Andrew Filbert, PGA Assistant Professional at West Bay Club in Estero secured his second South Florida PGA Professional Championship after firing an 8-under 64 during round three at Imperial Golf Club on Friday.
The win also earned Filbert a spot in the 2025 PGA Professional championship where he will compete for a chance to reach the 2025 PGA Championship. He previously qualified for the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage. Additionally, Filbert earned a berth in the 2025 Puerto Rico Open.
The 45th South Florida PGA Professional Championship was contested Sept. 18-20, at Imperial Golf Club’s East and West Courses in Naples.
“Coming out of the Bushnell, I didn’t play very well,” Filbert said. “Luckily I saw a great instructor in Jonathan Sutera who helped me think of one swing thought during the golf swing and then for some reason my putter came alive this week.”
Justin Hicks shot an 8-under 64 on Imperial Golf Club’s West Course Thursday to put him in front of a tight leaderboard as five players entered the final round within four strokes of the lead. Filbert (-10), Evan Bowser (-9), Dakun Chang, (-8) and Tom Cooper (-8) were all chasing Hicks on Imperial’s East course.
Filbert wasted no time separating himself from the pack with two birdies to open his day, the only player in the bunch to do so. After collecting two more birdies before a bogey at the ninth, the 2017 and 2018 South Florida PGA Player of the Year carded four consecutive birdies on his back nine to pull away for good, winning by three strokes.
“Seven years later, and I am just happy to be out here,” said Filbert remembering his previous Section Championship. “I mean life has changed completely in seven years. I got married and have a little one now so it changes life a little bit but makes this more enjoyable.”
With his family walking with him and cheering him on all day, Filbert acknowledged his fanbase aided his play.
“It means I’m not alone. They want me to succeed as much as I want to succeed so I couldn’t do it without them,” Filbert said.
“The most important thing is winning this championship against all these great professionals. Getting another spot in a PGA TOUR event, I didn’t think that would happen again since our Section has gotten so tough.”
The South Florida PGA received 13 entries into the 2025 PGA Professional Championship, tied for the most of any of the 41 Sections. Filbert will be joined at the PGA Professional Championship by Bowser (LaPlaya Golf Club), Hicks, Chang (Seminole Golf Club), Cooper (Pine Tree Golf Club), Michael Kartrude, PGA (The Bear’s Club), Justin McCarraher, PGA (Heritage Bay Golf and Country Club), Alan Morin, PGA (The Club at Ibis), Nick Latimer, PGA (Trump International Golf Club), Domenico Geminiani, PGA (Old Corkscrew Golf Club), David Ladd, PGA (The Champions Club), Jared Isaacs (Adios Golf Club), Justin Smith, PGA (Bonita Bay Club West) and Darin de Lelys (Fiddlesticks Country Club).
In addition to these entries, Bowser, Tyler Collet, PGA, Jeremy Wells, PGA, Matt Cahill, PGA, and Ron Philo, PGA were exempt, bringing the total count for SFPGA Professionals to compete next year at PGA Golf Club to 18.
Top 10 Finishers
1. Andrew Filbert (West Bay GC), 198
2. Justin Hicks (Stonebridge CC), 201
3. Evan Bowser (LaPlaya Golf Club), 202
4. Michael Kartrude (The Bear’s Club), 205
5. Justin McCarraher (Heritage Bay GC), 206
T6. Dakun Chang (Seminole Golf Club), 207
T6. Alan Morin (Ibis Golf & Country Club), 207
T8. Nick Latimer (Trump International), 208
T8. Domenico Geminiani (Old Corkscrew), 208
10. Tom Cooper (Pine Tree Golf Club), 209
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: West Bay’s Andrew Filbert earns berth in Puerto Rico Open, chance at PGA Championship
