The man responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the city-owned Eagle Bend Golf Course is resigning his position to pursue a professional golf career.

Jim Kane, who has been the PGA golf pro and manager at the course for the past eight years, is leaving the job June 2 to begin training to compete on the PGA Champions Tour.

The PGA Champions Tour is the top professional circuit for golfers 50 years and older. Kane and his wife, Sandy, will move to Edmond, Okla., to train for the tour at the Oak Tree Golf Course, where he previously worked as an assistant golf professional.

“I have a wonderful opportunity before me,” Kane said. “My wife is very supportive, and I’ve had a lot of encouragement from family, friends and members of the Champions Tour to take this journey.”

Fred DeVictor, the city’s director of parks and recreation, said the city would seek to fill the position but hadn’t set a timeline.

“We’re going to miss him,” DeVictor said. “He’s been a real asset to us. He’s created a great foundation for Eagle Bend’s future success.”

Kane was a four-time All American golfer at Oral Roberts in the late ’70s and early ’80s. He played on the PGA Tour in 1984. He’ll become eligible for the Champions Tour in 2008.