For the first time since 2006, there is an area connection to the PGA Championship.
Chris Sanger, who competes regularly in Northeastern New York PGA tournaments, qualified for the golf major through the PGA Professional Championship last week in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M.
One of the unique aspects of the PGA Championship, which will be played May 18-21 at the Oak Hill Country Club’s East course in suburban Rochester, is that 20 club pros are included in what is generally considered the strongest field in golf.
Sanger, head pro at Woodstock, tied for 17th in the 312-player field of what is referred to by many as the National Club Pro. His invitation to that was earned last August in the NENYPGA Championship at Albany Country Club by finishing in the top three along with Justin Hearley of Burden Lake and Kyle Kressler of Cedar View. The other two missed the 36-hole cut.
“I had been preparing over the winter, trying to get stronger and fitter and trying to hit the ball a little further,” said Sanger, third in last season’s NENYPGA point standings, behind Hearley and Scott Berliner. “I did a lot of walking because I knew there was going to be a lot of walking involved. I prepared, but it’s hard to tell what kind of game I’d be bringing out there.”
Sanger, 37, was in contention heading into the final round. He was in third place, one shot behind eventual winner Braden Shattuck of Glen Mills, Pa., and was part of the final group.
“Going into the final round,” Sanger said. “I wanted to win it, especially the way I played the third round (3-under 69).”
Unfortunately, he had three bogeys in a four-hole stretch en route to a final-round 76 and needed to make a 3-foot bogey putt on the final hole to secure the PGA berth.
He is believed to be the first player to qualify for the PGA through the local…
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