Daniel Iceman of Shelbyville, Kentucky shot rounds of 70-68—138 (-6) for a one stroke victory at the 2018 National Car Rental KPGA Assistant Professional Championship. The state’s top Assistant Professionals and Associate Members took on the Championship Course at the University Club at Arlington on Monday, August 20th.

The 36-hole, single day tournament is held each year for eligibly employed Kentucky PGA Assistant Professionals and all Kentucky PGA Associate members, with the top two qualifiers advancing to the Assistant PGA Professional Championship in Florida.

After the morning round concluded, a total of thirteen players were within four shots of Daniel Iceman of Shelbyville, KY and Ryne Burnett of Florence, KY, both of whom shot rounds of two under-par 70. As the afternoon round progressed, Iceman continued his steady play, making three birdies through his first ten holes to stand just one shy of the lead held by Scott Webb (Irvine, KY) and Burnett with two holes to play.

The difficult par-4 17th hole would prove pivotal, as Webb made a costly double-bogey and Burnett made a bogey, giving Iceman a share of the lead with one hole to play. He would go on to make a clutch six foot birdie putt on the final hole to seal his third Assistant’s Championship victory in four years. Currently the Assistant Professional at Weissinger Hills Golf Course, Iceman has been playing on PGA Tour Canada throughout the summer. He’s made five out of nine cuts, and hopes that this win will springboard him into a successful fall season that will likely include PGA Tour Qualifying School.

“To be able to pull out the win is really good for my confidence,” said Iceman. “I know the game is there, it’s just a matter of producing it at the right time.”

Iceman played near perfect golf for 36-holes and played both rounds bogey-free, an amazing achievement given the narrow fairways and challenging set of green complexes at University Club at Arlington.

“I hit the ball extremely well today, especially off the tee which is definitely needed out here,” said Iceman. “I hit a lot of greens but I had to stay patient with the flat-stick. I didn’t make a lot of putts early, but made a couple of big putts for par down the stretch, and then the six-foot birdie putt on #18.”

With his victory, Iceman also punched his ticket to the National Car Rental Assistant Professional Championship, which will be held November 15-18 in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. He will be joined by Burnett, who shot rounds of 70-69—139 (-5) and earned the second qualifying spot in a playoff over Logan Watts (Louisville, KY). Finishing in a tie for fourth place was defending champion Jessie Massie (Louisville, KY) and Scott Webb, both of whom finished at a total of four under-par.

Thanks to National Car Rental, presenting sponsor of the Assistant PGA Professional Championship, and to Srixon | Cleveland Golf | XXIO, Golf Advisor and John Deere for supporting this prestigious championship. Special thanks to Billy Trimble of Callaway Golf, who provided a gift for every player in the field, and to Todd Christian, Teddy Lausier and Jim Cox of the University Club at Arlington for their outstanding support of the 2018 KPGA Assistant Professional Championship.

About the Kentucky PGA

The Kentucky PGA (KPGA) is one of the 41 sections that comprise The PGA of America.  Formed in 1925, the Kentucky PGA has a professional membership of more than 325 men and women professionals across the Commonwealth of Kentucky, each of whom is dedicated to promoting the game in Kentucky. Kentucky PGA Professionals are responsible for conducting a variety of golf-related functions, which include general management, golf instruction, tournament operations, golf shop merchandising, junior golf programs, golf club repair, and much more.  The KPGA is a founding member of Golf House Kentucky, the umbrella organization that manages Kentucky’s Family of Golf Organizations.