Friday takes SC Section Professional Championship, five move on to nationals
By Zach Tucker
Nichols Hills – Thunderstorms swept across central Oklahoma on day two of the South Central Section’s PGA Professional Championship at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, causing a delay of more than three hours. As it turned out, the two men who waited the longest for the decisive putt to drop may have had the shortest drives home.
Shannon Friday, an assistant professional at the host course, edged his boss Tim Fleming, the director of golf, on the first hole of a playoff to win the coveted title, the second for Friday who also won in 2015.
Both will be heading to the 2022 PGA Professional Championship to be held April 17-20 at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas. The top 20 finishers there will compete in the 2022 PGA Championship May 19-22 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa.
Making it through to Southern Hills “would be a dream come true,” Friday said. “To play in your first PGA Championship in the state would be great. But there’s a long ways to go and a lot of the guys who qualify each year I don’t think do much besides play golf.”
For inspiration, however, Friday doesn’t have to look any further than his boss. Fleming made it through to the PGA Championship for five consecutive years from 2001-2006. Now 56 and having qualified for the national event for the 25th time, Fleming said just making it to nationals again would be as gratifying as getting the chance to play at the PGA Championship in his home state.
“Every opportunity at my age would be special,” Fleming said.
Also earning spots in that field were Southern Hills assistant Cameron Chhim, Brent Williamson of Canyons at Blackjack Ridge in Sand Springs, as well as former section champion Trent Rommann of Crestview Country in Wichita, Kan. Chhim shot a 4-under 67 Tuesday to finish at 5-under, while Williamson shot 68 and finished 4-under. Tracy Phillips of Tulsa is the first alternate, having shot 1-under and then winning a playoff with Brad Simons of Little Rock with a birdie on the second hole.
The final pairing of Friday, Fleming, and Jarod Lundy had completed eight holes when lightning in the area pulled all players off the golf course before 2 p.m. Friday, the overnight leader, had a one-shot lead over Fleming heading into the back nine when play resumed. But after a pair of three-putt bogeys combined with an eagle by Fleming on the par-5 16th hole, Friday found himself two-shots back on the 17th tee.
“After Tim’s eagle on 16 I knew I was a few shots back, but I stuck with my game plan and was looking to get a few good looks on the final two holes” Friday said.
A bogey by Fleming on the par-4 17 cut the deficit to one shot heading into the daunting par-4 18th. Friday found the fairway with his tee shot, while Fleming drove into the left rough. Fleming advanced his ball to the greenside bunker, which opened the door for Friday.
“After a good drive I was left with a perfect number for a 7-iron and I was able to hit a good shot up there to about 15 or 16 feet right of the flag.” Friday said.
Fleming hit a fabulous bunker shot to within 3 feet of the flagstick to put the pressure back on Friday to make the birdie putt. He did just that and the two advanced to a sudden death playoff also on 18.
Both drove in the fairway, but Fleming saw his second shot drift right into a different greenside bunker. This time he didn’t get up-and-down and after a two-putt par by Friday, the championship was his.
Fleming was playing on house money after qualifying for the PGA Professional National Championship in July by winning the South Central PGA’s Section Championship at Stillwater Country Club. That exemption allowed Rommann to get in as a fifth player from the section. Lundy shot 73 and finished at even-par.
South Central Section Professional Championship
at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club
Aug. 16-17, 2021
POS | NAT | PLAYER | TOTAL | THRU | TODAY | R1 | R2 | R3 | STROKES | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IN CONTENTION – Qualifiers: 4 Alternates: 4 | ||||||||||
| T1 | Tim Fleming Oklahoma City G&CC | -6 | F | -2 | 67 | 69 | 136 | |||
| T1 |  | Shannon Friday Oklahoma City G&CC | -6 | F | -1 | 66 | 70 | 136 | ||
| 3 | Cameron Chhim Southern Hills CC – Champ | -5 | F | -4 | 70 | 67 | 137 | |||
| 4 | Brent Williamson Canyons at Blackjack Ridg | -4 | F | -3 | 70 | 68 | 138 | |||
| 5 | | Trent Rommann Crestview CC | -2 | F | -2 | 71 | 69 | 140 | ||
| T6 | | Tracy Phillips Cedar Ridge CC | -1 | F | E | 70 | 71 | 141 | ||
| T6 | Brad Simons Country Club of Little Ro | -1 | F | E | 70 | 71 | 141 | |||
| 8 | | Jarod Lundy Winter Creek GC | E | F | +2 | 69 | 73 | 142 | ||
| NOT CURRENTLY IN CONTENTION | ||||||||||
| 9 | Holden Crago Oaks CC | +1 | F | +2 | 70 | 73 | 143 | |||
| T10 | Justin Sellin Blessings GC | +2 | F | -1 | 74 | 70 | 144 | |||
| T10 | | Mike Hansen Quail Creek G & CC | +2 | F | +3 | 70 | 74 | 144 | ||
| T12 | Brian Soerensen Kickingbird GC | +3 | F | +3 | 71 | 74 | 145 | |||
| T12 | Riley Seitz Reflection Ridge GC | +3 | F | +4 | 70 | 75 | 145 | |||
| T12 | Chris Tidland Tidland Stillwater | +3 | F | +4 | 70 | 75 | 145 | |||
| T15 | Kyle Ward Hidden Trails CC | +4 | F | -1 | 76 | 70 | 146 | |||
| T15 | Reggie Grant Hurricane G&CC | +4 | F | -1 | 76 | 70 | 146 | |||
| T15 | Mark Budler Indian Springs – River | +4 | F | +3 | 72 | 74 | 146 | |||
| T15 | Todd Pinneo Lost Springs G & AC | +4 | F | +6 | 69 | 77 | 146 | |||
| T19 | | Malachi Murphy Winter Creek GC | +5 | F | +1 | 75 | 72 | 147 | ||
| T19 | Scott Donovan Golf Galaxy – Oklahoma City | +5 | F | +2 | 74 | 73 | 147 | |||
| T19 | Tucker Roderick Golf Club of Oklahoma | +5 | F | +2 | 74 | 73 | 147 | |||
| T19 | David Guy Rolling Hills CC | +5 | F | +4 | 72 | 75 | 147 | |||
| T19 | Zac Taylor Alotian Club | +5 | F | +3 | 73 | 74 | 147 | |||
| T19 | | Cary Cozby Southern Hills CC – Champ | +5 | F | +3 | 73 | 74 | 147 | ||
| 25 | Brandon Flynn GOLFTEC – Oklahoma City | +6 | F | +6 | 71 | 77 | 148 | |||
| T26 | Derek Franco Twin Hills Golf & CC | +7 | F | +3 | 75 | 74 | 149 | |||
| T26 | Clint Colbert Cimarron National GC | +7 | F | +3 | 75 | 74 | 149 | |||
| T26 | Derrick Vest Patriot GC | +7 | F | +4 | 74 | 75 | 149 | |||
| T26 | | Jim Young Gaillardia CC | +7 | F | +7 | 71 | 78 | 149 | ||
| T30 | Tyler Woodward Jimmie Austin Golf Club | +8 | F | +2 | 77 | 73 | 150 | |||
| T30 | Kevin Moberg The Golf Studio | +8 | F | +2 | 77 | 73 | 150 | |||
| T30 | Trey Stelling Winter Creek GC | +8 | F | +3 | 76 | 74 | 150 | |||
| T30 | | Kyley Tetley Indian Springs – River | +8 | F | +4 | 75 | 75 | 150 | ||
| T30 | Ryan Rody Southern Hills CC – Champ | +8 | F | +5 | 74 | 76 | 150 | |||
| T35 | Tim Graves Rose Creek Golf Club | +9 | F | +2 | 78 | 73 | 151 | |||
| T35 | Edward Roethlisberger Patricia Island E&GC | +9 | F | +4 | 76 | 75 | 151 | |||
| T35 | Ty Tamura Lincoln Park GC | +9 | F | +4 | 76 | 75 | 151 | |||
| T35 | Rusty Wortham Altus AFB GC / Windy Trai | +9 | F | +4 | 76 | 75 | 151 | |||
| T35 | | Philip Holley Hot Springs CC | +9 | F | +6 | 74 | 77 | 151 | ||
| T35 | | Brent Wilcoxen South Lakes | +9 | F | +6 | 74 | 77 | 151 | ||
| T41 | | Blake Bowman Yamaha Golf Cars | +10 | F | E | 81 | 71 | 152 | ||
| T41 | Brady Fennel | +10 | F | +5 | 76 | 76 | 152 | |||
| T41 | Brad Fulton Oklahoma City G&CC | +10 | F | +5 | 76 | 76 | 152 | |||
| T41 | Mike Elafros The Greens CC | +10 | F | +5 | 76 | 76 | 152 | |||
| T41 | | Jeff Tucker Oklahoma City G&CC | +10 | F | +6 | 75 | 77 | 152 | ||
| T46 | Nick Bryan Alotian Club | +12 | F | +1 | 82 | 72 | 154 | |||
| T46 | | Garrett Diel Gaillardia CC | +12 | F | +4 | 79 | 75 | 154 | ||
| T46 | James Belcoff Forest Ridge | +12 | F | +9 | 74 | 80 | 154 | |||
| T49 | Austin Rivet Oak Tree National | +13 | F | +5 | 79 | 76 | 155 | |||
| T49 | Joseph Marshall Alotian Club | +13 | F | +6 | 78 | 77 | 155 | |||
| T51 | | John Hron V Hillcrest | +14 | F | +3 | 82 | 74 | 156 | ||
| T51 | Kurt Gibson Reflection Ridge GC | +14 | F | +5 | 80 | 76 | 156 | |||
| T51 | | Joey Martinez Belmar GC | +14 | F | +5 | 80 | 76 | 156 | ||
| T51 | Wade Walker Hidden Trails CC | +14 | F | +7 | 78 | 78 | 156 | |||
| T51 | Kevin Williams Oak Tree Country Club | +14 | F | +7 | 78 | 78 | 156 | |||
| T51 | | Steve Blaske Tex Consolver GC | +14 | F | +8 | 77 | 79 | 156 | ||
| T57 | | Darren Watts Lake Hefner GC | +17 | F | +9 | 79 | 80 | 159 | ||
| T57 | James Kane Oak Tree National | +17 | F | +10 | 78 | 81 | 159 | |||
| T59 | Colin O’Bryan MacDonald Park GC | +18 | F | +7 | 82 | 78 | 160 | |||
| T59 | Brice Lombard Southern Hills CC – Champ | +18 | F | +10 | 79 | 81 | 160 | |||
| T59 | Richard Allen Gaillardia CC | +18 | F | +12 | 77 | 83 | 160 | |||
| T62 | | Dennis Bowman Pryor Creek | +19 | F | +5 | 85 | 76 | 161 | ||
| T62 | | Brent Cryer GC of Edmond | +19 | F | +10 | 80 | 81 | 161 | ||
| T62 | | Troy Hendricks Wichita CC | +19 | F | +12 | 78 | 83 | 161 | ||
| T65 | Cary Maddox Maumelle CC | +20 | F | +8 | 83 | 79 | 162 | |||
| T65 | Dustin Semsch 1st Tee of Metro Oklahoma City | +20 | F | +10 | 81 | 81 | 162 | |||
| T65 | Jason Mink LaFortune Park GC | +20 | F | +14 | 77 | 85 | 162 | |||
| T68 | | Bruce Baxley Searcy CC | +21 | F | +8 | 84 | 79 | 163 | ||
| T68 | Warren Cunningham GC of Edmond | +21 | F | +10 | 82 | 81 | 163 | |||
| T68 | Mark Meacham Golf Club of Oklahoma | +21 | F | +13 | 79 | 84 | 163 | |||
| T71 | Andrew Forbes Heritage Hills | +22 | F | +6 | 87 | 77 | 164 | |||
| T71 | | Vince Bizik | +22 | F | +7 | 86 | 78 | 164 | ||
| 73 | Brett Dotson Srixon/Cleveland Golf/XXIO/ASICS | +23 | F | +7 | 87 | 78 | 165 | |||
| T74 | Derek Hahn Quail Creek G & CC | +24 | F | +11 | 84 | 82 | 166 | |||
| T74 | Blake Ivy Belmar GC | +24 | F | +12 | 83 | 83 | 166 | |||
| 76 | Terry Wiles Kickingbird GC | +28 | F | +18 | 81 | 89 | 170 | |||
| T77 | | Tory Hayes South Central Section | +33 | F | +19 | 85 | 90 | 175 | ||
| T77 | Rodney Young Jimmie Austin Golf Club | +33 | F | +10 | 94 | 81 | 175 | |||
| 79 | Nicholas Madden Oklahoma City G&CC | +34 | F | +17 | 88 | 88 | 176 | |||
| 80 | Alan Hager The Trails | +36 | F | +19 | 88 | 90 | 178 | |||
| 81 | Sebastien Courtois Jimmie Austin Golf Club | +43 | F | +20 | 94 | 91 | 185 | |||
| DID NOT FINISH | ||||||||||
| WD | | Art Romero Texarkana CC | +4 | |||||||
| WD | Devin Davenport Oak Tree Country Club | |||||||||
| WD | | Barry Howard Hot Springs CC | ||||||||
| DQ | | Rod Alexander Lew Wentz Memorial Golf C | ||||||||
| NC | Andy McCormick River Oaks GC | +1 | ||||||||
| NC | Cole Wasinger Oakwood CC of Enid | +14 | ||||||||
| NC | Brandon Alford Trosper Park | |||||||||