Winning a six-hole playoff against Florida’s best player in a high-profile competition was surely a test for the newly repaired back of R.J. Nakashian.
On November 2, 2023, Nakashian underwent surgery for a microdiscectomy and laminotomy after having to withdraw from the U.S. Senior Amateur at Martis Camp in Truckee, California, with what the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, golfer called “the most pain I have ever felt.”
Given the option of when to have the procedures, he chose the fall so he could recover in time to play golf in the spring and summer of 2024. Following approximately eight weeks of rehab, he returned to the course in February at his club championship at Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter with the hopes that he might be able to play “three or four rounds in a row.”
“I wasn’t very sharp,” said Nakashian, 56, who grew up on Long Island in New York. “I knew what I needed to work on.”
But he withstood Miles McConnell, a three-time Florida State Golf Association Senior Player of the Year, to win his first “major” in the 2024 Florida State Senior Amateur on April 18 at the challenging Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Spa. He also considers the Coleman Invitational at Seminole Golf Club to be his other “major,” and he finished second in the senior division the week after the FSGA Senior Amateur.
“He’s the guy,” Nakashian, a full-time caddie at Trump International in West Palm Beach, said of McConnell. “He’s the guy to beat. He’s the best we have in the state. And he’s one of the best in the country. It was a great feeling to be able to beat him.”
Nakashian has been former President Donald Trump’s personal caddie for 15 years. “I’ve flown on Air Force One,” he said. “I’ve been in the Oval Office. I’ve been everywhere with him.”
The leader through 36 holes at the course which recently hosted the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship, Nakashian was watching the leaderboard on the back nine of the 54-hole event through the Golf Genius app. He was charting the progress of Brian Armstrong (1-under 70 in the final round) and McConnell (72).
“I like the golf course; lots of cool shots,” Nakashian said of the Copperhead. “The wind was difficult. Brian was on fire, and I thought it might not be my day.”
Nakashian saved an “incredible” par on the 16th hole, and after logging a bogey on 17, he thought he had ruined his chance at victory.
On the 18th, Nakashian hit an 8-iron to 40 feet, and because he didn’t look at the leaderboard during those late stages, he was unaware that McConnell had slipped with a bogey on his final hole.
Nakashian, a 2019 inductee into the Palm Beach County Hall of Fame, watched one of his playing mates hit a putt from a similar line and then “went up and hit it.” His roll was true as the birdie putt fell.
“I honestly had no idea it was for a playoff,” said the Florida Atlantic graduate. “I came off the green and they told me I was in a playoff.”
Armstrong, McConnell, and Nakashian finished regulation golf at 5-over-par 218. The rotation of sudden-death playoff holes was 18 then 16 to 18 repeatedly until someone won.
Armstrong was eliminated with a bogey on the first playoff hole. Then McConnell and Nakashian parried and thrusted their way through five more playoff holes. On to their second playoff go-round on the par-3 17th hole, both players hit admirable tee shots onto the green. McConnell was close, but Nakashian was closer.
McConnell missed and Nakashian made his 7-footer to win the title.
“It was the biggest relief,” he said. “I couldn’t believe I won the tournament. It was pretty amazing.”
Nakashian gives credit to his caddie career for the improvement in his game, giving him time to hone his skills.
“Pretty much every afternoon, I chip and putt and maybe play nine holes,” he said. “It has helped me so much being able to do that.”
Nakashian has been former President Donald Trump’s personal caddie for 15 years. “I’ve flown on Air Force One,” he said. “I’ve been in the Oval Office. I’ve been everywhere with him.”
In 2024, Nakashian plans to use his Senior Amateur exemption to play in the Florida State Amateur in early June at Quail Valley Golf Club in Vero Beach, “because it is my favorite course.”
His 17-year career as a looper in Florida began when he caddied at Piping Rock on Long Island as a youth. After high school, he attended Palm Beach Junior College to play golf in 1986 and 1987. He returned to school after a year back “North” and earned his degree at Florida Atlantic. A stint playing professionally in 1993-99 was followed by one year as an assistant pro. He then switched to health insurance sales for “six or seven” years.
The day-to-day sales grind gave Nakashian limited earnings, so he accepted an offer to caddie full-time at Trump International because he knew the staff there from caddieing at past outings.
In 2024, Nakashian plans to use his Senior Amateur exemption to play in the Florida State Amateur in early June at Quail Valley Golf Club in Vero Beach, “because it is my favorite course.” He’ll also play in the Florida State Senior Match Play, where he lost in the final in 2023, and attempt qualifying for the USGA’s U.S. Senior Amateur in July.
With a fixed back and a busy caddie schedule, he limits his playing schedule. But he still finds time to fish, acknowledging this pursuit might replace golf as he gets older.
“My dad took me fishing at Lake Okeechobee years ago,” Nakashian said. “On our last float, I said, ‘If it’s a 10-pounder I will take it home and have it mounted.’”
He landed it, and a largemouth bass takes precedence over his golf awards on his home office wall.