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Sandra Changkija’s 2022 was highlighted by a victory at the PGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship. PHOTO/FSGA
Sandra Changkija, the PGA Assistant Professional at ChampionsGate Golf Resort, earned her first career national Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year Award.
The 32-year-old also won North Florida PGA Woman Player of the Year.
“I’m super excited,” said Changkija. “It’s something that I wanted when I first became a PGA Member. It was one of my goals to be the National Player of the Year.”
She claimed the PGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship at PGA Golf Club in February, for the second consecutive year. That win earned her a spot in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, a major tournament on the LPGA Tour. She was the highest finisher of all qualifying club professionals at Congressional Golf Club.
Changkija, who won 16 tournaments while at Nova Southeastern University and is the only four-time Division II Player of the Year (2008-11), won the 2022 LPGA Professionals National Championship - Championship Division in July at Kingsmill, Va. following a three-hole playoff. In August, she totaled 95 points to win the 2022 NFPGA Stableford Championship at Orange County National.
Changkija continued her strong summer by winning the North Florida Section Championship and Women’s Section Championship in September at TPC Sawgrass. She tallied a three-day total of 2-underpar 214, which included an opening-round 3-under 69, to win the section title by one stroke.
“Being that this was my rookie year as a PGA Member, my first section championship and my first time playing the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course, it was really cool to win at that venue,” said Changkija.
Information from the PGA of America was used in this report.
