranch West
    • Second Round – 1:14am – #1 – Fields Ranch East
  • Joe Moore, PGA – Englewood, OH – Beavercreek Golf Club
    • First Round – 2:25pm – #1 – Fields Ranch West
    • Second Round – 8:50am – #10 – Fields Ranch East
  • Jeff Olson, PGA – Delaware, OH – The Golf Club of Dublin
    • First Round – 12:57pm – #1 – Fields Ranch West
    • Second Round – 7:22am – #10 – Fields Ranch East
  • Bob Sowards, PGA – Dublin, OH – Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club
    • First Round – 12:35pm – #1 – Fields Ranch West
    • Second Round – 7:00am – #10 – Fields Ranch East

Full coverage of the championship can be found here.

Scoring can be found here.

The second, third and final round will be broadcast on Golf Channel:

  • Monday, April 29 – Live 5:00-8:00pm ET
  • Tuesday, April 30 – Live 5:00-8:00pm ET
  • Wednesday, May 1 – Live 4:00-7:00pm ET