Belmont Country Club’s Mike Stone will be making his second trip to the Senior PGA Professional Championship in the last three years, but this time he is going as a champion. The 2023 Senior PGA Professional Championship will be held October 24-29 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
“There are tournaments that you point to on your calendar and say, ‘This is one I really want to win,’” said Stone, who earned $1,200 in winning the event after a runner up finish in 2022. “This is one of those tournaments.”
Stone, PGA Assistant Professional at Belmont Country Club, opened with a 71 on the Lima Shawnee Country Club track and finished strong with a tournament-best 68 for a 36-hole total of 5-under 139, three shots clear of his nearest competitor.
Adding to his motivation, Stone finished runner-up last year in this event, plus he had a disappointing second round in the Ohio Senior Open at Firestone earlier this summer, after holding the first-round lead.
“I think I learned something from both events, but especially at Firestone,” he said. “You just have to stay patient and let the game come to you. If you hit a bad shot just roll with it and go on to the next shot.”
Steve Parker, former PGA Director of Golf at Portage Country Club, and PGA Life Member Gary Trivisonno, tied for second. Fourth place went to Tom Atchison.
Dan Sutton, Steve Mulcahy, Gary Rusnak and Steve Stone will serve as alternates.
