VERONA, N.Y. – Rich Berberian Jr. rallied to win the PGA Professional Championship on Wednesday, holing a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a one-stroke victory.
The 28-year-old Berberian, a PGA assistant professional at Windham in Derry, New Hampshire, topped the 20 qualifiers for the PGA Championship next month at Baltusrol in New Jersey.
Berberian shot a 3-under 69 at Turning Stone's Atunyote Golf Club, overcoming a triple bogey on the par-5 12th with birdies on the par-4 13th, par-3 16th and the par-5 18th. He finished at 11-under 277.
Former PGA Tour player Omar Uresti, the second- and third-round leader, had a chance to force a playoff, but missed a 15-foot birdie try. The 47-year-old Uresti, from Austin, Texas, had a 73 to tie for second with Mark Brown (71) of Oyster Bay, New York. Brown birdied the 18th.
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