Honors Course club pro Henrik Simonsen is set to play the Senior PGA Championship for the first time. The tournament starts Thursday in Rochester, New York.This past weekend’s PGA Championship was the first to include two Baylor School graduates, with Keith Mitchell missing the cut by a stroke and with Luke List owning sole possession of second place during Saturday’s third round before posting his best finish in a major by winding up sixth.
The impact of the Chattanooga area at golf’s ultimate levels isn’t taking any time off.
Taking center stage this week is the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in Rochester, New York, where the field will include two participants who list Ooltewah as their hometown. The first is Gibby Gilbert III, who this year has PGA Tour Champions full exempt status for the first time, and the other is Honors Course club professional Henrik Simonsen, who is having to transform from being everybody’s buddy to everybody’s foe.
“It’s very different playing casual golf with the members here and then going out and trying to compete,” Simonsen said. “I have high hopes of making the cut and doing my very best up there, but it’s hard for a club pro to come in and get that mindset of competing at the level with a (Miguel Angel) Jimenez and a (Colin) Montgomerie and all those superstars who are out there.
“My game is good, and I feel good about it. We’ll just see if I can keep the nerves in check.”