TUSTIN, Calif.– Michael Bradham shot rounds of 68-69 to finish at 7-under-par and capture his first career APGA Tour victory at the APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Fall Series Finale at Tustin Ranch Golf Club, the culminating event of the four-tournament APGA Tour Farmers Insurance® Fall Series. Thanks to a win and a runner-up finish earlier in APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Fall Series events, Marcus Byrd topped the APGA Tour Farmers Insurance® Fall Series standings and collected $10,000 of the $30,000 bonus pool.
Bradham 33, played in 10 professional events from his pro debut in 2013 until 2016. In 2016, he started a family with his wife and golf began to take a backseat to other responsibilities. In January of 2017, he took a full-time position with an architecture firm in West Palm Beach, FL. He didn’t touch a golf club again until 2019 when his firm relocated to Jacksonville, FL. He then began playing golf again, but this time, as an amateur on the Golfweek Amateur Tour. He finished with four wins and three second-place finishes out of 10 events that first season. In 2021, he played in the Jacksonville City Amateur Championship and finished in third place.
“After a few years, my wife pushed me to get back out and chase my dreams,” Bradham said. “I started playing again in March of this year and it’s really been a difficult season. My mother battled cancer most of this year and we lost her back in September. My father kept telling me to just put one foot in front of the other and keep working hard and I’m so proud that it has paid off to get a victory today.”
Bradham’s second round started quickly with an eagle on the second hole. After getting to 8-under, he made it to the 17th hole with a three-shot lead and was able to hold on for the $15,000 winner’s check. Additionally, thanks to the victory and a T9 finish earlier at the APGA Tour Valley Forge, Bradham finished second in the APGA Tour Farmers Fall Series Standings, earning another $7,500.
“A good friend of mine, Montrele Wells, plays on the APGA Tour and told me to come out and play again,” Bradham added. “The APGA Tour has made this possible for me. To have a Tour like this to come back and play, on incredible golf courses, with companies like Farmers providing opportunities to earn a living and support playing this game, is truly a blessing. The financial reward will help give me the tools and confidence to set me up to continue chasing this dream next year. I know my mom was looking down on me today.”
Article Credit: African American Golfer’s Digest