Long Island assistant pros Dylan Newman, Andre Chi will tee up at PGA Championship

For two Long Island assistant pros, next week at the PGA Championship will provide one of the biggest moments of their careers.

Dylan Newman of the Meadow Brook Club and Andre Chi of the Deepdale Club qualified for the PGA at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina, by finishing tied for fifth in the PGA Club Professional Championship last week in Port St. Lucie, Florida. By doing so, they get to tee it up along with defending champion Xander Schauffele, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Masters champion Rory McIllroy and the rest of golf’s elite in the second major of the year that begins on Thursday.

Newman and Chi are at different stages of their careers. Newman, 33, is a highly accomplished player in the Met Section, having won the Met Open in 2023, the Met PGA Championship in 2023 and 2024, the Met Section Assistant Championship in 2020 and 2021, and he was the Met Section Player of the Year in 2023. Chi, 24, won an assistants tournament in 2024 as he looks to add to his resume. But both have an equal chance to show what they can do at Quail Hollow.

Newman played in the 2022 PGA at Southern Hills, missing the cut but gaining a world of experience.

“I’m thrilled and stoked,” Newman said. “I’ve played in it before and once I get there I will be a little starstruck, take a day to take everything in and appreciate where we are in life, and then after that it’s time to get to business and work on the things I need to and learn the golf course.”

He will have to tailor his game to the course.

“I don’t bomb it like Rory McIlroy or Bryson DeChambeau, so I’ve got to be as smart as possible on that golf course and make the best possible decisions all the way through,” Newman said.

Meadow Brook head pro Matt Dobyns, who has played in six PGA Championships, wouldn’t be surprised if Newman does well.

“Dylan is just the sort of person who could have a good showing at the PGA because he’s never going to beat himself, he’s never going to make a big number type of mistake,” Dobyns said. “He knows how to make a good bogey, stay away from big numbers and being able to handle pressure. Those are the two things that are important in playing in those kind of events.”

Chi is a native of Huntington, played golf for Harborfields High and attended Methodist University, where he majored in the golf management program. He’s tried the PGA TOUR Qualifying School a couple of times but fell short. But he can say this proudly: “This is going to be my major championship debut.”

Deepdale head pro Darrell Kestner, who has played in several PGAs and U.S. Opens, has mentored Chi, pushing him to elevate his game.

“He’s a sweet, humble kid who has the backing of our members,” Kestner said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he did well in the PGA.”

As for playing in the stratosphere of the game, Chi has a simple mantra.

“The level of the golf is high, but ultimately golf is a game between you and the course and the distance between your ears!” Chi said.

And playing amongst PGA Tour pros is just where he wants to be.

“Ever since I was eight years old, I made the commitment of wanting to be on the PGA Tour,”  Chi said. “That dream is still alive.”