Nick Johnston leads partners to Pro-Senior victory and snags low professional honors as well.

GOSHEN, KY (May 2, 2022) – Nick Johnston is back in the winner’s circle in Kentucky PGA competition. After leaving two events in 2021 as the man or part of the team on top, Johnston accomplished both on Monday at Big Spring Country Club – Harmony Landing Course in the Pro-Senior.

The first avenue being a victory in the namesake Pro-Senior, where Johnston and his teammates Brad Thomas, Jeff Kelso and Dan Demuth won with a two-stroke victory. This competition contained teams of four people with one being a KPGA Member/Associate while the other three players were amateurs aged 50 or older. On each hole, one gross score and one net score (with 80% of the amateurs’ handicap indexes factored in) were counted to determine results. Johnston’s team recorded a score of 126 (-16) where there was at least one birdie (gross or net) made on each hole.

Johnston also had the low individual score amongst the professionals on Monday as he got around in 67 (-4) with his own ball. That performance was highlighted by an eagle on the par-five 9^th with four birdies also aiding in the day’s work. Doing so led to Johnston topping Nathan Downs, Daniel Iceman III and Jeremy Martin by two shots.

Kevin Rhinehart was the lone senior to fire an under-par score on Monday which led to a victory for the Head Professional from Rolling Hills Country Club amongst his 50+ year old counterparts. Steve Cox finished as the runner-up, two strokes behind Rhinehart after totaling 73 (+1).

NOTES & STATS

• Johnston’s eagle on the 9^th was one of four gross eagles made on that hole and seven in total throughout the golf course. Two of them came on the par-five 12^th while Johnston’s teammate Dan Demuth made the lone eagle recorded on the par-five 17^th.
• Using gross scores, the four eagles on the 9^th helped make that hole the easiest of the day. Its stroke-to-par average was +0.17 and it had the most gross birdies made of any hole with thirty-six.
• The par-four 15^th was the most difficult at a rate of +0.98.
• The average score was 81.09 with the back nine playing slightly harder than the front side. Holes 10-18 averaged 41.21 with 1-9 averaging 39.88.

Click here to view the final results

Click here to view the photo gallery

The Kentucky PGA extends its thanks to Andy Pope, PGA and his staff at Big Spring Country Club – Harmony Landing Course for their hospitality and hosting of the tournament. Additionally, the Section sends its appreciation towards each player who participated in today’s event.

Next on the Section’s schedule is the Pro-Pro Challenge presented by Evolve Golf which will take place at Oldham County Country Club on Monday, May 9. That event will be a 36-hole competition with a new format used every 9 holes. Registration for that tournament will remain open until 11:59 p.m. EDT tonight.

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.

Media Contact:
Ethan Fisher, PGA | Golf House Kentucky | efisher@kygolf.org | (502) 792-9703