St. Simons Island, Ga. — J.P. Griffin, PGA Assistant Professional at Capital City Club in Atlanta won the E-Z-GO/L&J Golf Georgia PGA Championship presented by adidas, Golf Pro Payments, Signature Golf, Global Golf Sales, Srixon/Cleveland Golf-XXIO/asics, and the PGA Tour on Wednesday at a hot and sunny Sea Island Golf Club, never losing the lead through the three-round tournament to be crowned the champion.
With father and PGA Life Member, Warren at his side spectating, Griffin fought off four-time Georgia PGA Champion Stephen Keppler who had a roaring comeback in the final round with an impressive 5-under par including a 29 on the back nine. Griffin shot an outstanding 10-under par for the tournament and winning by three strokes over Keppler.
“It was nice to break through, it’s tough to win our tournaments because we have so many great players in our Section. It was pretty special to do it here at Sea Island,” said Griffin.
Griffin, joins an elite group of Section Champions with names riddled throughout Georgia golf lore. Names such as Davis Love Jr., Dewitt Weaver Jr., Gregg Wolff, Tim Weinhart, and James Mason.
Griffin’s victory today along with his 2019 Match Play Championship gets him half-way to the career Georgia PGA Grand Slam.
Winning in front of his father only made it more special. “He’s a calming presence. It kills him that he can’t caddy, he just has to spectate. He did great, and he’s just always there to smile even when things were going a little sideways and chuckle with me when I’m making jokes. It’s just fun, I don’t get to see him that often so it’s always special when we get to spend time together. To do something like this with him being there is also very special.”
The win guarantees Griffin a spot in the PGA Professional Championship in April of 2021.
The Plantation Course at Sea Island is a par 72 and played at 6,814 yards for the championship. Brannen Veal is the PGA Director of Golf and Patrick Richardson is the Head PGA Professional. The E-Z-GO/L&J Golf Georgia PGA Championship is the only 54-hole event conducted by the Georgia PGA.
E-Z-GO, a division of Textron, is the world’s leading manufacturer of golf carts and based in Augusta, GA. L&J Golf’s primary goal is to help clients select the right golf property for their investment objectives and to effectively manage those golf properties.