Doan finishes his first round at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco with an even-par 72
FRISCO, Texas – It’s only fitting that the inaugural Major Championship played on Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco was started by Northern Texas PGA Section (NTPGA) Vice President and Preston Trail Golf Club Director of Golf Cameron Doan when he teed off at 7:10 a.m. Thursday.
The 2023 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship is officially underway with some of the most accomplished golfers to play the game competing for the Alfred S. Bourne Trophy. Among the likes of Defending Champion Steven Alker, Bernard Langer and Ernie Els, are 36 PGA Professionals who comprise the Corebridge Financial PGA Team—which includes Doan, who finished T3 in the 2022 Senior PGA Professional Championship at Twin Warriors Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico.
“When I played well enough in New Mexico to finish third and get this, that was pretty
emotional, to be honest,” Doan said about the opportunity to hit the first tee shot and play in his first major championship. “We’ve got more than 800 Members in this Section. So, it’s not about me, I’m representing them. That’s an honor.”
Doan generated a large crowd of supporters early Thursday morning around the first tee. The grandstand behind the tee box was filled with proud NTPGA Section Members and staff.
One of those supporters following Doan today is newly-named NTPGA Section Executive Director Kelly Gilley, PGA.
“Cameron stepped up there in typical Cameron fashion and looked cool, calm and collected despite carrying all 800 Members of the Section on his shoulders, in a way,” said Gilley. “I think he knew this would be a special moment for the Section. He made it look easy.”
NTPGA CEO Mark Harrison, who played a role in the creation of PGA Frisco, caddied for Doan for the first hole—helping him start the Championship right with a par.
“The first call I made, I called him (Harrison) and said, ‘All right, you’re in for the first hole,’” Doan said. “When I was in the hunt in New Mexico last October, he flew out, showed up Sunday morning on the last round and came strolling up on the 8th fairway when it’s blowing 30 and cold.”
“Incredible, better than you could dream, I would say,” said Harrison after handing off the bag to Doan’s son, Tristan, to caddy the rest of the round. “And to have him hit it right on the screws, that was incredible. I’m really excited for all the work that so many people have put into this and to see it actually come to fruition with the Championship and the first tee shot, it was almost surreal.”
Doan finished his first round of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship with an even-par 72.
The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship is a special week for many. Add Doan, his family and the 800 local Section Members to that list as well.
The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, the most historic and prestigious Major Championship in senior golf, is being contested today-Sunday, May 24-28, 2023, on Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco, broadcasted on Golf Channel and NBC. This is the inaugural Major Championship played on Fields Ranch East, the first of six Major Championships over the next 11 years scheduled for PGA Frisco.
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Jesse Dodson PGA of America jdodson@pgahq.com
