Write-Up Provided by the Rick Pledl (pledl@mailbag.com) and Wisconsin.Golf
Mike Nagy – WPGA Assistant Player of the Year
Michael Nagy wrapped up the Wisconsin Section’s Assistant Player of the Year Award earlier this month, but the final points he needed to earn the honor were collected at a tournament far from the Badger State.
We’re talking the Sunshine State.
Nagy, an assistant professional at TPC Wisconsin in Madison, narrowly beat fellow Madison-area pro Cody Strang for the WPGA Assistant Award, one of three the Wisconsin Section bestows annually to its top players. (Mick Smith of Summit won the other two categories over the 2025 season.)
Strang, who works at The Legend at Bergamont, battled all season long with Nagy at the top of the Assistant points list, and he held the lead late in the season, but Nagy ultimately prevailed.
That’s because Nagy secured the title at the Assistant PGA Professional Championship in Port St. Lucie, Fla., in the middle of November, by making the cut, earning enough points to win his first WPGA Assistant Player of the Year Award.
“(The award) was certainly a goal of mine going into the year,” Nagy said. “There are a lot of good players in our section.”
Nagy and Strang both qualified for the national event in Florida thanks to their finishes at this season’s Wisconsin Assistant PGA Professional Championship, held in July at The Bog. Nagy won the title after shooting rounds of 70 and 66 to finish at 8 under par for a three-stroke victory. Meantime, Strang tied for third at The Bog and, based on eligibility requirements, earned the second WPGA qualifying spot in the national field.
“Winning the (state) Assistant Championship was big,” Nagy said of the points race. “There are a few tournaments that have big point totals and that’s one of them, and it was one of my goals to win that one. And I shot 6-under in the second round, and that was one of my better rounds of the year.”
However, with his wife expecting a baby back in Madison, Strang withdrew from the Florida trip, allowing first alternate Matt Sabol of Pine Hills CC to get the second spot in the national field.
It was Nagy’s second appearance in the National Assistant Championship, and both produced similar finishes. He tied for 32nd place this year on rounds of 72-74-79-73–298. Last year, Nagy finished 29th on a different course at PGA Golf Club.
Sabol missed the cut in Florida.
“Overall, it was good,” Nagy said. “I certainly think I wasted a few shots and played better than the scores that I shot. The golf course was set-up difficult. But it was a good experience and a fun way to end the year.”
With Strang ahead on points but sidelined, Nagy knew what he had to do in Florida to win the Wisconsin Section award. His play there added 150 points to his season tally – enough for the winning margin.
“I knew I had to make the cut – I knew where I stood,” Nagy said. “I certainly wish Cody could have been there so the two of us could have battled it out. We’ve played a few rounds together, and he’s a good guy.”
Thus, Nagy edged ahead on the list, winning the annual award with 1,068.75 points, while Strang tallied 1,015. David Bach of Whistling Straits finished third with 762.50 points.
Last year, Nagy finished second to Bach in the WPGA Assistant Player of the Year race, and Strang finished third.
Nagy admitted that November is an unusual time for him to play tournament golf – something all northern pros in the field can probably relate to. At the same time, qualifying for these national PGA events is a big-time goal for Wisconsin’s professionals.
Now, after playing in Florida this month, he plans to put away the clubs until springtime comes to Wisconsin.
Nagy, 32, had a solid season overall in 2025, posting several high finishes in Wisconsin tournaments, including that win at The Bog in the WPGA Assistant Championship. He collected other top-five finishes in one-day Wisconsin Section events, including the WPGA Stableford Classic in July at Bullseye GC.
He also played well, at least to start, in the state Assistant Stroke & Match Play Championship. He shot 70 and tied for third place (along with Strang) in the stroke-play portion of that event, held at Morningstar GC. However, Nagy lost in the second round of the match play-portion of the tournament, 5 and 3, to Emmet Herb of Blackhawk CC.
A strong start at the Wisconsin State Open at Blackwolf Run in August helped him survive the 36-hole cut against a larger than normal field size, made up of tough competitors. Unfortunately, he could not keep the momentum going and faded over the final two rounds, eventually finishing in 56th place.
“That was my first time being at Blackwolf Run, and it was certainly challenging,” Nagy said. “I started out strong, then it got more difficult. I enjoy playing difficult golf courses like that, so overall it was a positive experience. I was glad I made the cut and could play four rounds because that facility is one of the best in the state.”
Nagy, who lives in Sun Prairie, is a Class A member of the PGA of America. His job at TPC Wisconsin is classified as an assistant position, making him eligible for assistant events – and awards. He’s worked at the club for two years now, where he oversees much of the junior and women’s golf programming, and, being an assistant, he also works in the golf shop and on charity events and outings.
Although he currently fills a variety of roles at TPC Wisconsin, Nagy admits he’s “trying to get more into the teaching side of things.”