LAKE OCONEE, Ga.—Scott Hebert of Traverse City, Mich., where the legendary Walter Hagen spent his final years, capped a 41st PGA Professional National Championship with a back- nine charge that the Haig would have applauded.
The 39-year-old Hebert, a PGA head professional at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Acme, Mich., rallied from a three-stroke deficit with birdies on five of his first seven holes of the back nine. It was the momentum he needed for a closing 4-under-par 68 and a one-stroke victory over Sonny Skinner of Sylvester, Ga., in the showcase event for PGA Professionals.
Hebert, who had endured a personal drama a week earlier with the premature birth of his daughter, was noticeably calm and composed as he crafted a memorable final round for a winning total of 12-under-par 276 on the 7,043-yard Great Waters layout.
Skinner, 47, a cool veteran who had some 300 tour events under his belt before assuming the PGA director of golf post at River Pointe Golf Club in Albany, Ga., finished with a 69. He saw his potential tying birdie putt run past on the 18th hole
Hebert, who had pitched from 30 yards behind the green to eight feet past the flagstick, lagged to tap-in range for the victory, making him the fourth Michigan PGA Section member to win this National Championship.
Kyle Flinton of Oklahoma City, Okla., who shared the third-round lead, came home with a 72 to finished third at 280. Ryan Benzel of Bothell, Wash., who tied for runner-up last year, had a 67 to share fourth with two-time Champion Tim Thelen of College Station, Texas, who closed with a 69.
Hebert picked up the Walter Hagen Cup for his work and a check of $75,000 from a total purse of $550,000. He will be leading a delegation of 20 PGA Professionals to the 90th PGA Championship, Aug. 7-10, at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, Mich.
"This means everything to me, and it's the greatest thing that I've ever won," said Hebert. "To play there [his home state] will be extra special. That atmosphere is going to be incredible and fun to be around."
Hebert said that he took a long look at the crystal, the Walter Hagen Cup, which he hoisted after the round and realizing that his name will be connected to the big prize.
"That's special," he said. "The name Walter Hagen and what he has done with The PGA and for golf. . .The guy is a legend, so to have your name on it means a lot."
The final round appeared to be in the steady hands of Skinner, who had built a two-stroke lead over Flinton and by three over Hebert after nine holes. But, it was all Hebert's show after that. He birdied the 10, 11 and 12, then birdied the par-4 15th and added a 20-footer on 16 for insurance. Hebert needed 30 putts, hit 15 greens and had the right tempo for the final nine of what appeared to be a putting exhibition.
Yet, the duel wasn't over until the par-5 final hole, where spectators mounted hills and some were perched in their water craft to watch the final moments.
Skinner had set up the closing dramatics by trimming the deficit to a stroke with an eight-foot birdie on the par-3 17th hole. He then hit his tee shot on the 18th tee just into the first cut of rough on the right side of the fairway. His ensuing approach landed 15 yards to the right of the green. Hebert's approach landed safely behind and above right of the green.
Skinner watched Hebert's pitch and then stepped up and hit a soft pitch that caught the fringe of the green and left him with a 20-foot birdie try.
"I knew that Scott was going to get to the green easily, and I wanted to put a little pressure on him by getting my ball as close to the green as I could," said Skinner. "Somehow I missed that little chip. I did make a good run at that last putt, and wished I could have putted like that earlier in the round."
Hebert graciously praised his opponent.
"Sonny is a terrific golfer and a tremendous gentleman," said Hebert. "He could easily have been standing here instead of me, but that's golf.
Hebert said that he could not wait to contact his wife, Laurie, who had been released from the hospital just a day after he arrived for a practice round at the National Championship.
"My daughter (Susie) wasn't due until July 12, "said Hebert, a six-time Michigan Open champion. "But, she was doing well when I had left to come here, and her health was never in danger. She just needed time to spend time in the hospital to develop a little more. To be honest, I was surprised how well I hit it, but I was happy to be here."
Flinton, the co-leader after 54 holes, failed to keep up with Hebert and Skinner's sizzling duel. Trailing by two strokes after 12 holes, he bogeyed the 13th and never recovered.
"It's hard to be disappointed, this being my first [PGA Professional] National Championship," said Flinton, a three-time TaylorMade-adidas PGA Assistant Professional Champion. "And, I'm looking forward to playing in Michigan."
Established in 1968, The PGA Professional National Championship roster of Champions includes past and present Tour professionals: Sam Snead, Bob Rosburg, Don Massengale, Ed Dougherty, Larry Gilbert and Bruce Fleisher.
The PGA Professional National Championship is presented by Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra; Buick and Club Car. Golf Channel is an exclusive media partner, and the PGA Tour is the Supporting Sponsor of PGA of America Member Championships. The 41 Section Championships and the National Championship offer a combined purse of $1.5 million.
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold; to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $76 billion golf industry.
By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere.
The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.
41st PGA Professional National Championship
Reynolds Plantation—Lake Oconee, Ga.
Great Waters (par-72, 7,043 yards)
FINAL ROUND RESULTS
Scott HEBERT, Traverse City, Mich., $75,000 67-71-70-68--276
Sonny SKINNER, Sylvester, Ga., $48,000 68-71-69-69--277
Kyle FLINTON, Oklahoma City, Okla., $34,000 70-69-69-72--280
Ryan BENZEL, Bothell, Wash., $25,375 68-75-71-67--281
Tim THELEN, College Station, Tex, $25,375 73-69-70-69--281
Tim WEINHART, Alpharetta, Ga., $19,100 73-67-72-70--282
Eric DUGAS, Brewster, Mass., $19,100 69-72-70-71--282
James ESTES, Germantown, Md., $15,750 73-71-71-68--283
Brad MARTIN, Portland, Ore., $15,750 73-69-69-72--283
David LONG, Bowie, Md., $12,000 68-71-78-67--284
Jeffrey MARTIN, Warwick, R.I., $12,000 72-68-70-74--284
Donald YRENE, Scottsdale, Ariz., $12,000 69-76-66-73--284
Curt SANDERS, Wilmington, N.C., $9,000 68-73-74-70--285
Sam ARNOLD, Cincinnati, Ohio, $9,000 71-70-72-72--285
Eric MANNING, Cortland, N.Y., $6,458.75 70-74-70-72--286
Vince JEWELL, Dallas, Texas, $6,458.75 68-73-72-73--286
Alan MORIN, Royal Palm Beach, Fl, $6,458.75 69-70-74-73--286
Bradley DEAN, Thompsonville, Mich., $6,458.75 70-72-71-73--286
Bruce SMITH, College Station, Tex, $5,385 76-70-71-70--287
Frank ESPOSITO, Monroe, N.J., $5,385 71-74-71-71--287
Cleve COLDWATER, Clarks Summit, Pa., $5,385 75-70-71-71--287
Charles MEOLA, Mamaroneck, N.Y., $5,385 75-65-75-72--287
Rick LEIBOVICH, Carmel, Calif., $5,385 75-70-69-73--287
Robert GAUS, St. Louis, Mo., $4,485 76-70-74-68--288
Barry EVANS, Charleston, W.Va., $4,485 70-76-73-69--288
Steve MADSEN, Boca Raton, Fla., $4,485 71-72-75-70--288
Alan SCHULTE, Fishers, Ind., $4,485 75-68-74-71--288
Craig STEVENS, Dallas, Ga., $4,485 72-71-74-71--288
Terry HATCH, Pottsville, Pa., $4,485 68-78-71-71--288
John HICKSON, Topsham, Maine, $4,485 71-74-70-73--288
Lonny ALEXANDER, New Braunfels, Texas, $4,485 70-71-71-76--288
Colin AMARAL, White Plains, N.Y., $4,485 73-72-66-77--288
Clark SPRATLIN, Cumming, Ga., $3,517.50 71-73-77-68--289
Brian THORNTON, Sumner, Wash., $3,517.50 70-75-74-70--289
Cory SCHNEIDER, Powells Point, N.C., $3,517.50 75-71-73-70--289
Steve ISLEY, Oak Island, N.C., $3,517.50 72-72-74-71--289
Phil SCHMITT, Baton Rouge, La., $3,517.50 70-75-73-71--289
Cameron DOAN, Dallas, Texas, $3,517.50 75-69-74-71--289
John PILLAR, Hawley, Pa., $3,517.50 74-68-73-74--289
James WAHL, Holmes, N.Y., $3,517.50 72-68-74-75--289
Jeff HULL, Watkinsville, Ga., $2,915 75-71-75-69--290
Mike SMALL, Champaign, Ill., $2,915 72-74-74-70--290
Craig HOCKNULL, Superstition Mtn, Ar, $2,915 68-77-71-74--290
Rick WITT, Madison, Wis., $2,915 72-71-71-76--290
Christopher KAUFMAN, Coral Springs, Fla., $2,465 74-68-79-70--291
Rob CORCORAN, Lawrence, N.Y., $2,465 73-72-75-71--291
Kevin BURTON, Boise, Idaho, $2,465 71-75-74-71--291
Jim GORMLEY, Palos Verdes Estates, $2,465 77-67-75-72--291
Kyle KELLY, Rancho Mirage, Calif, $2,465 70-76-73-72--291
Loren PERSONETT, Antioch, Tenn., $2,465 73-71-74-73--291
Todd LANCASTER, Aurora, Ohio, $2,465 73-71-73-74--291
Tommy BRANNEN, Martinez, Ga., $2,465 75-71-70-75--291
Matt SLOWINSKI, Glen Ellyn, Ill., $2,465 71-72-71-77--291
Chad PROEHL, Urbandale, Iowa, $2,190 73-71-76-72--292
Rob WILKIN, Lenexa, Kan., $2,190 72-74-74-72--292
Gary ROBISON, Canton, Ohio, $2,190 73-73-72-74--292
Rich STEINMETZ, Gilbertsville, Pa., $2,190 73-70-74-75--292
Bob ACKERMAN, W. Bloomfield, Mich., $2,042.50 71-75-76-71--293
Dennis WELLS, Cincinnati, Ohio, $2,042.50 75-70-76-72--293
John SELTZER, Ann Arbor, Mich., $2,042.50 73-73-75-72--293
Cary SPLANE, St. Augustine, Fla., $2,042.50 75-71-72-75--293
Brett MELTON, Washington, Ind., $2,042.50 76-70-72-75--293
Jake NARRO, Ponchatoula, La., $2,042.50 69-74-73-77--293
Brian SPITZ, Plymouth, Mass., $1,900 72-70-79-73--294
Jim EMPEY, Boise, Idaho, $1,900 72-70-78-74--294
Larry SCORTICHINI, Coram, N.Y., $1,900 78-67-75-74--294
John GRAHAM, Idaho Falls, Idaho, $1,900 73-73-74-74--294
Daniel WILKINS, Laconia, N.H., $1,900 73-73-72-76--294
Jeff BENDER, Prosser, Wash., $1,787.50 72-74-76-73--295
Dave PUGH, Culver, Ind., $1,787.50 73-73-77-72--295
Samuel KANG, Rockaway, N.J., $1,787.50 74-72-74-75--295
JC ANDERSON, St. Louis, Mo., $1,787.50 73-71-75-76--295
Curt SCHNELL, Spirit Lake, Iowa, $1,712.50 73-73-78-72--296
Jerry HAAS, Winston Salem, N.C., $1,712.50 77-68-78-73--296
Dennis MEYER, Ft. Myers, Fla., $1,637.50 77-69-76-75--297
John ANDREWS, Indianapolis, Ind., $1,637.50 71-73-77-76--297
Peter MICKLEWRIGHT, Pittsburgh, Pa., $1,637.50 69-75-76-77--297
Gordon VIETMEIER, Pittsburgh, Pa., $1,637.50 72-71-73-81--297
Brian CAIRNS, Waterford, Mich., $1,537.50 73-70-80-75--298
Shane ZYWIEC, Lincoln, Neb., $1,537.50 71-72-78-77--298
Bob RALSTON, Little Rock, Ark., $1,537.50 75-70-76-77--298
Ricky TOUMA, Olney, Md., $1,537.50 73-71-76-78--298
Pat STEPHENS, Richmond, Ky., $1,462.50 72-72-81-74--299
Paul DIETSCHE, Redlands, Calif., $1,462.50 66-77-82-74--299
John T. O'LEARY, Chantilly, Va., $1,425 73-72-86-70--301
Scott RATH, Tualatin, Ore., $1,400 72-73-80-77--302
Butch SHEEHAN, Rancho Mirage, Calif, $1,375 72-74-79-79--304
Ryan ROY, Wentzville, Mo., $1,350 72-74-83-76--305
Paul NOLEN, Marana, Ariz., $1,325 71-73-86-76--306
Ron VLOSICH, Lakewood, Colo. 71-69-NC---NC
Rick MORTON, Jacksonville, N.C. 72-74-76-DQ--DQ
The PGA of America, 100 Avenue of the Champions, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
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