Full Breakdown
Jesse Droemer Wins 2026 PGA Professional Championship, Secures PGA Championship Spot
5/1/2026, 3:11:58 PM
Background & Core Event
The PGA Professional Championship, the national tournament for PGA of America club pros, awards twenty spots in the PGA Championship. At windy Bandon Dunes, Oregon, teaching pro Jesse Droemer shot a final-round 70, finished 283 (-4), one stroke ahead of Ben Kern, and claimed the Walter Hagen Cup.
Key Figures & Groups
Jesse Droemer – teaching pro at Riverbend Country Club, Houston, Southern Texas Section champion.
Ben Kern – Hickory Hills Golf Club GM, runner-up.
Michael Kartrude – The Bear’s Club pro, third place.
Ryan Lenahan – Walnut Creek Country Club pro, earned the final spot with a 20-foot birdie on 18.
Tyler Collet – John’s Island Club pro, tied for fourth.
Michael Block – Mission Viejo pro, qualified for his eighth PGA Championship.
Data & Statistics
Winning score 283 (-4). Runner-up Ben Kern 282 (-3). Third-place Michael Kartrude 281 (-2). Twenty club pros earned PGA Championship spots; six, including Droemer, qualified again. Droemer is the fifth Southern Texas Section champion, the first since 2021.
On-the-Ground Reports
Strong winds at Bandon Dunes forced club adjustments. Droemer opened with five pars, bogeyed the 6th, birdied 7, 9, 10 and 13, then finished with three pars.
Official Statements & Responses
Droemer called the victory a blessing and said he focused on embracing the wind. Kern described his round as “go time,” noting he had nothing to lose. Lenahan said his 20-foot birdie was magical. Kartrude highlighted his calm confidence. The PGA of America confirmed the twenty qualifiers will join the Corebridge Financial Team at Aronimink.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I always say it's such a blessing to test your game against the best in the world,” — Jesse Droemer, PGA Teaching Professional, Riverbend Country Club
- “I made the cut on the number, and told my caddie, Randy, ‘All right, it's go time. We’ve got to keep getting better. I've kind of got nothing to lose,’” — Ben Kern, PGA General Manager, Hickory Hills Golf Club
- “He was on the bubble when he came to the 18th, part of the large group at 2 over that seemed destined for a playoff, when he made a 20-foot birdie putt to lock up his spot at Aronimink.” — Ryan Lenahan, Director of Instruction, Walnut Creek Country Club
- “It's tough out there, but I felt really calm,” — Michael Kartrude, Lead Assistant Golf Professional, The Bear’s Club
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
A PGA.com low-20 list places Droemer and Kern in third, contradicting other reports that list Droemer as champion and Kern as runner-up, and omits exact scores for several qualifiers.
What's Next
Droemer and the other nineteen club pros will play in the 2026 PGA Championship May 14-17 at Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia, giving them a rare chance alongside the world’s top tour players.
