Five Tennessee PGA Professionals Set for 2026 PGA Professional Championship
The Tennessee PGA Section is proud to announce that five of our premier PGA Professionals have qualified for the 2026 PGA Professional Championship. The national showcase will take place from April 26–29 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon.
Presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial, and Rolex, the championship features a prestigious field of 312 players. This elite group includes qualifiers from 41 PGA Sections, past champions, and top finishers from the 2025 event.
Meet the Tennessee PGA Participants
Josh Bevell, PGA | Profectus Golf
Josh has established himself as a dominant force in golf, securing back-to-back honors as the Tennessee PGA Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024. His recent competitive record includes a runner-up finish in the 2025 Tennessee PGA Professional Championship and a T1 result at the Ladd’s Pro-Official Championship. Furthermore, Josh’s elite play earned him consecutive qualifications for the National Championships, competing at Valhalla Golf Club in 2024 and PGA Golf Club in 2025.Josh secured back-to-back honors as the Tennessee PGA Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024.
Ryan Botts, PGA | Five Oaks Golf & Country Club
Ryan enters the national stage following a dominant local season defined by several high-profile victories. His standout performance came in 2025, where he was crowned champion of the 57th Tennessee PGA Professional Championship. In addition to securing a win at the Crossville Team Championship, Ryan demonstrated remarkable consistency with T1 finishes at both the Yamaha Harold Eller Pro-Am and the Club Car Pro-Official.
Allie Knight, PGA | Fairways & Greens Golf Center
Allie carries significant momentum into the season after winning the 2026 PGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship this past February. Her career is marked by elite consistency, as she is a six-time qualifier for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship from 2021 through 2026. Beyond her individual success at the national level, Allie was a member of the 2024 U.S. Women’s PGA Cup Team and has secured notable T1 finishes at both the Yamaha Harold Eller Pro-Am and the Foothills Invitational for the Section.
Jared Melson, PGA | The Bear Trace at Tims Ford
A dominant force in the senior circuit, Jared has been named the Tennessee PGA Senior Player of the Year for three consecutive years from 2023 through 2025. Victories also include back-to-back titles as the Tennessee Senior PGA Professional Champion in 2024 and 2025, as well as a victory in the Yamaha Facility Challenge. Demonstrating his ability to compete at any level, Jared also secured a runner-up finish in the 2025 Tennessee PGA Professional Championship.
Lee Whitehead, PGA | Williams Creek Golf Course
Lee has solidified his reputation as a premier competitor after being named the 2025 Tennessee PGA Player of the Year, a testament to his remarkable consistency across Section events. His recent finishes include a victory at the Kid’s Play Free Pro-Am and a runner-up finish in the 2025 Tennessee PGA Professional Championship. Additionally, Lee demonstrated his ability to top leaderboards with T1 finishes at both the Goat Turf Players Championship and the Foothills Invitational.