2026 Kentucky PGA Season Preview
The 2026 Kentucky PGA tournament season arrives with plenty of momentum following a 2025 campaign that produced several first-time champions, continued excellence, and a Player of the Year race that ended in a tie. With new events on the calendar, a significant championship upgrade, and several players carrying strong form into the new year, there is plenty to look forward to across all divisions.
2025 Year in Review
The Kentucky Open produced a familiar winner in Cooper Musselman, who won his first title as an amateur at Hurstbourne Country Club in 2017. The Kentucky Senior Open saw David Plumb capture his first championship in a playoff. Zach Haynes, PGA, claimed his first KPGA Section Championship by one stroke, and Grover Justice, PGA, earned his first KPGA Senior Section Championship.
Cooper Musselman photographed after winning the 106th Kentucky Open
In the KPGA Assistant Section Championship, Alastair Tidcombe, PGA, claimed his first title, dethroning Daniel Iceman III, PGA, who had won the previous three consecutive years. Tidcombe added the Member Match Play Championship as well, giving him two titles on the year and making him a name to watch heading into 2026. Sara Stephens, PGA, won her sixth consecutive KPGA Women’s Section Championship, and the Kentucky Women’s Open welcomed its first time champion in amateur Abbie Lee, who fired a blistering seven-under 65 to surge from behind and win at a total of 139 (-5).
Abbie Lee photographed after winning the 29th Kentucky Women’s Open
Kentucky Women’s Open Gets a Major Upgrade
The Kentucky Women’s Open is undergoing a significant format change in 2026. The event expands from a two-day, 36-hole format to a three-day, 54-hole championship, bringing it in line with the Kentucky Open and qualifying it as a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) event. The change is also designed to attract a stronger and more diverse field. Open to residents and non-residents with gross scoring only, this is an exciting step forward for women’s golf in Kentucky.
Introducing the KPGA Open Series
One of the most exciting additions to the 2026 calendar is the debut of the KPGA Open Series, two new stroke play events created to provide more opportunities for individual competition. The series is open to KPGA professionals, regular professionals, and amateur men and women. Players are required to have a Handicap Index of 9.9 or better to participate. Competition will be divided into Open, Senior (50 & older), and Super Senior (60 & older) divisions, with results contributing to the respective KPGA Player of the Year points races.
The first event tees off June 1st at Hopkinsville Golf & Country Club, which will have an exemption into the 2026 Kentucky Open field on the line. The second is scheduled for August 10th at Houston Oaks Golf Course, with an exemption on the line for the 2027 Kentucky Open field. With open borders and gross scoring across all divisions, the series promises to bring together a wide range of competitive talent from across the region.
Player of the Year Honors
Daniel Iceman III, PGA, claimed his third consecutive Larry Gilbert Player of the Year Award and his fourth consecutive Assistant Player of the Year, adding to an already impressive body of work in the section. Grover Justice, PGA, earned his first Senior Player of the Year honor following a strong 2025 season, while Steve Cox, PGA, claimed his second consecutive Super Senior Player of the Year. In the Women’s race, Olivia Hardesty, PGA, and Sara Stephens, PGA, shared the honor after Stephens had won the two previous years, reflecting just how competitive the Women’s Player of the Year race was in 2025.
Daniel Iceman III, PGA photographed with his Larry Gilbert POY and Assistant POY awards
Eyes on the National Stage
Four KPGA members will represent Kentucky at the 58th PGA Professional Championship, taking place April 26-29. Zach Haynes, PGA (The Club at Olde Stone), Daniel Iceman III, PGA (Weissinger Hills Golf Course), Grover Justice, PGA (Bluegrass Golf Academy), and Alastair Tidcombe, PGA (Valhalla Golf Club) will each compete on the national stage. We look forward to cheering them on and supporting each of them as they represent Kentucky.
Learn More
Please visit kentuckypga.com to learn more about the Kentucky PGA and kygolf.org to learn more about Golf House Kentucky.