LOUISVILLE, KY (September 27, 2021) - Nick Johnston had already found the winner’s circle three times on the KPGA circuit in 2021, but he earned his biggest victory so far this year with a triumph at the National Car Rental Kentucky Assistant PGA Professional Championship.

South Park Country Club hosted both that tournament and the Kentucky Women’s PGA Professional Championship on Monday to conclude the final two Section Championships of Kentucky’s season.

Johnston got out front early in the goings of the Assistants Championship with six birdies made from holes 1-11 before eventually carding 71 (-1) to take a one-stroke lead into the event’s afternoon round with Austin Burke his closest challenger halfway through.

During round two, several players including Logan Watts, Nick Newcomb, Jacob Schakat, and Daniel Iceman III got within reach of Johnston during the final round, but the leader in the ROLEX Assistant Player of the Year standings stood his ground. A birdie on the par-four 15th proved significant for Johnston, as it helped him win the tournament by a shot after a final round 74 (+2) for a total score of 145 (+1).

Watts finished runner-up to Johnston with the low round of the day, a final round 68 (-4) helping him lock down the final automatic exemption in the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship alongside Johnston. That tournament will take place at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida on November 11-14. Three alternate spots were also determined for that event with the play at South Park, with Newcomb, Burke and Schakat earning the first, second and third alternate spots, respectively.

Click here to view results of the National Car Rental Kentucky Assistant PGA Professional Championship

For the second consecutive year, Sara Stephens won the Kentucky Women’s PGA Professional Championship after prevailing last year at Hunting Creek Country Club. On this occasion, Stephens shot 76 (+4) in a performance highlighted by an eagle on the par-four 13th. She defeated Kim Shafer by six shots which means she and husband Andrew won two of the four Section Championships available for the 2021 season.

Click here to view results of the Kentucky Women’s PGA Professional Championship

NOTES & STATS

• Joining Stephens in the eagle column on Monday was Watts, who made the only eagle of the Assistants Championship on the par-five 10th.
• Using the scores from the Assistants Championship, the hardest hole of the tournament was the par-three 16th. With a stroke-to-par average of +0.85, it surrendered only three birdies throughout the competition.
• The closing par-four 18th was the easiest hole of the tournament at +0.12. Surprisingly, even with the differential in scoring, like the 16th it also surrendered just three birdies during the tournament.
• The par-four 4th was the only hole that did not have any birdies on it in the competition. With a good amount of pars on it though, it played as just the eighth-hardest hole.
• The front nine averaged 39.35 strokes compared to 39.63 on the back nine, making the average score in the Assistants Championship 78.98.

Click here to view the tournament photo gallery

The Kentucky PGA Section extends its thanks to David Huffman, PGA Head Golf Professional and his team at South Park Country Club for their hospitality and assistance in hosting these championships. Additionally, the Section sends its appreciation towards National Car Rental for their support of the Assistants Championship and all PGA of America activities. Lastly, the KPGA offers its gratitude to each competitor who participated in today’s event.

The KPGA’s next event will take place on Thursday, October 7 from Lake Forest Country Club with the Feeders Supply Pro-Am. Teams in this event are comprised of one professional with three amateurs and will be open for registration through Thursday, September 30. Sign-ups can be completed at the above link.