PNW Senior PGA Championship/2026
Knowles Captures PNW PGA Senior Professional Championship
Mark Knowles of McCormick Woods Golf Course captured the PNW PGA Senior Professional Championship on September 3 at Hayden Lake Country Club, defeating defending champion Jeff Gove of The Idaho Club in a one-hole playoff.
Knowles finished at 5-under-par 137 after rounds of 70-67, while Gove matched his total with rounds of 65-72. Gove’s opening-round 65 was the low round of the championship, but Knowles closed with a 67 to force the playoff. Knowles then prevailed on the first playoff hole to claim his first Senior Professional Championship.
With the victory, Knowles joins five other PNW PGA Professionals who will advance to the 2026 Senior PGA Professional Championship, scheduled for October 22-25 at Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club in Gold Canyon, Arizona: • Mark Knowles, McCormick Woods GC • Mitch Lowe, Glendoveer GC • Brian Thornton, Meridian Valley CC • Bob Rannow, Ocean Dunes • Birk Nelson, Orange Whip • Tom Dyer, Whitefish, MT
“My goal was to advance, as I have missed qualifying for this event the last two or three years,” said Knowls. “Winning came unexpectedly. I was really proud of how I stayed patient throughout the two rounds. Most of my birdies came in the last 10 holes of the event.”
Gove, Ryan Malby and Jeff Coston have also qualified for the national championship through past exemptions.
The 38th Senior PGA Professional Championship will bring together PGA Professionals from across the country competing for the opportunity to advance to the 2027 Senior PGA Championship. The top finishers at the national championship will earn berths into the 2027 Senior PGA Championship.
“I am very proud to represent the PNW Section in Arizona," said Knowles. "The team coming down are all great players who love to compete. Hopefully, we can represent the Section as well this year as last year.”
Also recognized during the championship was Jeff Coston, who captured the Hugh Starkweather Award for the top performance in the 60-and-over division. The Senior PGA Professional Championship is supported by PXG, Golf Channel and the PGA Tour.
“My major goal each year is to play well enough to qualify for the Hudson Cup, but qualifying for a national event is icing on the cake for me,” said Knowles. The 78th Hudson Cup Matches will take place October 15-16, 2026, at Inglewood Golf Club. The event pairs the Section’s top professionals against the region’s top amateurs in a Ryder Cup-style competition.
Final results: https://2026secseniorpga.golfgenius.com/