Backspin Volume 3, Issue 1 | Page 41

Ishee captures National Car Rental Gulf States PGA Assistant Championship Nic Ishee of Metairie, Louisiana, won the National Car Rental Gulf States PGA Assistant Championship Tuesday, Sept. 15 at Money Hill Golf & Country Club in Abita Springs, Louisiana. “Today was a grind. I started out with a double on 2 and got behind the 8-ball early. Especially since I one putted the first seven holes in round one,” said Ishee, the PGA apprentice at Metairie Country Club. “ I’ve been close the last two years and it was really awesome to finally get the win. I am super excited to represent the Section at the national championship.” By winning, Ishee qualified for the 38th National Car Rental PGA Assistant Championship, Oct. 29 – Nov. 1, at PGA Golf Club (Wanamaker Course) in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The facility will be hosting its 19th consecutive PGA Assistant Championship. Ishee, 25, posted a final-round 74 for a tournament total of 143 and a two-stroke victory over Drew Goff of New Orleans, Blain Patin of Zachary and Dustin Baker of Choudrant. Goff, the 2015 Gulf States PGA Professional Champion, won a three hole playoff for the second and final qualifying spot. He will also represent the Gulf States PGA in Port St. Lucie. “I struggled with ball striking all week so I relied heavily on scrambling,” said Goff, the PGA Assistant at New Orleans Country Club. “I thought I needed to shoot something in the 60s today to have a chance, but the course played tougher, and scores were higher than expected.” The 132-man field for this year’s 39th PGA Assistant Championship consists of the top-4 finishers from last year’s Championship, if eligible, as well assistants and apprentices from a weighted average of total entries of the 41 PGA Sections. The winner of the 39th National Car Rental PGA Assistant Championship earns $9,000 out of a total purse of $100,000. The top-70 finishers and ties after the second round will make the cut. KGB partners with Allstate Sugar Bowl for Tommy Moore Invitational The Kelly Gibson Foundation, in partnership with Allstate Sugar Bowl, will host the Tommy Moore Memorial Junior Golf Championship at English Turn Golf & Country Club on Dec. 28-29, 2015. The 36-hole championship was established to invite top-ranked golfers from across country to compete in front of college coaches each holiday season in New Orleans. The field will comprise of 84 amateur golfers, both boys and girls ages 13-18, who are not enrolled in college. In 2014, the 12 states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas were represented. Defending champions Julia Johnson of St. Gabriel, Louisiana, and Benjamin Nelson III of Madison, Mississippi, will return in 2015 with aspirations of repeating. Johnson, an LSU commitment, has taken some time off this fall from competitive tournaments to work on her swing mechanics in preparation for the event. “The Allstate Sugar Bowl Tommy Moore is one of my favorite tournaments of the year. My coach, Rob Noel, and I are doing great work this post-season. I’m looking forward to competing again and I’m hoping to defend my title,” said Johnson. For Nelson, the 2014 tournament marked his first junior tournament victory, and he was able to do so in the presence of his grandfather and longtime PGA Tour Rules Official Ben Nelson. “It’s exciting to come back to New Orleans and try to defend my title at the Tommy Moore. I have very fond memories of last year, and it will always be special to me.” Tommy Moore is recognized as the most accomplished junior golfer to ever emerge from the New Orleans area. In 1980, Tommy was ranked No.1 in the Golf Digest Junior World Rankings and went on to have a decorated collegiate career at Oklahoma State University where he was an All-American, National Champion and Academic All-American. After playing on the PGA Tour for three seasons, Tommy Moore’s life was cut short at the young age of 35 due to a rare blood disease. In his memory, the Kelly Gibson Foundation partners with the Allstate Sugar Bowl to host a national tournament that recognizes the impact Tommy made on junior golf. “The Allstate Sugar Bowl is proud to once again serve as title sponsor of the Tommy Moore Memorial Junior Golf Tournament,” said Bowl president Carey Wicker. “This event continues to make great strides every year and stands as one of the most competitive and wellrun junior tournaments in the Gulf South. We’re excited about the prospects for this year and beyond.” 39