Submitted photo: Judd Gibb of Fort Dodge holds his championship trophy at the Iowa PGA Match Play at the Oakwood Country Club in the Quad Cities.

BETHESDA, Md. — Judd Gibb continues to check boxes on his list of career goals.

The latest will see the 1987 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate hit the links of the famous Congressional Country Club here for the 2025 Senior PGA Championship. That takes place May 22-25, and will mark the first appearance in the event for Gibb.

A longtime PGA of America Golf Professional representing Hanson’s Custom Golf in Fort Dodge, Gibb had previously qualified for the Senior PGA Championship in 2020. That tournament was canceled due to pandemic.

“This has been a goal,” said Gibb, who was inducted into the Iowa Golf Association Hall of Fame in 2020. “I’ve played in the Senior PGA Professional Championship, several times but this will be the first time in the Senior PGA Championship (field).

“It was unfortunate that the last time I qualified it got canceled. I haven’t really been very close (to advancing) in other years, so I am very grateful to make it.”

Gibb will be joined on the bag by his son, Andrew, who is the career scoring leader for the St. Edmond boys basketball program. The two have shared golf trips over the years, but the elder Gibb recognized this could be an extra special one.

“This will likely be the last time he can do it,” Gibb said. “We’ve had great times over the years getting to do these events. You kind of take for granted having kids in the house for 18 years and seeing them all the time, then you’re not seeing them or talking to them every single day (when they move out).

“I’ll have his undivided attention for six days, whether he likes it or not. Maybe one day he can tell his own kids their grandpa wasn’t too bad of a golfer.”

Gibb earned his spot at the Senior PGA Championship by capturing the recent Iowa PGA Match Play crown. The former Iowa State standout topped close friend Jeff Schmid in the finals, 2 and 1, after winning four other matches throughout the event.

“I really don’t enjoy match play,” Gibb said. “It’s tough because you are almost always facing someone you enjoy playing with. Jeff and I are great friends, so it’s tough to celebrate knowing you just kept them from winning.

“It was a long day for me because my last three matches went 17 holes. I didn’t really play that well at the start, but was able to hang around and take advantage when my opponents made a couple mistakes.”

As for the rest of his golf season, Gibb will mix in events while following his daughter, Lauren Gibb, and the St. Edmond softball squad.

“I got an exemption for the U.S. Senior Open qualifier in Omaha on May 27 so I’ll see how that goes,” he said. “From there, I’ll just be a softball dad, cheering on the Gaels to hopefully another good season.”

The Senior PGA Championship field will include notable golfers Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Bernhard Langer, Vijay Singh and Steve Stricker among others. Richard Bland, who currently competes in the LIV Tour, is the defending event champion.