The three 2023 KPGA Match Play Champions

LOUISVILLE, KY (October 10-11, 2023) – Following a nearly season-long match play bracket for KPGA Members, Seniors, and Assistants, three champions were determined today at Louisville Country Club at the KPGA Match Play Championships supported by Maui Jim. Congratulations to Colby Wollitz, PGA, Dan Utley, PGA, and Gabe Wheeler!

Brackets for each division were determined and announced the week of May 22, with competitors having deadlines to complete each match before the advancement of the bracket. The quarterfinalists for the Members division began play yesterday, with Jessie Massie, PGA, Dan Utley, Colby Wollitz, and Andrew Stephens, PGA, advancing to the semi-final round. The semi-final matchups saw Massie take on Utley and Wollitz play against Stephens. Each match went late into the back nine, with Massie securing a 3&2 victory and Wollitz winning 3&1.

The final matches for each division were contested today, as the semi-finals for both the Seniors and Assistants divisions completed play by September 22. Each division saw the defending champion in the final match. In the KPGA Members final match, 2022 champion Massie took a one-up lead after the first hole, though the match was tied by the fourth hole. Wollitz then won holes 5 and 6 to take a 2-up lead heading to the back nine. Massie was able to diminish the lead to one after winning the 11th hole, but Wollitz remained ahead the whole match after hole 4 to win 2&1. A former KPGA Assistants Match Play champion, Wollitz adds his first KPGA Members Match Play Championship title. 

Also participating in the Senior final match was Utley, competing against 2022 champion T. Bruce Oldendick, PGA. Utley began the match with a one-up lead after the first hole, but Oldendick quickly responded after winning the third and fourth holes. Utley fought back to take a one-up lead through the front nine and continued to expand the margin to eventually win 4&2 over Oldendick. This is Utley's first KPGA Senior Match Play Championship title.

The final match between the KPGA Assistants saw three-year defending champion Daniel Iceman, PGA, take on Gabe Wheeler. After tying the first two holes, Wheeler took a two-up lead through the fifth hole. Iceman immediately flipped the match in his favor, winning three of the last four holes to take a one-up lead through the front nine. Iceman maintained a two-up lead through the 15th hole, with Wheeler then winning the final three holes to claim the title by 1. This is Wheeler's first Kentucky PGA Assistant Match Play Championship win.
 

Click here to view the KPGA Members bracket 

Click here to view the KPGA Seniors bracket

Click here to view the KPGA Assistants bracket

Click here to view the photo gallery


The Kentucky PGA extends its thanks to Director of Golf Scott Sedgwick, PGA, Head Superintendent Ric Kehres, and the entire staff at Louisville Country Club for their assistance in staging this tournament. Additionally, the KPGA gives its appreciation to all participants throughout these match-play tournaments. 

The KPGA returns October 23-24 to close the season at the Pro-Pro Championship at Perry Park Golf Resort. Registration for this event closes on October 16th. 

About the Kentucky PGA:
The Kentucky PGA Section (KPGA) is one of forty-one Sections across the country representing the PGA of America and its Members. It is also one of three organizations encompassed within Golf House Kentucky, which also includes the Kentucky Golf Association (KGA) and Kentucky Golf Foundation (KGF). The KPGA contains more than 275 Members and more than 30 Associates working in various roles across Kentucky; all of whom share the goal of bettering the game and its players. The KPGA and its Members assist with the organization of many chief growth-of-the-game initiatives including PGA HOPE and PGA Jr. League among others. The Section also operates more than thirty tournaments throughout the golf season, including the three State Open championships and qualifiers for the Barbasol Championship.
 
Media Contact:
Abby Ligons | Golf House Kentucky | aligons@kygolf.org | (502) 792-9703