Empey Captures 2026 RMSPGA Senior Professional Championship
Empey and three fellow professionals earn berths to the 2026 Senior PGA Professional Championship after 36-hole test at BanBury Golf Course
EAGLE, Idaho — Jim Empey, PGA Director of Instruction at The Valley Club, captured the 2026 Rocky Mountain Section Senior PGA Professional Championship, completed Wednesday at BanBury Golf Course in Eagle, Idaho. Empey, along with three fellow professionals, earned a berth to the 2026 Senior PGA Professional Championship at Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club in Gold Canyon, Arizona, October 22-25.
Empey set the pace from the opening tee shot, carding a 1-under 70 in the first round and adding an even-par 71 in the second for a 36-hole total of 141, one under par. His steady play carried him to a three-stroke victory in the stroke-play test. The win added to an impressive resume in the championship, having previously claimed the title in 2012, 2020, and 2021.
A three-way tie at two-over 144 filled out the remaining three berths to the national championship. Tad Holloway, PGA Head Golf Professional at Timberstone Golf Course and the 2022 champion, closed with a 71 after an opening 73. Fred Luthy, PGA carded rounds of 71 and 73, and Fred Sutton, PGA of Northwest Nazarene University posted the low round of the championship — a 4-under 67.
Mike Hamblin, PGA Head Golf Professional at Blue Lakes Country Club at 147, as first alternate. Lance Rieber, PGA Golf Instructor at Warm Springs Golf Course, was second alternate at 148, followed by John Van Vleet, PGA Head Golf Professional at Preston Golf & Country Club and the 2024 and 2025 champion, at 149. Ron Rawls, the 2016 and 2018 champion, rounded out the alternates at 151.
The Rocky Mountain Section PGA extends its special thanks to Rob Harbottle, PGA and his staff at BanBury Golf Course for the spectacular course conditions and their outstanding hospitality throughout the championship.
