Tidland’s reverence for Southern Hills shines through again
By Ken MacLeod
The first time Chris Tidland set foot on Southern Hills Country Club was a collegiate event hosted by the University of Tulsa in the fall of 1993. He made a long birdie putt on the 18th hole to notch his first of three college victories for Oklahoma State.
On Tuesday, roughly 32 years later, Tidland didn’t need any heroics on 18 to win. In fact, he made bogey on the historically difficult par-4, but still finished two shots ahead of Tracy Phillips and Tim Fleming to win the Yamaha Senior Section Championship.
From then to now, Tidland’s reverence for Southern Hills has only increased with age.
“I love this place,” said Tidland, the director of golf at Stillwater Country Club. “As an Oklahoma we are so fortunate to have this place. It’s so amazing that Cary (Cozby, director of golf at Southern Hills), welcomed us to do this event here. I love it every time we come here.”
Tidland shot rounds of 74-73 to finish at 3-over 147 and lead a group of four who qualified for the Senior PGA Professional Championship scheduled Oct. 23-26 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The top eight finishers there will earn a spot in the 2026 Senior PGA Championship.
Phillips, teaching pro from Tulsa, and Fleming, director of golf at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, tied for second at 7-over after each shot rounds of 74-75. Shannon Friday of Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club advanced in fourth place after rounds of 76-76. Since Phillips was already exempt into the event, the final qualifying spot went to Jeff Freeman of Twin Hills Golf & Country Club, who tied for fifth with Willie Wood of Edmond at 13-over.
Tidland got around the front side in even par Tuesday and made seven pars against two bogeys coming home. That steady round by the former OSU All-American and long-time playing professional at various levels was better than the toll exacted by Southern Hills on all of his competitors, as the average score for the tournament was 82.33.
“The first time Coach (Mike) Holder let us know how special it was and it lived up to all the hype and more,” Tidland said. “I enjoy what it asks you to do. It’s a tough test, but it’s fair. You have to think and then execute. If you’re a little off you’re going to be in a tough spot. I got in a few tough spots but got out of them fortunately pretty much unscathed. A bogey out here doesn’t kill you.”
Tidland has been working on his game in his spare time at Karsten Creek, reputed to be one of the more demanding courses in the country since it reopened this summer after a complete renovation by architect Andrew Green.
“That’s another place that’s very demanding, so not too much different than out here,” he said. “
This will be Tidland’s third time to qualify for the Senior Professional Championship. Fleming has made it 10 of the 11 years since he turned 50 and six times has qualified to play in the Senior PGA Championship. Phillips has played in the Senior PGA Championship in 2014 and 2014 and then every year since 2022. He finished tied for 17th overall in 2022.