PGA of America Golf Associate Matt Campbell won the Central New York PGA Players Championship while PGA of America Golf Professional Nick Serafino captured the Head Professional Championship on Sept. 16-17. The annual tournaments were held concurrently at Thendara Golf Club.
After the first round of the Players Championship, Campbell (Teugega Country Club) sat in third place with a 2-under-par 70 and was three shots back of Mark Tucker (Cazenovia Country Club).
On day two, Campbell made his move on the front and finished with a sizzling 6-under 66. Campbell started strong with two birdies, a par then an eagle on the 438-yard, par-5 fourth hole. His 5-under 31 on the front nine helped him climb into first place where he stayed for the remainder of the tournament.
For Campbell, it was his fifth win of the season. He finished with a two-day total of 8-under 136.
This summer, Campbell has also won the Assistants Stroke Play at Tuscarora, the Assistant Players Championship, the Turning Stone Resort Casino Pro-Team individual title and the CNY PGA Assistant Championship.
Tucker, a four-time former Players champion, carded rounds of 67 and 73 to finish tied for second with Serafino (Timber Banks GC) at 4-under 140.
Head Professional Championship
Serafino claimed the title Sept. 17 with a 1-under 71 featuring two birdies and one bogey.
Serafino has five top 10 finishes this season including two first place finishes. Besides the Head Professional win, he tied for first at the Rocky Kelly Pro-Junior.
Defending champion Dennis Colligan (Cazenovia Golf Club) and Matthew Jaynes (Corning Country Club) finished tied for second as both carded an even-par 72.
The Head Professional tournament is for PGA of America Members who are A-1, A-4, or A-13.