Gibbs wins Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship

Jordan Gibbs didn't play the final round of the Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship like a guy worried about being caught by all the event's past champions who were chasing him.

The Gulph Mills Golf Club assistant pro started Thursday at Philadelphia Cricket Club with a 1-stroke lead. Instead of trying to hang on, however, he kept adding to his advantage. Five birdies on the front nine boosted his lead to five, and he coasted home to victory in the tournament that highlights the season for the area's club professionals.

Gibbs, 28, who is originally from Princeton and played his college golf at Rutgers, shot the best round of the day, a 4-under-par 66 at Cricket's tough Wissahickon course, and completed 54 holes at 11-under 201. That was good for a 5-stroke victory over two-time champion Stu Ingraham of M-Golf, who closed with a 69, and 6 over defending champion Dave McNabb of Applebrook (71).

"It was nice," he said. "It's not something I've always been able to do, but for some reason I was able to do it this week. I was just really confident in the way I was playing. I was just hitting so good and driving it well, not getting in any trouble, hitting it close.

"There were so many good players right behind me. I knew if I kind of got complacent, that somebody was going to pass me. So it helped me stay aggressive."

McNabb, who played in the final group with Gibbs, trailed by one at the start of the day. Gibbs said he wasn't sure where he stood during the round so he just played off McNabb and hoped that no one else was closing from back in the pack.

Then again, when you shoot 31 on the front nine, it's difficult for challengers to keep up.

"I didn't know it was that big of a lead," he said. "I just tried to keep it within my control and just hit good shots and keep making birdies."

McNabb said he had "a front-row seat to probably one of the best final rounds in section championship ever played."

"I couldn't put any pressure on him," he said. "When I tried, he responded. So good for him, it's not easy to win your first one, and he did it in grand fashion."

The top 12 finishers qualified for the 2017 PGA Professional Championship in June at Sunriver, Ore.

Top finishers

Jordan Gibbs, Gulph Mills. . . 67-68-66-201

Stu Ingraham, M-Golf . . . 67-70-69-206

Dave McNabb, Applebrook. . . 66-70-72-207

John Piller, Woodloch Springs. . . 70-70-69-209

Scott Reilly, Phila Country. . . 66-71-72-209

Mike Molino, Scranton. . . 69-74-68-211

Tony Perla, Phila. Cricket. . . 69-73-69-211

Alex Knoll, Bethlehem. . . 68-73-70-211

Michael Little, Lookaway. . . 70-70-71-211

Bill Walker, Riverton. . . 71-70-71-212

John Spina, Phila. Cricket. . . 73-70-70-213

George Forster, Radnor Valley. . . 68-73-72-213