The two professionals at Cazenovia’s two golf clubs beat out some of the region’s best golfers last week to earn a spot in the 2016 PGA Professional Championship next June. Both Mark Tucker, of Cazenovia County Club, and Dennis Colligan, of Cazenovia Golf Club, earned entry into next year’s PGA event being hosted at Turning Stone.
The 36-hole event ended with defending champion Kevin Savage, of Timber Banks Golf Club and Marina, reclaiming the title after scoring a 5-under par 139 after playing Turning Stone’s Shenendoah and Atunyote courses. Savage won by one stroke over Dan Wood, who finished with 4-under 140. Tucker finished third at 141 and Colligan placed fourth at 142.
At the end of 36 holes, there was a three-way tie for fourth at 2-under 142 between Colligan, Jay Turcsik and Rick Bronson. Colligan claimed the final spot after winning the tiebreaker with a birdie on the 18th hole.
The four PGA sectional champions will compete next June in the national PGA tournament and, if they make the cut there, will be eligible to play in the PGA Championship tournament, one of the four “majors” on the professional golf circuit.
Tucker’s third place finish at Turning Stone last week follows on the heels of his victory in the Central New York Senior Championship at Bellevue Country Club July 23 and 24. Tucker started his final nine holes birdie, birdie, eagle to take the lead and finished with a 64 and finished the tournament at 4-under par. Tucker’s victory qualified him for the 27th Senior PGA Professional National Championship October 15 to 18 at Bayonet and Black Horse in Seaside, Calif.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].
