Oakley's late charge falls short as he finishes in a tie for second in NCR Assistant PGA Professional Championship

 

   Zac Oakley, an instructor at Bidermann Golf Club, took a run at Domenico Geminiani in the final round of the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship Sunday at the PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker Course in Port St. Lucie, Fla., but ultimately had to settle for a share of second place.

   Oakley began the day in a tie for fifth place and trailing Geminiani of Old Corkscrew Golf Course in Estero, Fla. by nine shots.

   But an eagle at the par-5 13^th hole and birdies at 15 and 16 enabled Oakley to creep within two shots of Geminiani. However, Geminiani, who made pars on 14 of his first 15 holes, was able to withstand Oakley’s charge with a final round of 2-over 74 that gave him a 12-under 276 total.

   Oakley made a double bogey at the final hole that left him with a final round of 4-under 68 for a 9-under 279 total as he ended up in a tie for second place with Preston Cole of the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., the NCR Assistant PGA Professional Championship’s defending champion.

   The three-shot margin of victory was a bit deceiving, though, as Oakley, who finished in a tie for third place a year ago and tied for fourth two years ago, made quite a charge.

   Oakley made birdies at the first and third holes to get his final round started. He stumbled briefly with a bogey at the fourth hole before making a birdie at seven.

   That set the stage for his startling burst when he went 4-under in a space of four holes before giving two shots back with his double bogey at the last.

   “I made an eagle on 13 and I had a really good look for eagle at 16, but I misread that putt,” Oakley told Craig Dolch of the PGA of America website. “Then I just completely botched the final hole.”

   Neat story in Dolch’s account of the final round of the NCR Assistant PGA Professional Championship on the PGA of America’s website concerning Oakley. Seems he locked his clubs in his car right before the start of his third round.

   Oakley was about to tee off for his third round with just three clubs when his dad Pete, a dominant player in the Philadelphia Section PGA back in the day, showed up with a spare key and Zac Oakley was able to retrieve his sticks and go out and card a solid 2-under 70.

   Pete Oakley was a complete mystery to the world of golf outside of the Philadelphia Section when he showed up at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland in 2004 and captured the title in the Royal & Ancient’s Senior Open Championship. Sounds like he was pretty clutch once again Saturday at the PGA Golf Club.

   Meanwhile, Geminiani did a great job of protecting the seven-shot lead he held entering Sunday’s final round. He made a bogey at the third hole, but otherwise had 14 pars on his card when Oakley got within two shots of him.

   Geminiani made his only birdie of the day at the 16^th hole and finished up with bogeys at 17 and 18, but he was still able to hold on to grab the winner’s check of $14,700. It was the 28-year-old Italian’s second victory in the NCR Assistant PGA Professional Championship in the last three years as he captured the crown two years ago as well.

   “I was playing the same way, just wasn’t playing as well,” Geminiani told Dolch on the PGA of America website. “I really hung in there, which is important on this course with the greens so firm.

   “My words for today were patience and maturity. In the beginning of my career when I’m not playing well, I might have forced it and tried to make birdies. I stayed really patient and let the game come to me.”

   It was a spirited title defense for Cole as he closed with a 2-under 70 that enabled him to get a share of second play with Oakley at 9-under 279.

   Evan Brewser, playing out of the pro shop at LaPlaya Golf Club in Naples, Fla., and Michael Kartrude of The Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Fla. both finished strong to finish in a tie for fourth place, two shots behind Oakley and Cole at 7-under 281.

   Oakley headlined a group of five Philadelphia Section representatives who survived the 36-hole cut and played the weekend at the Wanamaker Course.

   Trevor Bensel, an assistant pro at Sandy Run Country Club, closed with a 1-over 73 to finish among the group tied for 15^th place with a 1-under 287 total. It was a second straight strong showing in the NCR Assistant PGA Professional Championship for Bensel, who finished in a tie for seventh place a year ago.

   Brian Bergstol, the head of instruction at the Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort, always seems to play well in the NCR Assistant PGA Professional Championship. He finished in a tie for second place behind Geminiani two years ago and was the runnerup a year earlier in 2021.

   Bergstol closed with a solid 1-under 71 to finish in the group tied for 25^th place with a 2-over 290. Bergstol had finished in a tie for 26^th place at the PGA Golf Club a year ago.

   Rusty Harbold, who works out of the Philadelphia Cricket Club pro shop, matched par in the final round with a 72 to finish among the group tied for 48^th place with an 8-over 296 total.

   Jeff Fick, an assistant pro at Moselem Springs Golf Club, closed with a 4-over 76 to end up in the group tied for 60^th place with a 302 total.

   The NCR Assistant PGA Professional Championship is supported by Srixon Golf and Cleveland Golf.