This November, a team of PGA of America Golf Professionals will once again lace up their running shoes and hit the streets of The Big Apple when they run for the PGA of America REACH Foundation in the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon.
The team of twenty-four PGA of America Members will be joined this year by a PGA HOPE Ambassador, one former PGA WORKS Fellow and former PGA WORKS Scholar – the first time PGA WORKS has representatives running for the mission. Not to mention, it’s the marathon’s 50th anniversary of the five-borough race – touching Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and finally Manhattan.
Needless to say, 2026 is a big year.
With a team fundraising goal of $150,000, this team is already making history by being the largest PGA REACH has brought to New York City to run the race of a lifetime – marking ten years as a charity partner with New York Road Runners.
As returning runners know all too well, tackling a marathon starts well before the weekend in New York City. It’s a slow, meticulous process that takes dedicated time and patience – bringing out the highest of highs, lowest of lows, and every emotion in between. Every runner brings with them their own story, their own training journey, and carves their own path to get themselves across the finish line and attain that euphoric feeling.
Similarly, through PGA WORKS, young leaders are finding their own path in the business of golf – many of whom have never even touched a golf club before entering the industry. As the marathon can ignite a newfound passion for running, so too does PGA WORKS create industry-leading professionals – both in golf and beyond.
For Ximena Davila, Lauren Ehrman and Leah Im – they are all connected by this common thread in PGA WORKS and have been impacted by the program in their own unique way – Ximena being the first PGA WORKS Fellow for the Southern Texas PGA Section, Lauren now currently the PGA WORKS Fellow for the Southern Ohio PGA Section, and Leah being a former John & Tamara Lundgren PGA WORKS Scholar with the University of Nevada Las Vegas PGA Golf Management Program.
While their paths may differ, the trio will unlock a new achievement when they cross the finish line on November 1 in Central Park – becoming the first PGA WORKS representatives to run the TCS New York City Marathon. Im and Davila are running for PGA REACH while Ehrman is running for the Endometriosis Foundation of America.
Earlier this fall, we caught up with them to hear more about their individual journeys, how their training is going, and what they are most excited about to run New York City for the first time.
Talk about your journey and background from working as a PGA WORKS Fellow or Scholar to now working full-time in the industry.
XD: I grew up in San Antonio, Texas and had plans to pursue a career in special education. After COVID hit, the world became a very different place and I just took some time to really step back and look at where I wanted to go with my career. My family owned a driving range at the time, so golf was always woven into my story, so from there I found the PGA WORKS Fellowship through a mutual friend of my father’s – one thing led to another and I was able to land the first-ever Fellowship with the Southern Texas PGA Section! Now I serve as the Director of Retail at my home club – Oak Hills Country Club – which has truly been a special full-circle moment for me.
LI: My upbringing was very much in the game, having gotten my start with golf through the First Tee program in southern Nevada. I continued playing through high school, and when I was looking at options for colleges, I wasn’t totally sure what I wanted to pursue. My golf coach told me about the PGA Golf Management Program at UNLV, and from there I didn’t really look back. The program offered so many opportunities to discover paths in the industry, and the John and Tamara Lundgren PGA WORKS Scholarship was meaningful in that journey as it opened doors in the game and the industry while alleviating some of that financial burden of paying for school. Now, I’m working at my alma mater with the PGA Golf Management program here at the university, and shaping the next generation of PGA of America Members is super special.
LE: As a current PGA WORKS Fellow, it’s been interesting to look back on my journey to see how I ended up here. I’ve always loved the energy that comes from the sports industry – not just being a fan, being noticing how many different career avenues there actually are. I actually started college when I was 15 and graduated when I was 18, while I was getting my MBA I was also working in retail and actually had to take a medical leave due to endometriosis and the pain I had from that condition. I ended up having surgery, and during my recovery I started to look for different jobs and ran across the Fellowship opportunity in Southern Ohio, which is where I am today. Truly, if it weren’t for my condition – which is the cause that I’m running the marathon for – I wouldn’t have been able to take that time and switch up my career, and I probably wouldn’t have found the Fellowship.
What was your ‘why’ behind each of you wanting to run the TCS New York City Marathon?
LE: One of the biggest was just the sheer fact that there is very little awareness and research around endometriosis and how it affects women. The Endometriosis Foundation of America is working to provide ways for women and younger girls to get diagnosed quicker while providing the latest information and research. Running the marathon was just a small way for me to give back to this organization that has helped me so much along my journey. Also, my dad is running the marathon with me for the same cause, so I’m looking forward to getting to experience this with him!
XD: Ever since my Fellowship ended, I’ve been intentional about trying to find ways to really stay involved and connected with people who are currently in their Fellowship, or have wrapped up their Fellowship, too. When applications came out for the team, even though I’m not a runner at all, it was a two-pronged motivation for me to accomplish something so big while also giving back to the program has already offered me so much – and being a small part of giving back to that mission was really important to me applying.
LI: Now that I’m working in the industry full-time as a PGA of America Member, it was certainly a meaningful way for me to contribute to the ongoing mission of PGA WORKS through the PGA of America REACH Foundation. I look at it as a chance to create those future opportunities for the students that I help every day here at UNLV, as they work to become PGA of America Members themselves.
How is training going? What are you all tapping into to ensure you are staying healthy and prepared for the 26.2 mile-course in New York City?
LE: For me with the surgery I had, pilates has been instrumental in my routine because it keeps my core really strong – especially for my longer training runs. It’s more of a mental challenge for me because the workouts I do are just as, if not more, difficult than some of the training runs I’ve done. As I mentioned, having my dad on this journey alongside me has been a huge motivating factor. It’s been fun to go back and forth with him to ensure we’re keeping each other accountable throughout the process. But still, with a chronic illness like endometriosis, I sometimes have to take my training day-by-day.
LI: I’ve definitely tried to stay pretty consistent in following my training plan through an app called Runna. It gives me tailored workouts from shorter runs all the way up to my long runs, while also mixing in running workouts that are helping me with my pace control. It’s helped me stay structured and focused week to week. I also like going to the gym, doing reformer pilates and I think that’s helped keep my core strength overall really strong.
XD: Early in my training, I actually got injured and had to reevaluate how I tackled my preparation. This actually led me to using a run coach who I was connected with through someone I randomly met at a run club. It has been so great throughout this process because it’s allowed me to connect with another human. She actually catered plans to me and where I was in my training and what I was comfortable with. I’ve slowly built up a team between my run coach, my emotional support with my family, and also my physical therapist – so I definitely have the Avengers assembled to get me across the finish line.
You three will be running alongside a team of PGA of America Members on November 1st – can you talk about what PGA Members have done in your life and how they have helped you get to where you are today?
XD: The first person I think about is my dad who is currently an Associate, so he’s on that journey of his own to attain PGA of America Membership – not to mention he started the program in his early fifties. So that is a huge inspiration for me. Another individual is Scott Archer, who ran with the REACH team a couple of years ago. Seeing him set out with a goal to achieve like running a marathon was a huge reason why I decided to apply for this team. It was a perfect example of setting your mind to a goal and accomplishing it full-board. I know he too was not a runner, but he trained, and he finished. I just think that’s a special example of how PGA of America Members can indirectly inspire people just by being who they are every day.
LE: I’ve only been in my PGA WORKS Fellowship in Southern Ohio for a couple of months, but already my boss – Ryne Kitchen – who is a PGA of America Member has made a really positive impact on my experience as a Fellow. He’s been proactive about going above and beyond to make sure I’m getting the exposure I need to be prepared for that next step. He’s provided a lot of inspiration on this journey just by giving me more confidence in my job which has provided me with even more confidence that I can finish this marathon.
LI: This is tough because there have been so many Members who have made an impact on my career and got me where I am today. From when I was a student at UNLV, still trying to figure out my life and my career, I was able to lean on the PGA Golf Management staff to help guide me through those decisions. Dr. Cain, even though he’s not with the program anymore, showed me encouragement and led me to opportunities that I couldn’t create for myself. That’s the cool thing about PGA of America Members – all of them genuinely care about helping others in the industry find success and their own path. I’ve been very fortunate to work with and be around Members who carry that same sentiment.
Is there anything you all are really looking forward to come race weekend in New York City?
LI: The meal afterward! I can’t wait because the food in New York City is the best, so it’ll be fun to soak in that accomplishment over a nice meal.
LE: Seeing all the signs that people will make is always really funny to me. I can’t wait to see the creativity that people and the crowd come up with.
XD: Just having my whole team there – my parents, my family, everyone who’s been on my side throughout this whole journey. I’m excited to just be there and live every moment like I won’t get to experience it again. It’s going to be special, no doubt.
You can support Team REACH as they prepare for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon on November 1 by visiting the Team’s Official Fundraising Page. For more information, visit www.pgareach.org.
