Roswell, GA — Mini-tour professional Jonathan Keppler of Marietta fired a closing round of five-under par 67 making birdies on the 16th and 17th to capture the 69th Georgia Open presented by L&J Golf at Jennings Mill Country Club in Watkinsville.
Keppler finished at 15-under par 273 for the week and collecting the first-place check of $6,000. With Jonathan’s victory, it marks just the second time in tournament history that a father and son duo have won the title. Jonathan and PGA Professional father Stephen Keppler (1994, 1995) join a very exclusive club with four-time Georgia Open champion, PGA Professional Dewitt Weaver, Jr. (1972, 1973, 1977, & 1979) and his son Dewitt Weaver III who won the title in 1988.
Runner up honors went to third-round leader and mini-tour professional Zach Caldwell of Alpharetta, who carded a final round of two-under par 70 and finished one shot behind Keppler. Mini-tour player Jared O’Kelley of Canton claimed third place at 10-under par for the week after a final round of 71. Rounding at the top five were amateur Ruan Pretorius at 8-under par 280 in solo fourth place and 2018 Georgia Open champion Tim O’Neal of Savannah in solo fifth place after shooting the low round of the tournament with a nine-under par 63 to move up 16 spots and into the top five.
Pretorius, a native of South America who plays at Point University won low amateur honors. For his efforts, he received a pro shop gift certificate of $650. Defending champion Barrett Waters of Villa Rica finished in a tie for 31st place at 7-over par 295 for the championship but played the weekend in 3-over par.
Jennings Mill Country Club was designed by legendary golf architect Bob Cupp in 1986 and is playing to a par 72 and 6926 yards for the championship. Cupp succeeded in retaining the beauty of the area while building a course that is fun and challenging for golfers of all levels. It has hosted Georgia PGA events, Nationwide Tour events, and many of the top amateur competitions in the state.
The Georgia PGA is one of the 41 Sections of the PGA of America. Its membership includes over 890 PGA professionals working at over 260 golf courses, clubs, and ranges throughout the state. Additionally, more than 35 Georgia PGA members compete on one of the PGA Tours. In keeping with the fundamental objectives laid down by its founders, one of the Georgia PGA’s primary goals is promoting the game of golf through clinics, junior and minority golf programs, consumer programs, and print, radio, and television media.