Childers and Hincks Defend Pro-Assistant Championship
 

LOUISVILLE, KY (May 23, 2023) –Kevin Childers, PGA and Nathan Hincks have successfully defended the KPGA Callaway Pro-Assistant Championship. The duo was able to obtain a clean sweep of the team competitions by winning both the pro-pro competition and pro-assistant competition this past Monday at Audubon Country Club.

The conditions for the event were next to perfect as highs reached the low 80’s with plenty of sunshine and minimal cloud cover. Childers and Hincks put on a spectacular display shooting 65 (-7) in the four-ball format. The duos round started off hot as they carded three birdies in their opening nine holes. The partners did not crack under pressure as they came in with a clutch birdie on their last hole of play to edge three other teams in both the pro-assistant competition as well as pro-pro competition.

Gabe Wheeler continued his hot streak in the KPGA tournament season by grabbing a share of the low professional title with Nathan Hincks and Tadd Switzer. Wheeler, Hincks, and Switzer shot an impressive 70 (-2) on the difficult Audubon CC layout. These competitors each carded at least 4 or more birdies during the day.

Dan Utley, PGA grabbed his first individual low senior professional victory of his career. Utley was able to string together a very clean card of four birdies and two bogeys to shoot 70 (-2). Bruce Oldendick, PGA and Kirk Schooley, PGA finished tied for second firing 73 (+1) a few shots back from Utley.  

NOTES & STATS

Ian Petersime had an impressive KPGA tournament debut as he grabbed the only skin of the day by making an eagle on the par five 15th hole at Audubon. The skin was worth an impressive $1,740.00.

The blind-draw competition two teams tied for the first position. The teams of Jacob Schakat and Tadd Switzer as well as Casey Castle and Nathan Hincks shot 65 (-7).

Anna Walker, PGA won a closest-to-the-hole competition on the par-three 17th which won her a cooler from OGIO. She hit her tee shot to six feet. Gabe Wheeler also picked up an OGIO travel bag on that hole with one placed to 6 feet 4 inches, which was the closest tee shot among Team Callaway participants.

The par-four 9th was the hardest hole of the day. A newly placed back tee box contributed to the hole playing at +.71 shots over par.

The par-five 12th was the easiest hole at -0.08. Two eagles here plus 25 birdies helped it play as one of just two holes to average a score under par, with the par-five 15th being the only other hole to do that.

Audubon’s back nine played an impressive almost 2 shots easier than its front side on Monday. Holes 10-18 averaged a score of 38.86 compared to 40.41 on the outward nine. That led to the course average being 79.27.

Click here to view the final results

The Kentucky PGA extends its thanks to Eric Gilliland, PGA and his entire staff at Audubon Country Club for their hospitality and hosting of the tournament. Additionally, the Section sends its appreciation towards Tyler Chilson of Callaway as well as Jeff Ammerman of Levelwear and HMG Accessory Solutions for their support of this event and KPGA activities throughout the year.
Next on the Section’s schedule is the KPGA 2x2 Pro-Am supported by Ahead. The section looks forward to visiting Traditions Golf Club in Hebron, Kentucky on May 30 to conduct the event.

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 Kentucky Open and qualifiers for the Barbasol Championship.