Interviews: Smith | Hausmann | Gaus | Bals
The Gateway PGA Section held the 2024 Gateway PGA Senior PGA Professionals Championship on August 12-13 at the Country Club of St. Albans. Gideon Smith (Quincy Country Club) earned his first Senior PPC title in his second appearance with a 36-hole score of 71-67=138 (-6). Steve Hausmann (Tapawingo National Golf Course) was a stroke behind him 71-68=139 (-5). Rounding out the qualifying scores were Bob Gaus (Family Golf and Learning Center) and Jimmy Bals (Forest Hills Country Club) at 74-67=141 (-2) and 73-69=142 (-2). These four Members will head to Sunriver, Oregon to play at the National Championship on September 26-29 at Sunriver Resort.
The field endured a water-logged day for its first round as Smith and Hausmann were tied at 71 (-1). Smith recorded five birdies in the first round, contrary to Hausmann’s pair. Deja vu set in for these two as they were in the final group in last week’s Regular PPC. Halfway through the final round, Smith had a one-stroke lead after making birdies on five of the last six holes. Hausmann evened the scorecard with a birdie on 12 but bogeyed 13 before tapping in for birdie on 14. Smith broke the tie with a birdied on 16, his lone non-par on the backside. That birdie proved costly as Smith won the Championship by one stroke with a 67 (-5).
Gaus started the day tied for fifth after a 74 (+2) round on Monday. On the front nine, Gaus sat two-under and took advantage of his positioning as he recorded four birdies including the final hole to secure lone possession of third place with a two-day score of 74-67=141 (-3).
Bals had a solid second day on the course, including a feat he only did in the Championship. After shooting one-over on the front, he moved to even with a birdied on 12. Two holes later, Bals recorded the tournament’s lone eagle on the 518-yard par five and followed that with a birdie. He turned in a scorecard of 69 (-3) to finish fourth and secure the final qualifying spot.
Serving as alternates for the Gateway Section will be Jeff Whitfield (The Quarry at Crystal Springs) with a 72-72=144 (E) and Brian Fogt (Bellerive Country Club), who shot 79-69=148 (+4).
Thank you to Gateway Section Hall of Famer Joe Schwent and the rest of the St. Albans staff for hosting the 2024 Gateway PGA Senior PPC.