It’s safe to say it has been a special week for the Gabrelcik family at the Valspar Championship.
Nick, a junior at North Florida, is playing in his first PGA Tour event at Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor, Florida, on a sponsor exemption. During Friday’s second round, he birdied four of his first five holes and ended up shooting 4-under 67 to make the cut at even-par 142.
“It’s an awesome feeling making my first cut,” Nick said.
With his brother, Donnie, on the bag, it was a special round for Nick, who last week was one of 15 men’s college golfers named to the Haskins Award spring watch list. Yet the day was even more special for Nick and Donnie’s father, Don, who was emotional as the two finished the second round on Friday.
“You guys make me so proud.”
Nick Gabrelcik’s father was emotional after his son made his first cut on TOUR with his eldest son on the bag. @ValsparChamp | @OspreyMGolf pic.twitter.com/mK1nwTvqQM
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 17, 2023
“I wasn’t expecting everybody out here to be waiting behind the grandstands to cheer me on,” Nick said. “It was just a feeling that I don’t think I will ever experience again because you don’t get a first Tour event ever and you don’t get a first cut all the time. So it’s just really special to me.
“I think my dad could arguably be having more fun than I am with all of this, the experience, being inside the ropes. But it’s just a blast having everybody here.”