“I’ve never been a person that wanted to sit in a cubicle to make a living,” said Tyler Collet, ’17. “I wanted to be active and moving in my career. I’ve loved golf ever since I was little, so that’s the main reason I pursued a career in golf.”
Collet has achieved that goal with a career many could only dream of as a full-time professional golfer. This week, he claimed the 2025 PGA Professional Champion title at the championship event in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
In 2024, Collet made his third PGA Championship appearance at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. He also works as a PGA Assistant Professional at John’s Island Club in Florida and has earned notable titles, including South Florida PGA Player of the Year in 2023 and 2022, and winner of the 2023 South Florida PGA Professional Championship. Collet has played in events such as the PGA TOUR’s Cognizant Classic and Puerto Rico Open and helped Team USA secure a historic victory in the 2024 PGA Cup, where they dominated Team Great Britain and Ireland, 17.5–8.5. The Professional Golf Management (PGM) graduate played golf throughout his childhood, but his path to Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) came by chance.
“I came to the University Club at Arlington while still in high school to take my Player Ability Test, and I passed on the first try,” the West Virginia native elaborated. “It’s unheard of to pass on the first try, let alone while still in high school. So, when I passed, the PGM recruiter, Ross Lingenfelder, gave my parents and me a tour, and I ended up loving it.”
For Katie Wiedmar, ’12, a passion for golf also began in childhood, leading her to EKU to play on the golf team, where she was a two-time WGCA All-American Scholar. After graduating from EKU’s PGM program, she began working at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York, where she became the PGA Assistant Professional and Golf Shop Manager. Wiedmar was named the 2023 PGA National Merchandiser of the Year for Private Facilities, the first PGA National Award winner in EKU program history. She has since parlayed her excellent experience and accolades in merchandising into a position with Johnnie-O golf apparel.
Wiedmar says her interest in pursuing a career in the field first sparked while working at a golf club in high school.
“I loved being around people and all the aspects of the game,” she recalled. Discovering she could combine her love for the sport with a career, Wiedmar, originally from Louisville, Kentucky, knew EKU’s PGM program was the perfect fit. “When I met with Kim Kincer, saw the facility and heard the vision for what was to come, I knew right away that this is where I wanted to further my education,” she said.
An education in EKU’s PGM program comes equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including a full swing simulator with video analysis and a putting lab and access to the University Club at Arlington and the Colonel Golf and Learning Center. The program, housed in the College of Business, is offered as a concentration of a marketing degree. It’s the only accredited PGM program in Kentucky and the surrounding states. The program incorporates 16 months of professional work experience into the curriculum, which both Collet and Wiedmar credit as a cornerstone to their success.
“The internships we do after each year are vital,” Collet explained. “There’s nothing like getting thrown in the fire and figuring it out for yourself.” Wiedmar agreed, noting how her internships built the foundation for her career. She started with a three-month stint at Valhalla Golf Club, where she helped prepare for the 2011 Senior PGA Championship.
“Witnessing the attention to detail and logistics involved in hosting a major tournament was incredible,” she said. This experience prepared her for a much larger role in the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club.
One of the most challenging but rewarding experiences for both professionals was learning to manage customer relations.
Collet highlighted the importance of networking in the golf industry: “The golf business isn’t about what you know; it’s about who you know,” he said. “I still use connections from EKU to further my career or help other peers with theirs.” Wiedmar has honed her approach to customer service, focusing on member preferences to develop relationships and earning her recognition for her merchandising expertise.
Looking ahead, both professionals are driven by a desire to continue growing and achieving excellence in their golf careers. Collet’s ultimate goal is to become a full-time PGA Tour player, while Wiedmar aspires to continue building on her golf management skill set in her new role as National Sales Manager for the apparel company, Johnnie-O.
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