PGA of America REACH Foundation Announces 2025-26 Class of PGA WORKS Fellows

September 9, 2025

23 recent college and university graduates to get hands-on golf industry experience

The PGA of America REACH Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America, has announced the 2025-26 class for the PGA WORKS Fellowship.


The PGA WORKS Fellowship, established in 2017, provides the opportunity for a paid immersion in a PGA of America Section’s Foundation operations. PGA Sections oversee the 41 regions of the PGA of America across the United States and help create the network of communication and community for PGA of America Golf Professionals and amateur golfers nationwide.


The PGA WORKS Fellowship is one of the most valuable entry-level opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds to gain experience in the golf industry. The Fellowship gives recent college and university graduates a first-hand look at everything that a career in the $102 billion golf industry can provide.


The primary responsibilities of the 23 PGA WORKS Fellows will be to support and execute philanthropic initiatives for the charitable foundations of their respective PGA Sections. This includes assisting with marketing, communications and fundraising activities, as well as PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) programming for Veterans and junior golf initiatives such as PGA Jr. League and Drive, Chip & Putt.


“We are thrilled to welcome our new class of PGA WORKS Fellows to their respective PGA Sections,” said PGA of America President and Master Professional Don Rea Jr., PGA Owner/Operator of Augusta Ranch Golf Club (Arizona). “Our PGA WORKS Fellowship program isn’t just about opening doors, it’s about equipping the next generation of leaders and ensuring those doors lead to meaningful career paths and lasting connections.”


As part of PGA WORKS’ mission, Fellows are encouraged to continue their careers in golf following their fellowships with direct access to both PGA of America Career Consultants and mentors to help achieve their career goals. In the history of the PGA WORKS Fellowship, 89 percent of all Fellows have acquired jobs within the golf industry, and 83 percent have acquired full-time positions upon completing their fellowship.


Past Fellows have gone on to work for Titleist, the First Tee, the USGA, APGA and the PGA Tour, among other golf companies, sporting organizations and leading industries. Others have continued their education or taken their career in golf a step further by attaining PGA of America Membership.


Currently, seven PGA WORKS Fellows Alumni work for the Association at the Home of the PGA of America in Frisco, Texas: PGA WORKS Leader Cameron Dinkins; PGA WORKS Program Coordinator Iyannei Miranda; PGA REACH Events Coordinator Caroline Riggs; PGA Jr. League Grants Coordinator Tomie Anderson, PGA Jr. League Specialist Dayvon Collins, Membership Representative Cameron Jones and Education Faculty Rosa Jones, PGA.


2025-26 Class of PGA WORKS Fellows


Patrick Appel; Fairfield, Calif.; University of California, San Diego; Northern California PGA Section


Mackenzie Blake; Buffalo, N.Y.; SUNY Cortland; Western New York PGA Section


Claire Calabro; West Chester, Penn.; Florida State University; Gateway PGA Section


Will Cisko; Sparta, N.J.; Rutgers University; New Jersey PGA Section


Kenadie Daegar; Payne, Ohio; University of Northwestern Ohio; Michigan PGA Section


Katherine Foerg; University Heights, Ohio; Niagara University; Northern Ohio PGA Section


Shandiin Harper; Farmington, N.M.; Western New Mexico University; Sun Country PGA Section


George Hill; Jackson, Miss.; University of Alabama; Metropolitan PGA Section


Jacob Hillan; Rensselaer, Ind.; Ball State University; Indiana PGA Section


Leann Kelly; Dunwoody, Ga.; Auburn University; Southern Texas PGA Section


AJ Kisting; New Berlin, Wis.; St. Norbert College; Wisconsin PGA Section


Harlee Lucier; Parish, N.Y.; Utica University; Central New York PGA Section


Savannah Nissel; Ocala, Fla.; Rollins College; North Florida PGA Section


Emmett Noone; Center Valley, Penn.; Temple University; Philadelphia PGA Section


Kennedy Pickering; McKinney, Texas; University of Colorado Boulder; Northern Texas PGA Section


Nina Piscitello; Sacramento, Calif.; California Baptist University; Southern California PGA Section


Sydney Reichard; Brookline, N.H.; University of South Carolina; New England PGA Section


Bryan Sandoval; Littleton, Colo.; University of Colorado Boulder; Colorado PGA Section


Emme Speas; Camas, Wash.; Colorado State University; Carolinas PGA Section


Issie Spray; York, England; Jacksonville State University; Southern Ohio PGA Section


Noah Tietsort; Tulsa, Okla.; Rogers State University; South Central PGA Section


Maria Villamil; Bogota, Colombia; Lincoln University of Missouri; Kentucky PGA Section


Elizabeth Young; Lexington, N.C.; The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Middle Atlantic PGA Section


For more information about the PGA of America REACH Foundation, visit PGAREACH.org.

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Bruns And Walts Win 2026 KBS TOUR Shafts Pro-Assistant Championship After Two Hole Playoff

By Erik Anderson • March 3, 2026
THE COLONY, Texas (March 2) – The team of Robert Bruns, PGA Head Professional at Trinity Forest Golf Club, along with partner Chase Walts, PGM Student at Methodist University who currently works as an assistant at Trinity Forest Golf Club won the 2026 KBS TOUR Shafts Pro-Assistant Championship after a two hole playoff. The two carded a bogey-free, 12-under-par, final score after shooting 64 on Old American Golf Club and a 31 on the back nine of Tribute Golf Links. They bested the team of Spencer Dillard and Alastair Jones from Preston Trail Golf Club. The 27-hole, Four-Ball Stroke Play Championship was hosted at Golf Clubs at The Tribute for the sixth straight year. Teams played Old American Golf Club and the back nine of Tribute Golf Links. Bruns and Walts both had looks inside 10 feet on the second playoff hole, though it was Bruns who poured in the winning putt. “I knew he had it in the bag, so I think that made it much easier for me to just be free and let it go,” said Bruns. Walts recently became an assistant professional at Trinity Forest, and said, “Robert is such a huge mentor to me and my career already. I hope to learn from everything he knows and that goes for golf as well.” “It makes it much easier when you’re in the mix coming down the fairway and you have a great relationship with each other. At the end of the day you’re just having fun,” Bruns said after their victory. This is the first win for both Bruns and Walts in Section Major Championships. The pair earned $3,200 ($1,600 each) out of the record $32,000 total championship purse. The KBS TOUR Shafts Pro-Assistant Championship was presented by Callaway Golf, Club Car, Evolve Golf, Landmark Golf Course Products, Range Servant, THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, and Winston Collection. View the final results HERE . Old American Golf Club Par: 35-36–71 Yardage: 6,770 Tribute Golf Links (Back nine) Par: 36 Yardage: 3,368

Northern Texas PGA Celebrates Award Winners, Conducts 58th Annual Meeting, Elects 32nd President of Section

By Molly Rawlins • February 23, 2026
Dallas, TX – (February 23, 2026) The Northern Texas PGA held their President’s Dinner on Sunday, February 22, at Royal Oaks Country Club. The dinner celebrated the 2025 NTPGA award winners, which included Northern Texas PGA Golf Professional of the Year, the Section's highest award, won by Cameron Doan, PGA director of golf at Preston Trail Golf Club. This is the highest honor given annually to a Northern Texas PGA Member, and is awarded for qualities of leadership, strong moral character and a substantial record of service to the NTPGA as well as the game of golf. The complete list of award winners can be found HERE . Congratulations to all. On Monday, February 23, the NTPGA staff then conducted a Professional Development Seminar and the 58th Annual Business Meeting at Dallas Country Club. During the Professional Development Seminar, the PGA of America golf professionals learned new communication skills from Tim Novak, increased their rules knowledge with Jon Drago, PGA, and David Price, PGA, and learned leadership lessons from a group of golf's top PGA golf professionals, including Cary Cozby, PGA, Bill Eschenbrenner, PGA, Bob Ford, PGA, and our very own Cameron Doan, PGA, and Ronny Glanton, PGA. After lunch, the 58th Annual Meeting consisted of the recognition of many professionals including the playing award winners honoring Matt Lohmeyer, Todd McCorkle, Rob Shields and Kim Paez. The 2026 Eva Williams A.C.E. Scholarship recipient, Sean Kim was also recognized. The meeting included comments from the Northern Texas PGA Past Presidents, current officers as well as from Executive Director, Kelly Gilley, PGA and CEO Mark Harrison. New Officers to the Northern Texas PGA Board of Directors were elected by acclamation. They include Ira Molayo as President, Jeremy Langdale as Vice President and Eric Hunt as Secretary. Two At-Large Directors were also elected by acclamation, Trish Holt and Neil Lockie. All were sworn in alongside East Texas Chapter President Tim Lawson and West Texas Chapter President Adam Headley. The current Northern Texas PGA Board of Directors can be found HERE . Before the meeting adjourned, the newly elected President, Ira Molayo, the PGA General Manager at Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas, addressed the membership. He stated that it is an honor to serve as the 32nd President of the Northern Texas PGA, using the word ‘serve’ intentionally because this position, like every role in our profession, is not about title. It is about stewardship. He then gave four notes about his commitment in these next two years – to represent all Members, across facilities, across classifications, across backgrounds, to listen carefully, to communicate clearly, and to support the staff and volunteers who carry this Section forward every day. He finished his comments by saying, “I do not intend to reinvent what is already strong. I intend to build on it.” Thank you to all of the PGA of America Golf Professionals in our Section who attended these special and important events over the past few days. Our Board and our staff look forward to a successful 2026.