SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Soft-spoken Chris Sanger isn’t one to sing his own praises about his accomplishments on the golf course. But the 39-year-old head professional at the Woodstock Golf Club had to admit that the 2025 season was pretty special after he won his third major golf tournament and the Player of the Year honors on the Northeastern New York (NENY) PGA Section circuit on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
“I’ve had a pretty good stretch,” Sanger said in an interview with the Freeman. “It’s great, especially since I feel like I’ve been knocking on the door for the past bunch of years. It’s nice to be in the thick of it, compete and know I can accomplish it.”
Sanger won the Tour Championship by two strokes over Glens Falls Country Club assistant pro Scott Berliner on Wednesday with a 36-hole total of 7-under-par 137 at the Saratoga Spa Golf Course. Sanger followed up an opening-round 69 on Tuesday with a 68 on Wednesday to hold off Berliner (72-67-139).
With his victory at the Tour Championship, Sanger wrapped up the NENY PGA’s Player of the Year honors with 2,685 points. Berliner, who won the player of the year award 11 consecutive times from 2011 through 2021, finished second with 2,075.83 points.
Over the past two months, Sanger claimed three major titles. He started with the NENY PGA Professional Championship on Aug. 4 and 5 at Eagle Crest Golf Club in Clifton Park and added the Match Play Championship on Sept. 16 and 17 at Colonie Golf and Country Club in Voorheesville.
The victory at the section’s Tour Championship was the icing on the cake in a sensational season that netted Sanger his first player of the year award as a head pro. He won the Assistants Player of the Year title in 2017. He had previously won the Match Play title and the Tour Championship over the course of his career.
Sanger reflected on his tournament success this year.
“It’s definitely the best I’ve played in the (NENY) Section for the past couple of months,” Sanger said. “This year I feel my floor has been raised. But the ceiling is still up there. I don’t know where it is. I don’t have these astronomical bad, well over-par rounds. I’m able to keep it more in front of me. I’ve been able to stay a little more levelheaded and just keep plugging away.”
Sanger feels like he made the most improvement this year in the mental part of the game.
“I’m trying to stick to my shot shape (a draw) and not reinvent the wheel,” Sanger said. “I’ve always been one to tinker and kind of go down rabbit holes. I’m just kind of sticking to one swing feeling and letting it go.”
By winning the NENY PGA Section’s Professional Championship in August, Sanger earned a berth in the 58th PGA Professional Championship next April 26-29 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon.
The top 20 finishers in the championship for club professionals will earn an invitation to the 2026 PGA Championship on May 13-17 at the Aronimink Golf Club just outside of Philadelphia, Pa.
Sanger earned his first trip to a major golf championship when he was one of 20 club professionals to qualify for the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y.
Sanger said he’s already anticipating the trip to Bandon Dunes and hopes to play well there.
“I’d love to get back to another major, especially the PGA this year because it’s pretty close in Philly,” Sanger said. “It’s nice to know I’m in the field (for the national club pro event), so I can prepare over the winter and into the spring. Unfortunately, it’s not next month.”
Originally Published: October 2, 2025 at 2:04 PM EDT
