ST. LOUIS – Former University of Missouri-St. Louis men's golfer Michael Block (1996-97) was named the 2023 PGA Professional Player of the Year for the second straight year on Wednesday (Jan. 10). The award is presented by Rolex in conjunction with the PGA of America.

Block, the PGA Head Professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, experienced a storybook 2023 that began with a T-2 finish in the PGA Professional Championship at Twin Warriors and Santa Ana Golf Clubs in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. Block registered rounds of 71-71-69-69 to finish at 8-under par 280 and earn a place on the Corebridge Financial PGA Team and a berth in his fifth PGA Championship. 

Block captivated the sports world by shooting 70-70-70-71 (1-over-par) en route to a T-15 finish at the PGA Championship, contested at Oak Hill Country Club in May. His memorable performance in Rochester was highlighted by a final-round ace on the par-3, 151-yard 15th hole. 

"It's very surreal for this to happen at 46-47 years young," said Block. "I'm not really playing any differently than I always have. It just happened at the right moments this year. It's not like I found some secret code or something. It happened to be where the course set up well for me. I read the greens nicely. The fairways were firm and fast. Everything lined up at Oak Hill and I'm not expecting to do that ever again. At the same time if it happens again at any event at all, I'll be very happy." 

The 47-year-old also claimed his fourth career and second consecutive Southern California PGA Section Championship in September behind a final-round 6-under-par 66 at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California. With the victory, Block won the Southern California PGA Player of the Year Award for the 10th time in 11 years. 

Block totaled 1,352.50 points to win his second consecutive PGA Professional Player of the Year Award. 

"I was never in my life thinking 'let's try to do this twice,'" said Block. "I had this as a goal in life to win it one time. I happened to play well in two important events, the national club pro and the PGA Championship. I'm lucky enough to get it two times in a row." 

Greg Koch (Orlando, Florida) finished second with 944.05 points, followed by Braden Shattuck (Springfield, Pennsylvania) in third at 800 and Tyler Collet (Vero Beach, Florida) with 755 in fourth.