Massie and Oldendick take two of KPGA’s three ROLEX Player of the Year titles.

LOUISVILLE, KY (November 7, 2022) – Jesse Massie, PGA of Woodhaven Country Club and Bruce Oldendick, PGA of Pendleton Hills are the respective winners of the Kentucky PGA’s ROLEX Larry Gilbert Player of the Year Award and the ROLEX Senior Player of the Year Award. For both players, these achievements mark their fourth Player of the Year title of any kind within the Section.

Massie’s triumph came by 0.25 points over Mitchell Moore, PGA in what became the closest race in the history of the Section’s Player of the Year battles. One stroke over the course of the season could have swayed the title to Moore, but a T10 finish from Massie in the Pro-Pro Series Championship presented by Golf Pro Payments compared to a T14 result from Moore is what completed the neck-and-neck contest.

This honor provides Massie with an exemption into the 2023 Barbasol Championship which will be his first career appearance in a PGA TOUR event. His journey to getting that spot this season was highlighted by an outstanding month of September which featured victories in two of the Section’s biggest events. He topped the state’s best at The Club at Olde Stone in the Kentucky PGA Professional Championship and followed it up two weeks later by winning the Section’s Member Match Play Championship at Lexington Country Club. To earn that victory, he beat Moore in the semifinals and then topped Andrew Stephens, PGA, the winner of the 2021 and 2020 ROLEX Larry Gilbert Player of the Year titles, in the championship match. Now, Massie has the Section’s top playing accolade to go alongside his ROLEX Assistant Player of the Year titles in 2020, 2019 and 2017.

“I’ve spent three-fourths of my career trying to get an opportunity to play in a PGA TOUR event, and for the dream to finally become a reality is so surreal and rewarding,” said Massie. “I am so fortunate to have such great people around me and it will be an honor to represent the Kentucky PGA at the Barbasol next summer.”

“There are so many people I would like to thank, beginning with my parents for always believing in me and giving me every opportunity to strive for my dream. My wife, Laura, has supported me every step of the way and has always pushed me to be a better person and golfer. My kids, Landon and Reese, have given me the greatest gift of all – being a father. Kevin Greenwell, PGA has instilled so much knowledge of the game within me and has pushed me to be great. Joe Frederick saw something in me when I was 13 years old and helped jumpstart my career in golf and my passion to become a golfer. Danny Baron, PGA brought me on his team and pushed me into the PGA program. His teaching and leadership molded me into the Professional I am today. Myles Mahan, PGA has been an amazing friend and tournament partner. We have a special connection where we push each other in different ways to become better Golf Professionals. Chance Maguire, Woodhaven Country Club, and their members have trusted me to lead golf instruction at their facility. Their support is a blessing and it’s a privilege to represent Woodhaven every time I play. Lastly, I want to recognize the KPGA and their team for running a fantastic tournament program and providing a high-quality experience for all Professionals in our Section.”

Click here to view the payout of the ROLEX Larry Gilbert Player of the Year standings

2022 marks the fourth time in five years that Bruce Oldendick, PGA has won the ROLEX Senior Player of the Year title. He is also the first person to win this award three consecutive years since Eddie Mudd, PGA won it four straight times from 2005-2008. This season featured one of the single biggest victories of his career, however, when Oldendick captured the Kentucky Senior Open for the first time. An emotional victory that day from The University Club at Arlington highlighted a year that also contained wins at the Kentucky PGA Senior Match Play Championship, Golf House Kentucky Classic #2 presented by Cunningham | Yamaha, the 2x2 Pro-Am supported by ahead and Sun Mountain, plus the Titleist | FootJoy Team Championship.

“I would like to thank Pendleton Hills and especially David Bay,” relayed Oldendick. “The support and encouragement from the owners and membership has been overwhelming.  It has been a tough year after losing our clubhouse to a fire, but our staff has really stepped up. I am proud to bring this award home to Pendleton Hills. It was a group effort. My favorite part of 2022 was calling my parents after each event, especially after the Kentucky Senior Open. I am lucky enough to be able to share this with them. What I want to improve is the golf games of everyone around me. I love to help and see everyone enjoy their game more. I get excited when someone improves or shoots a low score, and I get the benefit of getting better when they get better. Improving the people around you, whether it is through work or play, allows everyone to win. I also want to thank Golf House Kentucky for making this such a special year. Winning this award for the fourth time is very humbling. It is something that I never expected five years ago. My advice is to encourage everyone to play more and enjoy life while we can.”

Click here to view the payout of the ROLEX Senior Player of the Year standings

The Section’s third Player of the Year title is up for grabs between Daniel Iceman III, PGA of Weissinger Hills Golf Course and Jeremy Martin of Griffin Gate Golf Club. They are in contention to win the ROLEX Assistant Player of the Year title which will be decided on November 17-20 in Florida when both players compete at the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship.

Click here to view the ROLEX Assistant Player of the Year standings and complete results from the Larry Gilbert and Senior standings

The Kentucky PGA congratulates Massie and Oldendick on their accomplishments and thanks them for their outstanding representation of the Section. The KPGA also thanks each of its Members and Associates who competed in tournaments throughout the 2022 season.

About the Kentucky PGA:
The Kentucky PGA Section (KPGA) is one of forty-one Sections across the country representing the PGA of America and its Members. It is also one of three organizations encompassed within Golf House Kentucky, which also includes the Kentucky Golf Association (KGA) and Kentucky Golf Foundation (KGF). The KPGA contains more than 275 Members and more than 30 Associates working in various roles across Kentucky; all of whom share the goal of bettering the game and its players. The KPGA and its Members assist with the organization of many chief growth-of-the-game initiatives including PGA HOPE and PGA Jr. League among others. The Section also operates more than thirty tournaments throughout the golf season, including the three State Open championships and qualifiers for the Barbasol Championship.

Media Contact:
Ethan Fisher, PGA | Golf House Kentucky | efisher@kygolf.org | (502) 792-9703