FRISCO, Texas (April 29, 2024) ー First-round leader Wyatt Worthington II picked up where he left off on Sunday.
The Las Vegas, Nevada, native birdied his opening hole, the par-5, 542-yard first at Fields Ranch East, then added three consecutive pars on holes 2-4 before second round play of the 2024 PGA Professional Championship at Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco was suspended due to darkness on Monday.
The PGA Golf Manufacturer Sales Representative at Eastside Golf now leads the 2024 PGA Professional Championship by three shots with the majority of his second round still to be played.
“We were just trying to get as many holes in as possible because tomorrow is going to be a marathon,” said Worthington II. “You definitely have to stay patient and keep the momentum going.”
Worthington II will resume his second round on East’s par-4, 462-yard 5th hole at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday before playing his third round.
“This is a great course and I feel as though there is great competition, too,” said Worthington II. “We’ve still got quite a ways to go. At the end of the day I’m just going to keep my head down and keep plugging along.”
Ben Polland (Jackson Hole, Wyo.) and Jared Jones (Houston, Texas) are tied for second at 5-under while Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth (Fleming Island, Fla.), Zac Oakley (King of Prussia, Pa.) and Danny Balin (White Plains, N.Y.) are four shots back at 4-under. Hayes Farley (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) is also at 4-under, but has yet to complete his second round.
Polland, the PGA Director of Golf at Shooting Star of Jackson Hole, recorded a 4-under-par 68 to conclude his first round on Monday at Fields Ranch West after rattling off three birdies over his final seven holes.
“It feels better to have a draw like this where you get to roll into the next round when there are delays and you’re playing multiple rounds in one day,” said Polland. “It felt really nice. I had good feels with the putter all day, just needed more to go in.”
The 33-year-old Polland recorded a 1-under-par 71 at Fields Ranch East highlighted by three birdies on the challenging par-5 1st, 3rd and 14th holes.
“I played the par fives very well,” said Polland. “I went for it a couple times. There really aren’t that many opportunities on the East course, but just good wedging left me some good 10-footers.”
Jones followed his opening-score of 3-under-par 69 on West with a solid 2-under-par 70 in the second round at Fields Ranch East.
The PGA Director of Instruction at River Oaks Country Club registered three birdies on the front nine, including back-to-back at the par-4, 341-yard 7th and par-3, 165-yard 8th.
“On eight I was just trying to get it a little past the hole,” said Jones. “I hit it to the bigger part of the green. I was just fortunate to make a long putt there from about 35 feet. I had a great read from my caddie and rolled it in.”
The 38-year-old Jones shot nearly even-par on the back-nine, his lone bogey coming at the par-4 11th.
“Really proud of how I hung in there throughout the day and really just pleased with how I played,” said Jones.
Connelly-Eiswerth completed her first round Monday morning on West at 4-under-par 68, collecting seven birdies including four in a row on holes 15-18.
The PGA Teaching Professional at San Jose Country Club began her second round on Fields Ranch East’s 10th hole T-2 on the leaderboard. She countered a trio of bogeys with birdies at the par-5, 462-yard 18th; par-5, 496-yard 1st; and par-4, 266-yard 7th holes to shoot even-par 72.
“I came out well this morning so that was nice,” said Connelly-Eiswerth, the 2023 Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year. “A little bit of a slow start, I would say, in the second round. I hit it just fine, but it’s a little bit stressful, not quite as close. It’s definitely more demanding, but I felt good about it.”
Jason Carbone (Cleveland, Ohio) had a hole-in-one at the par-3, 148-yard 17th hole on the East Course. Tim Weinhart (Canton, Ga.) sank an ace with a seven-iron at the par-3, 184-yard 3rd hole on the West Course.
Tuesday’s third round of the 2024 PGA Professional Championship presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial and Rolex will be broadcast live on Golf Channel from 4-7 pm (CT). Assuming no further delays, Round 3 starting times will be approximately 1:15 – 3:38 p.m. off the first and 10 tees on Fields Ranch East.
Due to the weather delay during round one, the Championship will institute a 36-hole cut to the low 70 scores and ties after the second round concludes on Tuesday instead of 90 scores and ties.
NORTHERN TEXAS PGA HOSTS FIRST PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
This year’s event marks the first edition of the PGA Professional Championship to be conducted with the Northern Texas PGA as the host PGA Section.
“Northern Texas PGA is thrilled to be the host Section for this year’s PGA Professional Championship,” said Northern Texas PGA Executive Director Kelly Gilley, PGA. “For many professionals competing, this week will be their first experience at PGA Frisco. We may be a bit biased, but we believe the combination of great golf courses and Texas hospitality are hard to beat.
“NTPGA enjoys being the neighbor of PGA of America, the PGA Coaching Center, Fields Ranch and Omni PGA Frisco. We would welcome any players and spectators down at the Jerry J. Ransom NTPGA Golf House, the #WhosNext Randy Smith & Dr. Bill Blair Growth of the Game Pavilion or The Ronny Golf Park during their stay.”
In addition to the 10 Northern Texas PGA Members competing, approximately 40 NTPGA Members are volunteering.
The PGA Professional Championship is taking place in the state of Texas for just the second time. The 2022 Championship was contested at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin.
