CJ Jones, closed out the Kentucky PGA Assistant Professional Championship in style. The Triple Crown Country Club assistant opened with a 7-under 65 and followed it with a 5-under 67 in the final round, winning at Nevel Meade Golf Club with a 36-hole total of 132, 12 under par.
Jones shared the first-round lead with Alastair Tidcombe, PGA, of Valhalla Golf Club, who also opened with a 65. But while Tidcombe’s Tuesday round cooled to a 71, Jones kept the pressure on with another sub-par round, turning a share of the lead into a four-shot cushion by the finish.
Tidcombe still finished alone in second at 8-under 136, backing up his opening 65 with enough good golf on Tuesday to hold off the chasing pack.
Behind them, the tournament turned into a tightly bunched battle for third. Nathan Hincks, PGA, of The Club at Olde Stone and Tadd Switzer, of Hopkinsville Golf & Country Club both finished at 3-under 141. Hincks opened with a 69 and added a 72, while Switzer carded a 70 followed by a 71, leaving the two tied at the finish after both kept themselves in the mix throughout the two days.
Daniel Iceman, PGA, of Weissinger Hills Golf Course rounded out the group in contention, finishing fifth at 2-under 142 after an opening 69 was followed by a 73. Iceman’s Monday round put him in the mix with the tournament’s top names, but a step back in the final round was enough to drop him off the pace set by Jones and Tidcombe.
Jones’ 65-67 finish stood apart even on a leaderboard populated with low rounds, and the four-shot margin over Tidcombe reflected a tournament that was decided by consistency as much as firepower.
The strong showing carries beyond Nevel Meade. Both Jones and Tidcombe punched their tickets to the national stage, qualifying for the 50th Assistant PGA Professional Championship at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, set for Nov. 12-15.
The KPGA thanks all of the players in the field and Nevel Meade Golf Club for hosting the championship. The full leaderboard can be found here, and photos from the event are available here.
We are proud to recognize our national sponsors and partners:
- Supporting Sponsors: Srixon, Cleveland Golf, and Golf Channel
About the KPGA
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 350 men and women professionals across the Commonwealth of Kentucky, each of whom is dedicated to promoting the game in Kentucky. The Kentucky PGA is dedicated to the promotion of the game of golf and providing ongoing education and professional development of Kentucky PGA Professionals. 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.