Palm Beach Gardens’ Alex Beach continues spectacular 2019 play
SPECIAL TO THE TEE TIMES
Alex Beach of Palm Beach Gardens delivered a sparkling final round to rally to victory in the 43rd National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie.
Beach, who was T5 and trailed by three when the final round began, birdied Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 6 on the Wanamaker Course to grab the lead en route to a front-nine 32.
Although Beach made bogey on No. 10, he steadied himself to add two later birdies and finish at 8-under 280, good enough to withstand a late run – four birdies in eight holes – by Houston’s Carlos Sainz Jr.
“I stayed in my own world,” Beach said. “Carlos started making birdies, so I realized he was going to be my closest competition. I’ve learned how to take my time and not rush through anything. Every shot matters.”
With the three-shot victory, Beach became the first player in history to win multiple PGA of America national championships in the same calendar year. He won the 52nd PGA Professional Championship in Bluffton, S.C., held April 28-May 1.
“It’s crazy. It’s a huge honor,” said Beach, a PGA Assistant Professional at Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y., when the snow isn’t falling. “It’s been a great year. I keep asking myself how it can get better.
“I felt very comfortable this week. I committed a couple mistakes yesterday that I was frustrated with. But it’s almost an advantage to play from behind. I was confident that my experience might prevail if I could play well. Getting off to the fast start was huge. As soon as the tide flips, guys start looking at the leaderboard.”
Other South Floridians in the field were Frank Bensel of Jupiter (T24), Ken Leech of Boynton Beach (T32), Will Coleman of Palm Beach Gardens (T32), and Brett McCurdy of West Palm Beach (T37).
Those who started the day ahead of him on the leaderboard were struggling. Colin Inglis (+5), Colin Van Es (+3), Caleb Wittig (+2) and Matt Rachey (+3) played a combined 13-over par through their first nine holes, which left Beach four clear.
“I’ve been in their position before,” Beach said. “I know how hard it is to sleep on a lead. You’re thinking about outcomes. You’ve got a bunch of people texting you. I’ve learned how to block that out.”
Beach is only the fourth to own a title in both the Assistant PGA Professional Championship and the PGA Professional Championship. He joins Darrell Kestner (Assistant in 1982, 1987; PPC in 1996), Bruce Zabriski (Assistant in 1995; PPC in 1997) and Tim Thelen (Assistant in 2009; PPC in 2000, 2003).
Other South Floridians in the field were Frank Bensel of Jupiter (T24), Ken Leech of Boynton Beach (T32), Will Coleman of Palm Beach Gardens (T32), and Brett McCurdy of West Palm Beach (T37).
Beach’s success in 2019 goes well beyond his victories in Bluffton and Port St. Lucie. In late September, he was an integral piece of the U.S. PGA Cup Team en route to their dramatic come-from-behind victory.
The week before the Assistant PGA Professional Championship, Beach solidified his membership onto the Korn Ferry Tour for 2020 by advancing through the second stage of Q-School.
“It’s hard work paying off,” said Beach. “It’s nice to represent all the Assistants out there. The work is just starting.”
lawrence@teetimesnews.com
