Wittenbach Makes a Late Charge to Jump to the Top of the Prize Possessions | E-Z-GO Eastern Championship

Steven Clements • June 13, 2023

ROCKWALL, TX – Kyle Wittenbach, PGA coach at the University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) leads the Prize Possessions | E-Z-GO Eastern Championship at Rockwall Golf & Athletic Club. Wittenbach carded a first round 36-33–69, 3-under-par, to hold a one stroke lead heading into the final round tomorrow.


In his second year competing in the Northern Texas Section, after moving from the Michigan Section, Wittenbach holds his first lead in a Section Major Championship. “I thought it was going to be similar here…but competitively these guys [NTPGA members] are stiff competition,” said Wittenbach on the differences in the two Sections. 


Wittenbach had a clean card on the back nine and birdied two of his last three holes to finish his round. “I was steady off the tee and made a couple 15-footers,” he said about his round.


A trio of professionals are trailing Wittenbach by one stroke. Brian Norman, PGA instructor at Lakewood Country Club and PGA associates Justin Benson of Hollytree Country Club and Katelyn Sepmoree of Willowbrook Country Club are all at 2-under-par.


Last year Sepmoree also fired a 2-under-par first round and was in contention, but went on to finish at T15. Looking back on last year she said, “I feel better about my game now and how I'm putting it…just going to go out and have fun and try to win it.”


The Championship also includes a Senior Division that is made up of 36 professionals ages 50 and over, playing for a separate title and purse. Chad Gibson, PGA sales manager for E-Z-GO, leads this division after a round of 38-33–71, 1-under-par. 


This 36-hole Northern Texas PGA major championship is the first of four individual stroke play events that comprise the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf / Asics Player of the Year Points Challenge presented by Adventures In Golf. The field is competing for a record overall purse of $48,000.


The Prize Possessions | E-Z-GO Eastern Championship is presented by AT&T Byron Nelson, Branded Bills, GT Golf Supplies, Levelwear, Nexbelt, PGA TOUR, and PXG.

Rockwall Golf & Athletic Club

Par 36-36–72

Open Division Yardage: 7,134 yards

Senior Division Yardage: 6,609 yards


View round one results
HERE

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