Saucier, MS: The 2020 National Car Rental GSPGA Assistant PGA Professional Championship was held at Grand Bear Golf Club, September 8-9. The field was comprised of eighteen PGA Assistant Professionals and Associates with the top finisher qualifying for the 2020 National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship to be held at PGA Golf Club (Wanamaker Course) in Port St. Lucie, Florida on November 12-15, 2020. 

Kyle Ellis of the Country Club of Oxford shot 32 on the back nine in the second round and claimed the title by 2 shots with a score of 71-65–136. Chelso Barrett of Mississippi State University Golf Course snagged the second qualifier spot with a score of 71-67–138. 

Alternates include: Greg Sonnier from Lake Charles Country Club (74-69–143), Dustin Baker from East Ridge (73-74–147), and Bradley Petashnick from New Orleans Country Club (75-74–149). 

Kyle and Chelso were neck-in-neck for the majority of the 2 rounds. In fact, Kyle later remarked, “That turned into a little matchplay scenario. When it gets a little tight down the stretch and you try not to think about that. But after going into 16 tee, I was like, ‘Chelso, he’s a good ball-striker he’s going to have some good opportunities coming in here, I need to make another birdie somewhere’ and fortunately I was able to stuff one on the last hole and put a little pressure on him. But that was cool, we had a good match the last 2 days, and he’s a good player, and I look forward to competing with him in the future.”

In response, Chelso reflected, “I haven’t played a tournament in 12 months so it was nice to just get back in the mix. I hit the ball pretty well, didn’t putt it particularly well. Found a few birdies out there and really Kyle just outplayed me and had a tremendous tournament. So, hats off to him.”

The Gulf States PGA would like to thank the entire staff at Grand Bear Golf Club including the General Manager, Bradley Kale, PGA, Head Golf Professional, Ian Kahn, and Golf Course Superintendent, Alan Sullivan. Special thanks to National Car Rental, Srixon/Cleveland Golf/XXIO and Asics, John Deere, Greg Sones of Greg Norman, and the PGA TOUR for sponsoring the GSPGA Assistant PGA Professional Championship. 

Our next tournament, the Gulf States E-Z-GO Section Championship, will be held at Money Hill Golf & Country Club on September 21-22, 2020. Good luck to all of our players!

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