HOCKNULL GOES WIRE-TO-WIRE AND WINS THE 2016 PING SOUTHWEST PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

MARICOPA, Ariz. – September 14, 2016 – Unlike his first two days, Craig Hocknull’s final round score didn’t end up in the red.  However the 5-shot lead he had through 36-holes was enough to capture the 2016 PING Southwest PGA Championship. His wire-to-wire victory at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz., is his first Section Championship title and he has now won all four Southwest PGA majors in his career.

“It’s awesome. It feels really, really good,” said Hocknull. “I felt I had a chance coming into this tournament based on my play in the Arizona and Utah Opens but this is very special and earning the Phoenix Open exemption is a dream come true.”

Playing in the final group with Marty Jertson, who entered the final round in second place, Hocknull, 41, PGA director of instruction of Outback Golf Academy, made the turn at 1-over 37 in a front nine that was comprised of eight pars and a bogey. However his 5-shot lead remained intact as Jertson had the same score when both players headed to the back nine.

“Today the putts just weren’t dropping and that was the difference between the last couple rounds but I kept telling myself to stay patient,” Hocknull said. “I had four putts hit the lip of the cup and not drop, which obviously would have changed things a bit.”

Playing two groups in front of Hocknull was Bobby Pancratz, who was 4-under on the day through 11 holes and closing the gap between them.

“When I made the turn I saw Bobby was playing really well,” Hocknull said. “I knew where I stood on the leaderboard and felt I still needed to be patient but I need to pick my shots and hit them appropriately.”

After bogeys on Nos. 10 and 12 for Hocknull, the once comfortable lead was down to one stroke as Pancratz birdied Nos. 14 and 16.

Pancratz, 32, PGA Professional at Parsons Xtreme Golf, is no stranger to playing well at Southern Dunes. He won the 2015 Southwest PGA Professional Championship on the same course, where in the opening round he finished with a record 9-under-par 27 on the back nine that included an eagle and 7 birdies.

Needing an answer to Pancratz’s strong play, Hocknull birdied Nos. 13 and 14, bogeyed 15 and essentially sealed the victory with an eagle on the par-5, 16th hole.

“The eagle I made on 16 was huge,” said Hocknull. “Coming to 16, knowing I only had a one-shot lead, I felt confident I could make birdie or better. I hit driver and 4-iron to about 15 feet and made the putt for eagle. That gave me a little more comfort increasing my lead to 3-shots with only two holes remaining.”

Hocknull parred the final two holes and captured the title with a 4-shot margin of victory. He earned $6000 and an exemption in the PGA Tour’s 2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open scheduled to take place February 2-5, 2017 at TPC Scottsdale.

“This is a dream for me to play in a PGA Tour event,” said Hocknull about the Phoenix Open exemption. “I was able to get Web.com Tour status but haven’t ever teed it up in a PGA Tour event. I figure when you get to check something off your dream list it’s pretty cool.”

With the victory, Hocknull has won all four Southwest PGA majors: the Southwest PGA Professional Championship (2011), the Arizona Open Championship (2013) and the Southwest PGA Match Play Championship (2013). He was previously honored as the 2013 Southwest PGA Player of the Year and the 2014 Southwest PGA Teacher of the Year.

Pancratz and Dong Kyu Kim, 30, PGA assistant professional at Desert Mountain, finished tied for second place at 8-under par for the Championship. Pancratz’s 67 in the final round was the low score on the day.

Jertson, 36, PGA Professional and Senior Design Engineer at PING Golf, finished the final round with 1-over-par 73. His 54-hole total of 210 (-6) was good for a fourth place finish.

R.W. Eaks, 64, PGA Life Member, was the oldest competitor remaining in the field and earned low senior honors. He finished the final round with an even-par 72 and 4-under for the Championship, which earned him sole possession of 5th place.

Defending champion Dennis Downs, 34, PGA director of instruction at Reid/West Golf Academies (Pebble Creek), carded a final round 74 and finished tied for 17th.

Special thanks to the staff at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club for hosting the 2016 Southwest PGA Championship and to PING Golf for their long-time support of the Southwest PGA and the Championship.

About The Southwest Section PGA:
The Southwest Section of the PGA of America is a professional organization serving the men and women golf professionals in Arizona and Southern Nevada who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf. The Southwest PGA is responsible for the administration of competitive golf tournaments, junior golf programs and events, educational opportunities, support programs and growth of the game initiatives. With 1306 members and apprentices, the Southwest PGA is the fifth largest of the 41 regional entities or Sections that comprise the PGA of America.  For more information about the Southwest PGA, please visit www.southwestpga.com and join us on social media at www.facebook.com/swsectionpga and twitter.com/swsectionpga.

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