Phillips back in the hunt at PGA Professional Championship
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (April 28, 2025) ーTracy Phillips of Tulsa fired a 4-under 67 on the Ryder Course to get back to even-par overall and move from well outside the cut line to a tie for 44th in the PGA Professional Championship.
That kept alive his dream of playing in a second consecutive PGA Championship, as the low 20 and ties will qualify for the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. Phillips is currently three behind those tied for 20th.
Southern Hills assistant Cameron Chhim also made the cut after a second-round 74 on the Wanamaker Course left him a 2-over. The projected cut line for the 54-hole cut after the third round is 1 over.
Not making the 36-hole cut was Chris Tidland of Stillwater, though he bounced back from his opening round 80 with a 70. Jett Johnson of Quail Creek CC and Austin Peters of The Territory also did not advance.
Tyler Collet (Vero Beach, Fla.) cruised to a 4-under-par 67 and had the 36-hole lead by three at 11-under.
The PGA Assistant Golf Professional at John’s Island Club opened the Championship with a first-round 7-under-par 65 at the Wanamaker, and after shooting a 67 on Monday has now recorded six rounds in the 60s across six career PPC appearances.
Michael Block (Mission Viejo, Calif.) is second, three shots back at 8-under. Jesse Droemer (Houston, Texas) and Jesse Mueller (Phoenix, Ariz.) are T-3 at four back, while Paul McClure (Mobile, Ala.) and Andre Chi (Queens, N.Y.) are five off the lead at 6-under.
“Today was a grind, yeah,” said Block. “And the next two days are going to be a grind, which I love. But at this point, which is my favorite thing in the world, is that now it is game on. Everyone’s on the same course. Everyone that’s around the same score is going to be playing the same. It’s on now and I can’t wait to get going tomorrow.”
Droemer, a PGA Teaching Professional at Riverbend Country Club, turned in a steady 3-under-par 68 at Ryder on Monday. After a bogey at the par-4, 436-yard 1st, the 33-year-old rattled off four birdies and 13 pars.
“I didn’t really get a whole lot out of the round,” said Droemer. “There was a birdie where I almost flew it in the hole. It went about an inch away. Almost had two holes in one, almost holed out four times. I feel great going to the Wanamaker. I feel like the golf course sets up for my game over there, so I’m looking forward to being over there the next two days.”
Mueller, the PGA General Manager at Grand Canyon University, registered a 1-under-par 71 at Wanamaker. The Southwest PGA Member’s front nine featured a birdie at the par-5, 534-yard 7th and a bogey at the par-4, 456-yard 9th. Birdies on holes 11 and 14 preceded a closing bogey at the par-4, 435-yard 18th.
102 players made the 36-hole cut at 2-over-par. Tuesday’s third round of the 2025 PGA Professional Championship presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial and Rolex will be broadcast live on Golf Channel from 3-6 pm (ET). A 54-hole cut will take place following the third round to the low 70 scorers and ties.