ATLANTA, Ga. — Assistant PGA of America Professional Francisco Bide of Capital City Club claims another victory in 2024 with a win at the Milton Martin Honda Classic in Gainesville and clinched Georgia PGA Player of the Year honors. Chattahoochee Golf Club played host to the 7th edition of the 36-hole championship contested on September 16-17. The championship is open to PGA Professionals and amateurs and is sponsored by Milton Martin Honda.
Bide cards a blistering six-under par, 66 in blustery conditions in Round One to lead by four over fellow co-worker and PGA of America Associate Professional, Hunter Clay and Assistant PGA Professional, Anthony Cordes of Cherokee Town & Country Club. There were only six rounds under par at day’s end. Round Two saw birdies plentiful as it was quite the contrast to Round 1, with 25 players in the red.
Bide did just enough with a Final Round, two-under par, 70 and an eight-under par, 136 total to hold the trophy at the end of the day and the $1,900 check. Clay and Cordes both finished tied for 2nd with a two day total of 137, one shot back of Bide. Both claimed $1,200 for their efforts. Rounding out the top five at six-under par, 138, and tied for 4th were Assistant PGA Professional Jin Chung of Château Élan Golf Club and Assistant PGA Associate Professional Landon Coontz of West Lake Country Club. Chung and Coontz were awarded the Wilson Football Georgia PGA Baller Award for carding the lowest round by a professional in the final round with a six-under, 66. Other notables were low amateurs Kai Marko and Charles Beeson of Roswell who finished at T6, one-under par, 143 and the 2023 Champion, PGA Teaching Professional Jacob Tilton of Ansley Golf Club who finished at T44, eight-over par, 152.
Bide’s victory clinched Georgia PGA’s Player of the Year race to conclude the 2024 season. With this honor, he earned an exemption into the PGA TOUR’s RSM Classic at Sea Island Golf Club on November 21-24, 2024.