Ishee Seeking Major Championship Victory at Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship

Steven Clements • August 12, 2024

LONGVIEW, Texas (August 12) – Nic Ishee, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club birdied the final three holes at Pinecrest Country Club to take a one stroke lead at the Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship.


Ishee fired a 6-under-par, 33-31–64 with no bogeys in the opening round. Ishee was 3-under-par with three holes remaining. “I hit it to 3-feet on #16…then I really just tried to play smart from there. I was able to get up and down on #17 after a nice wedge shot and then #18 was a bonus after I rolled it dead in the middle,” said Ishee.


Ishee’s co-worker Matt Ryba, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club won this Championship in 2022, the last time it was hosted at Pinecrest Country Club. Ryba coined the phrase “Pinecrest rewards patience”. Ishee leaned on that saying and his past experience at Pinecrest during today’s round. “Past experience and being patient, thinking about that helped a lot,” he said.


Seven qualifying spots into the PGA Professional Championship are on the line this week. The Championship is set to be held April 27-30, 2025 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. In addition to the seven qualifiers determined tomorrow, the Section will also send reigning Player of the Year Brandon Bingaman, PGA assistant professional at Gleneagles Country Club to the Championship. 


The PGA Professional Championship serves as a qualifier for 312 PGA of America golf professionals from across the country to compete for 20 spots into the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club. Eight NTPGA professionals in the field this week have qualified via the Championship for the PGA Championship in the past, including Ishee.


  • Lee Rhind, 2013 at Oak Hill Country Club
  • Brian Norman, 2014 at Valhalla Golf Club
  • Greg Gregory, 2017 Quail Hollow Club
  • Brandon Bingaman, 2022 at Southern Hills Club
  • Nic Ishee, 2022 at Southern Hills Country Club
  • JJ Killeen, 2023 at Oak Hill Country Club
  • Gabe Reynolds, 2023 at Oak Hill Country Club
  • *Kenny Pigman, 2023 Oak Hill Country Club & 2017 Quail Hollow Club
  • *Pigman qualified via the Southern California PGA.


This 36-hole Northern Texas PGA major championship is the third of four individual stroke play events that comprise the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Player of the Year Points Challenge presented by Adventures In Golf. The field is competing for a record tying purse of $50,000 and a $6,000 champion check.


The Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship is presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial and Rolex. Supporting sponsors include Gallagher, Golf Channel and the PGA TOUR. The Championship is supported by Titleist, FootJoy, Callaway Golf, Nike and Taylormade and presenting sponsors include Elijah Craig Bourbon, Therabody and THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson. 


Pinecrest Country Club 

Par: 35-35–70 

Open Division Yardage: 6,533 


View Results HERE

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