Tyler Collet cruised to victory at the PGA Professional Championship on Wednesday, closing with an even-par 72 to win by a record-setting 10 shots. The assistant pro from John’s Island Club in Vero Beach finished at 15-under 272, earning his spot in next month’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
“My mindset the whole week was not to move backward,” said Collet, who started the final round with a commanding seven-shot lead that was never threatened.
Collet’s victory at PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker course in Port St. Lucie was so dominant that the real drama unfolded further down the leaderboard, where 20 club professionals earned coveted spots in the PGA Championship that begins May 15 in Charlotte.
This will be Collet’s fourth PGA Championship appearance. He’s one of three players returning for a second straight year, alongside John Somers and Larkin Gross. Michael Block, who captured golf fans’ hearts with his hole-in-one and T15 finish at Oak Hill last year, qualified for the third consecutive year.
Playoff Drama Decides Final Spot
The battle for the 20th and final qualifying spot produced the day’s most compelling moments. Four players who finished at even par headed to a sudden-death playoff that would ultimately require five extra holes.
Andrew Svoboda was eliminated with a bogey on the first playoff hole, and Dakun Chang three-putted his way out on the second.
That left 60-year-old Brad Lardon facing Michael Kartrude, an assistant pro at The Bear’s Club. Lardon nearly won on the third extra hole, but his 7-foot birdie putt stopped one rotation short of dropping.
The drama intensified on the fourth playoff hole. Lardon’s chip from behind the green hit the flagstick dead center but somehow ricocheted out. Kartrude then missed a 4-foot birdie putt that would’ve ended things.
On the fifth playoff hole, Kartrude’s wayward drive hit a tree and bounced back into play. He executed a remarkable recovery shot around the trees to find the green. When Lardon missed his par putt, Kartrude’s par was enough to secure the final spot.
“The best moment of my golfing life, for sure,” Kartrude said. “I’m going to play in a major.”
Late Collapse Creates Opportunity
Kartrude might never have had his chance if not for Jesse Mueller’s stunning collapse. Mueller, who won this tournament three years ago, was safely inside the qualifying spots at 2-under when disaster struck on the par-5 16th.
After finding the hazard with his tee shot, Mueller removed his shoes and socks to play from the muddy creek. His shot cleared the hazard but disappeared into a palmetto bush. After taking a penalty drop, his approach missed the green, and two chips later, he’d made a quadruple-bogey 9.
That collapse ultimately created the four-way playoff for the final spot that Kartrude won. He’s now among 12 club professionals who’ll make their PGA Championship debut at Quail Hollow next month.
