PALM HARBOR, Fla. — This is the moment golfers dream of. Their professional debut.

Trinity native Nick Gabrelcik doesn’t have to dream anymore. His dream came true.


What You Need To Know

  •  Nick Gabrelcik is a Mitchell High 2020 graduate.

  •  He is spending his spring break from the University of North Florida playing golf.

  •  Nick made his pro debut at the Valspar Championship.

This Mitchell High School graduate who grew up about 10 miles down the road from Innisbrook Resort received a sponsor exemption to play in his very first PGATour event, the Valspar Championship. That’s it’s in his own backyard makes the moment that much more special.

“It means the world to me,” Gabrelcik said. “Out here with my family, agent, friends, everyone around me is just so supportive. And it’s just a dream come true.”

He’s been preparing for this moment since he was 8 years old.
That’s the first time Nick ever set foot on a golf course. He tagged along with his older brother and got hooked. He was about 13 when he realized not only did he have a passion for the sport, but he had a skill set that meant he had a future in golf. 

“Junior and senior year is when I broke through in Florida, started playing really well and just kind of got the confidence after winning a few events to be like this is what I want to do,” he said. “I know I can get to this stage and succeed here.”

After Mitchell, Nick took his golf talents to the University of North Florida where he earned All-American honors as a freshman and quickly started rising up the amateur ranks. Currently ranked 12th in the amateur world rankings, Nick is using this week, his spring break, to gauge when he will eventually give up his amateur status and turn pro permanently.

“It’s nice to see how they go about their business compared to what I do and what hopefully my life will be like,” he said.

That older brother that got Nick into golf is his caddie this week. Donnie will be on the bag for his younger brother. It will be a family affair. Which makes it like a movie script. In his hometown backyard, guy makes his pro debut in the sport his brother introduced him to. And that brother is his caddie? Somebody call Hollywood.

“If it’s a movie script, then I’ll win, so let’s hope for that to happen,” Gabrelcik said.