NEWS

Rod Perry looks to defend titles in PGA Tournament Series

By Craig Dolch
Published on
Rod Perry looks to defend titles in PGA Tournament Series

PORT ST. LUCIE – Rod Perry spent Wednesday attending to his duties as the PGA Head Professional at Crane Lakes Golf & Country Club in Port Orange.

After putting his children to bed and enjoying a family dinner, he planned on heading to South Florida late Wednesday, hoping he’ll have some extra hardware in his trunk when he returns.

Like last year, when Perry won two of the six PGA Tournament Series events and earned honors for being the leading money winner ($17,441) and having the lowest scoring average (68.41).

“It’s a big deal,” Perry said of the PGA Tournament Series. “It’s only two-day events and we’re not talking about a ton of money. But as a club professional, we don’t get all that many opportunities to play and compete. I take every opportunity very seriously.”

Perry, who won the 2013 PGA Professional Championship and qualified for this year’s PGA Championship, will be among the players to beat when the 41st PGA Tournament Series starts Thursday on the Dye Course at PGA Golf Club.

Also entered is former PGA Tour member Omar Uresti of Austin, Texas, who won this year’s PGA Professional Championship and qualified for the PGA Championship, making the cut with three late birdies. Uresti finished second in earnings ($13,668) and scoring (68.75) to Perry in the PGA Tournament Series last year while winning the final event.

“There are some good players on the starting sheet,” Perry said, mentioning Uresti and Danny Balin.

Wyatt Worthington, who last year became the first African-American to win a PGA Tournament Series event, is among the 78 players in the opening field.

Last year’s PGA Tournament Series attracted 494 players who competed for almost $200,000 in prize money.

The schedule for the remaining five PGA Tournament Series events: No. 2 (Dec. 4-5) on Dye Course; No. 3 (Dec. 7-8) on Wanamaker Course; No. 4 (Dec. 11-12) on Ryder Course; No. 5 (Dec. 14-15) on Wanamaker Course; and No. 6 (Dec. 18-19) on Ryder Course.

The PGA Tournament Series is presented by Golf Advisor.