Cherry on top: Scott Cherry takes SCPGA section title at Rancho La Quinta
LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) -- Scott Cherry, PGA golf professional at Mission Hills Country Club, is the 2026 Southern California PGA Professional Champion at Rancho La Quinta Country Club with a 13-under-par (70, 68, 65) score over 54 holes on the Pate and Jones Courses.
Starting the final day at 6-under-par and tied for fourth, Cherry delivered a strong closing performance to capture the tournament title on the Jones Course.
Cherry went bogey-free over his final two rounds on the Jones. He mounted a decisive charge on the back nine, stringing together five birdies to take his first lead of the tournament down the stretch and secure the win with a critical 20-foot birdie putt on hole #17.
Cherry's victory earned him the $15,000 first-place check and his first SCPGA Section Championship title.
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“It’s amazing,” Cherry said. “I’ve been grinding in this section for a couple of years now. It’s an amazing section, a lot of competitive players. It feels amazing to come out on top today.”
Cherry said he had a moment during the final round that put the accomplishment into perspective.
“I had a moment on the 10th hole where I was just looking out at the mountains and got the shivers thinking about how lucky I am to be able to do this for a living,” he said.
Cherry also credited his wife, family and the Mission Hills community for their support.
“I have so much gratitude to be able to do this for a living,” Cherry said. “I’m so thankful to my wife, Jo, and my whole family and everyone at Mission Hills. It’s gonna be surreal here for a little while.”
Runner-up, Kyle Mendoza of Hacienda Golf Club will also receive a spot in the World Wide Technology Championship Monday Qualifier.
This Championship concludes the 2026 SCPGA Player of the Year points race, and Lyon Lazare, PGA, of Monarch Beach Golf Links earns top honors with 1,192.02 points over 11 events played this season. This earns Lazare an exemption into the PGA Tour’s Sentry at Torrey Pines on January 27-30, 2027, and marks the first time he has been named the Rolex SCPGA Player of the Year.
Below are the 14 SCPGA members who qualified for the 2027 PGA Professional Championship hosted at Streamsong Golf Resort in Bowling Green, Florida on April 25-28, 2027:
Scott Cherry – Mission Hills Country Club
Kyle Mendoza – Hacienda Golf Club
Blake Schmitt – Ironwood Country Club
Jamie Puterbaugh – Aviara Golf Academy
Lyon Lazare – Monarch Beach Golf Links
Mike Fergin – Mesa Verde Country Club
Nate LeBlanc – Andalusia Country Club
Vinnie Poncino – San Clemente Golf Course
Ryan Kennedy – Rustic Canyon Golf Course
Andrew Alderdice – Newport Beach Country Club
Cavin McCall – The Santaluz Club
Logan Scott – Oakmont Country Club
*Mark Geddes – Coronado Golf Course (Exempt)
*Garrett Sapp – Hacienda Golf Club (Exempt)
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