While most people were watching the total solar eclipse last August, Northwood Country Club Golf Professional Billy Pomeroy was focused on something much more important to him.

Pomeroy was at the Squire Creek Country Club attempting to qualify for this year’s PGA Professional Championship. Despite a rough first round, Pomeroy ended up being one of four golf pros selected for this year’s championship, which will take place June 17-21 at the Bayonet and Black Horse Golf Course in Monterey, California.

“The eclipse happened when we were playing the first round, and I didn’t play too well and didn’t think I had a chance, but I went out on the second day looking to improve and ended up playing really well. I played myself into a tie, and we had a playoff, and I ended up making it in the playoff.”

Now, out of 26,000 PGA professionals in the United States, Pomeroy is one of just 312 who will compete in the championship, and for him, it’s about more than just a chance to play golf on a big stage.

“My grandfather played in three PGA championships, and my uncle played in the one I’m playing in, so this one has always been important to me because I want to be the next Pomeroy, a third-generation golf professional,” Pomeroy explained.

There’s plenty at stake at the PGA Professional Championship, as it features a $550,000 purse and an exemption for the 2018 PGA Championship, the 2019 PGA Cup and six PGA Tour events over a 12-month period for whoever wins the tournament. The low 20 scorers will also earn a berth in this year’s PGA Championship, which takes place Aug. 9-12 at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis. There will be a cut after June 18, another cut June 19 and then a final cut June 20, with the low 90 scorers advancing to the final day. The event will be televised by the Golf Channel.

Pomeroy said he’s been doing more than just golfing leading up to the event. He’s gotten physical training from Anderson’s Fitness Center and Mike Espy, and he said the endurance training in which he’s taken part will be just as important as honing his golfing skills.

“We’re golf professionals, but we’re not professional golfers,” Pomeroy said. “That doesn’t mean we can’t play good golf, but my everyday job is to grow the game and help people enjoy it more. While this tournament has been really important to me, I’ve coached Lamar and tried to be the best golf pro at Northwood and not let that slip. When we’re not busy at the club, I’ve been out practicing. I probably haven’t prepared this much for a tournament since high school and college.”

He’ll need the endurance, as Pomeroy said the Bayonet and Black Horse Golf Course is more than 7,000 yards in length.

“I’ve heard it’s really hard,” Pomeroy said. “You don’t see many golf courses with that length. I’ve heard the shot making is demanding like Northwood, but of course Northwood doesn’t have the length to get to 7,000. I’ve gone to Mossy Oak (in West Point) or Dancing Rabbit where you can play up to 7,200 yards.”

Though his grandfather is no longer alive, Pomeroy said he’s been in contact with his uncle, who’s relayed how proud he is of his nephew. He also said he’s gotten plenty of support from locals who know he’s competing.

“The whole Northwood-Meridian area, the people that know have been so supportive and encouraging,” Pomeroy said. “It’s meant a lot.”

In addition to being from Meridian, Pomeroy said he’s the only golf pro from Mississippi who will be competing for the PGA Professional Championship, and he said representing his city and state is something in which he takes great pride.

“I want to do well and give it my best,” Pomeroy said. “I understand sometimes it’s meant to be and sometimes it’s not. I’m not trying to put too much pressure on myself, but I want to go out there and do my best and make everyone proud.”