NOPGA 54-HOLE PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP STARTS MONDAY WITH 9 FORMER WINNERS
Nine former winners, including the reigning champion and the event’s all-time leading winner, begin play Monday in the Northern Ohio Professional Golfers Association’s Professional Championship at Beechmont Country Club.
Reigning champion Jaysen Hansen, who won this event in 2020 at Westbrook Country Club, will be the first off at 8:30 a.m. in the 54-hole, 3-day event. Coincidentally, Hansen is the Head Professional at Beechmont. Hansen, a two-time NOPGA Player-of-the-Year, shot 70-74-68 = 212 (4-under) to win by one shot over Jim Troy (Honma Golf USA), Mark Sierak (Barrington Golf Club) and Randy Dietz (Windmill Golf Center).
The top five finishers will qualify for the 55th PGA Professional National Championship, which will be played in April at the OMNI Barton Creek courses in Austin, Texas. Four alternates also will be determined.
The field of 57, which will be cut to the low one-third and ties after 36 holes, includes 2019 winner Mike Stone (Belmont Country Club Assistant Golf Professional) and Pepper Pike Club Head Professional Rob Moss, the all-time leading winner of this event.
The 52-year-old Moss finished in second place in last week’s Senior Professional Championship. He has won this event a record five consecutive times, from 2010 through 2014.
Other former winners in the field include three-time winner Tom Atchison (Salem Golf Club) who won in 1997, 2001 and 2002 and finished in fourth in the Senior Version last week; two-time winner Mitch Camp (Club Walden) who won in 1989 and 1993 and finished in third in the Senior version last week; two-time winner Gary Trivisonno (PGA of America Life Member) winner in 1990 and 1996); Tom Waitrovich (Lakewood Country Club), winner in 2000; Greg Smith (Westbrook Country Club) winner in 1999 ; and Tony Milam (North Coast Junior Tour), winner in 1986.
