The second leg of the 2019 major championship season is upon us, and this year we'll be seeing a new batting order, as the PGA Championship moves from late summer to May. The 101st playing of this tournament got underway this morning on The Black Course at Bethpage State Park, a formidable venue for this prestigious event.

In addition to the elite international tour professionals in the field, the PGA Championship will also honor a long-standing tradition by extending invitations to twenty of the best players from its own ranks of teaching and club professionals.

The road to earning these 20 special invitations ran through Bluffton, South Carolina this year, as 312 qualifiers (who advanced from 41 PGA Section Championships, along with past champions) competed in their annual major — the PGA Professional Championship.

And when the final scores were tallied at Belfair’s West Course, a total of nine Titleist Staff Professionals and golf ball loyalists earned spots in the 2019 PGA Championship.

Check out the galleries below to get to know these club professionals a little better, and please join us in thanking all PGA Professionals for making the game more enjoyable for us all.

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Alex Beach, Stillwater, Minnesota | PGA Assistant Professional – Westchester Country Club
Titleist Staff Member since 2014

Pro V1 golf ball, TS2 driver (9.5°), TS2 fairway metal (15°), 718 MB irons (4-PW), Vokey Design SM7 pitching (46.10 F Grind), gap (50.08 F Grind), sand (54.10 SGrind) and lob (60.04 L Grind) wedges.

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Danny Balin, Rockville, Maryland | PGA Head Golf Professional – Fresh Meadow Country Club
Titleist Staff Member since 2005

Pro V1 golf ball, TS3 driver (9.5°), TS2 fairway metal (15°), 718 CB irons (4-PW), Vokey Design SM7 pitching (48.10 F Grind), sand (54.10 S 4Grind) and SM6 lob (60.10 S Grind) wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Tour putter.

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Justin Bertsch, Sandusky, Ohio | PGA Head Golf Professional – Hideout Golf Club
Titleist Staff Member since 2014

Pro V1 golf ball, TS3 driver (9.5°), 917 F3 fairway metal (15°), 818 H2 hybrid (19°), 718 AP2 irons (5-9), Vokey Design SM7 pitching (46.10 F Grind), gap (50.12 F Grind), sand (54.08 M Grind) and lob (60.10 S Grind) wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Tour putter.

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Jason Caron, Hyannis, Massachusetts | PGA Head Golf Professional – Mill River Club
Titleist Leadership Advisory Staff Member since 2012

Pro V1 golf ball, TS2 driver (10.5°), TS3 fairway metal (13.5°), 818 H2 hybrids (19°, 23°), 718 AP2 irons (5-9), Vokey Design SM7 pitching (46.10 F Grind), gap (50.12 F Grind), sand (54.08 M Grind) and lob (58.08 M Grind) wedges, Scotty Cameron 009 putter.

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Ben Cook, Grand Rapids, Michigan | PGA Teaching Professional – Yankee Springs Golf Course
Titleist/FootJoy Ball, Shoe, Glove and Driver Staff Member

Pro V1x golf ball, TS3 driver (9.5°), TS3 fairway metal (15°), 818 H2 hybrid (19°), Vokey Design SM7 pitching (46.10 F Grind), gap (52.12 F Grind), sand (56.10 S Grind) and lob (60.08 M Grind) wedges, Scotty Cameron Phantom X 12 putter.

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Stuart Deane, Brisbane, Australia | PGA Teaching Professional – Texas Star Golf Course
Titleist Staff Member since 2019

Pro V1x golf ball, TS2 driver (9.5°), TS2 fairway metal (15°), 818 H1 hybrid (25°), 718 CB irons (5-PW),Vokey Design SM7 gap (52.12 F Grind), sand (56.08 M Grind) and lob (60.08 M Grind) wedges.

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Craig Hocknull,Gilbert, Arizona | PGA Golf Professional – Saber Sports Trainer
Titleist/FootJoy Ball, Shoe, Glove Staff Member

Pro V1 golf ball

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Marty Jertson, Phoenix, Arizona | PGA Golf Professional – png Golf, VP Fitting and Performance
Titleist/FootJoy Ball, Shoe, Glove and Driver Staff Member

Pro V1 golf ball

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Rob LaBritz, Hartford, Colorado | PGA Director of Golf – GlenArbor Golf Club
Titleist Leadership Advisory Staff Member since 2006

Pro V1 Yellow golf ball, TS3 driver (9.5°), TS3 fairway metal (15°), 818 H2 hybrid (21°), 718 T-MB irons (4-PW), Vokey Design SM7 pitching (48.10 F Grind), gap (50.12 F Grind), sand (54.10 S Grind) and lob (58.08 M Grind) wedges.

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Congratulations to all our qualifiers and good luck at Bethpage Black!

#TeamTitleist