NEWS

21 Mar, 2024
NTPGA set to conduct the Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open at Grapevine Golf Course Legends of the LPGA Division Included Projected Record Total Purse of $150,000 Today, the Northern Texas PGA announced a multi-year agreement with the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau to become the title sponsor of the Texas Women’s Open. The Championship will be named the “Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open.” The Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open will take place May 29 – 31, 2024, at Grapevine Golf Course in Grapevine, Texas. It will be the 44th playing of this historic event. The Women’s Texas Open was first played in 1933. Some of the game’s greatest names won the event in its early years, including Babe Zaharias, Betty Jameson and Betsy Rawls. The playing of the event was stopped in 1955 and revived in 2001 by the Northern Texas PGA to promote the game to female golfers throughout the region. The name was changed to the Texas Women’s Open. Today, the Texas Women’s Open offers a competitive tournament for some of the best professional and amateur female golfers in the country. In 2020, the Championship featured an incredibly talented professional field that included numerous LPGA Tour stars. It was the first professional golf tournament played in the world following the COVID shutdown. The current world number three ranked golfer, Celine Boutier, captured the Championship that year. In 2023, the Texas Women's Open began featuring a separate division for the Legends of the LPGA. The division is sponsored by the Ewing Automotive Group, a longtime partner and supporter of the game of golf in Texas. Eligibility in the Ewing Automotive Group Legends of the LPGA Division is open only to members on the Legends of the LPGA Priority List. Those who were entered last year included World Golf Hall of Famers like Sandra Haynie and Hollis Stacy along with native Texans, Angela Stanford, Jill McGill and Cindy Figg-Currier. This group of Legends combined for more than 50 LPGA Tour wins, including 10 major championships. The 2024 starting field will be comprised of 144 professionals and top amateurs from all over the country. The Open Division will consist of 120 professionals and amateurs competing for a projected $75,000 purse and the Legends of the LPGA Division will consist of 24 professionals competing for a separate $75,000 purse. The tournament will be played on the Pecan and Mockingbird nines of the 27-hole facility at Grapevine Golf Course. “Destination Grapevine is proud to be a multi-year sponsor in partnership with Grapevine Golf Course. It’s a great honor for Grapevine and our Byron Nelson-inspired golf course to host the historic and prestigious Texas Women’s Open incorporating the legends of LPGA Championship,” said Paul W. McCallum, Executive Director of the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau. Defending champion Grace Jin of Huntsville, Texas, will try to become one of only a handful of players to claim more than one Texas Women’s Open title. Only one player has won five Texas Women’s Open events: Babe Zaharias (‘40, ’45, ’46, ‘51 and ’52); other World Golf Hall of Famers who have captured multiple championships include Betty Jameson and Betsy Rawls. “Over the past several years, the Texas Women’s Open has gained great momentum. It was a goal of the Northern Texas PGA’s Board of Directors to continue that energy by securing a title sponsor and permanent home for the event,” said Mark Harrison, CEO of the Northern Texas PGA. “We couldn’t be more excited than to partner with the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau to enhance the Texas Women’s Open and continue the Championship’s positive momentum.” “It is also fitting that the City of Grapevine’s own golf course will host the Championship. Grapevine Golf Course is known for its exceptional year-round course conditioning, service and amenities highlighted by a new clubhouse that opened last year. Our team is very excited to work with the team at Grapevine Golf Course led by PGA Director of Golf Robert Singletary, who was instrumental in bringing this partnership to the table," said Harrison. The Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open is open to all professionals and competitive amateurs aged 18 & over. Junior golfers can earn exemptions into the Championship through qualifying events. Eligibility for the Ewing Automotive Group Legends of the LPGA Division is open only to members on the Legends of the LPGA Priority List. Registration is now available at https://www.ntpga.com/texas-womens-open . The entry deadline is Thursday, May 23. Proceeds from the Championship will benefit the Northern Texas PGA Foundation’s scholarship program with the creation of the Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open Scholarship. The scholarship will be designated for a Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour Member from the Grapevine area who will be attending college this fall. In 2024, the Northern Texas PGA Foundation plans to award more than $700,000 in scholarships to approximately 75 high school seniors from North Texas. ABOUT THE GRAPEVINE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU The Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau acts as the promotional arm of the City of Grapevine and is responsible for actively selling, marketing and publicizing Grapevine globally. The Bureau promotes the city’s hotels, meeting facilities, historic and family attractions, festivals and events, dining establishments and retail businesses to the group meetings and leisure markets. ABOUT GRAPEVINE GOLF COURSE Grapevine Golf Course is a 27-hole facility located in Grapevine, Texas. The original 18-holes opened in 1979 and was designed by Byron Nelson. In 1999, a third nine opened and was designed by D.A. Weibring’s Golf Resources. Golf enthusiasts for years have enjoyed playing a rare blend of rolling fairways, penalty areas and bunkers that create a simultaneously challenging yet relaxing experience. ABOUT THE NORTHERN TEXAS PGA The Northern Texas PGA is one of 41 Sections of the PGA of America. Its geographic territory includes the State of Texas north of the 31st latitude, or just north of Austin. Over 1,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals employed at more than 300 facilities comprise this Section. Northern Texas PGA headquarters are located on the PGA Frisco campus and feature state-of-the-art office space, a growth of the game pavilion and a golf park designed for junior golfers. In addition to managing the day-to-day affairs of the Section, the Northern Texas PGA also operates a non-profit and charitable foundation that focuses on five pillars: junior golf, college scholarships, inclusion, internships and military & veterans.
By Steven Clements 19 Mar, 2024
Champions from left to right: Senior Division Bruce Smith & Brian Mahon | Open Division Blake Elliott & Rick Woodson
By Steven Clements 18 Mar, 2024
Gilbert Freeman, PGA Life Member hits an approach shot from #9 fairway at Southern Trace Country Club.
By Steven Clements 27 Feb, 2024
THE COLONY, Texas (February 26) – Lee Rhind, PGA head professional at Midland Country Club and partner Jarred Jeter, PGA assistant professional at Midland Country Club captured the 2024 KBS TOUR Shafts Pro-Assistant Championship after shooting 68 on Old American Golf Club and a 29 on the back nine of The Tribute then winning a two-hole playoff. The 27-hole championship was hosted at Golf Clubs at The Tribute and was a Four-Ball Stroke Play event. Teams played Old American Golf Club and the back nine of Tribute Golf Links. Rhind, the newly elected West Texas Chapter President was competing in the event with two separate teams and assistant professionals; Jarred Jeter and Dru Hein. Both teams tied for first place at 10-under-par after 27-holes to force a playoff. After both groups made par on the first playoff hole, Jeter made a four-foot putt for par on the second playoff hole to clinch the championship. “As a team, the three of us played great all day. I think as much as me and Jarred ended up with the trophies, I think that this is more of a club win…very excited for our club and everyone today,” said Rhind about the victory. Jeter echoed by saying, “It's a great win for the family and a great win for the club.” This is Jeter’s second Section win in five months after winning the 2023 Section Championship in September and earning an exemption to play in THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson. The upcoming PGA TOUR start is on his mind. “I think the guys have pushed me, especially Lee and Dru, to not wait until the Byron Nelson to get prepared for it. Start early, start getting in the gym to prepare to walk and play golf again but, it’s going to be a great experience and I’m looking forward to it,” said Jeter about his preparation. The duo won $3,000 out of the $26,000 total championship purse. The KBS TOUR Shafts Pro-Assistant Championship was presented by Golf Clubs at The Tribute, Ahead, THE CJ Cup Byron Nelson, Club Car, Evolve Golf, Tagmarshal and Winston Collection. Old American Golf Club Par: 35-36—71 Yardage: 6,784 Tribute Golf Links (Back nine) Par: 36 Yardage: 3,420​​
By Steven Clements 05 Feb, 2024
FRISCO, Texas (February 5, 2024) – The Northern Texas PGA held their annual President’s Dinner, Professional Development Seminar and 56th Annual Business Meeting on Sunday, February 4 and Monday, February 5 at Royal Oaks Country Club and Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco, respectively. On Sunday night, the Northern Texas PGA celebrated the 2023 NTPGA award winners, which included Northern Texas PGA Golf Professional of the Year, the Section's highest award, won by Jake McCullough, PGA head professional at Odessa Country Club. The complete list of award winners can be found HERE . Monday’s Professional Development Seminar featured keynote speaker, Commander Mark McGinnis, Founder and Managing Director of SEAL Legacy Foundation. Three breakout sessions followed the keynote address that were led by PGA of America Vice President Don Rea, PGA; PGA of America Career Consultants Steven Limpach, PGA and Keith Fisher, PGA; and Commander Mark McGinnis. During the afternoon’s 56th Annual Meeting the Northern Texas PGA membership elected new leadership including the Section’s 31st President Cameron Doan, PGA director of golf at Preston Trail Golf Club. In his opening remarks Doan said, “I look at our Section as our neighborhood. Our common interest and purpose is golf. The strength of a neighborhood is the people that live there – and I believe we’ve got the strongest group in the country in three very different Chapters.” Doan also outlined opportunities to serve the PGA members and grow the game including the following opportunities. Meet new people and make new friends Learn and develop Serve, volunteer and give back Introduce kids to the game in an environment that they love it so much they beg to come back Let the wider world know what golf can do for people The newly elected 2024 Northern Texas PGA Board of Directors, serving with Doan is as follows: President – Cameron Doan, PGA director of golf at Preston Trail Golf Club Vice President – Ira Molayo, PGA director of golf at Cedar Crest Golf Course Secretary – Jeremy Langdale, PGA director of golf at Ranchland Hills Golf Club Honorary President - Jake McCullough, PGA director of golf at Odessa Country Club East Texas Chapter President – Doug Myer, PGA instructor at John Sikes Golf Academy. West Texas Chapter President – Lee Rhind, PGA head professional at Midland Country Club Metro Chapter President – Eric Hunt, PGA head professional at Grapevine Golf Course At-Large Director – Jon Drago, PGA executive director of THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson At-Large Director – Neil Lockie, PGA director of golf at Dallas National Golf Club At-Large Director – Julie Roberts, PGA director of golf at Indian Creek Golf Course District 12 Director – Derek Gutierrez, PGA general manager at Santa Ana Golf Club (Sun Country Section) Two At-Large Directors will be appointed and approved by the Board in the coming weeks. The current Northern Texas PGA Board of Directors can be found HERE .
By Vincent Lopez 22 Jan, 2024
The Northern Texas PGA is proud to share that eight PGA members have been named PGA jr. League #GameChanger Player Engagement Award winners! The award recognizes individuals who have significantly contributed to PGA Jr. League and serve as leaders in golf instruction and player development. Additionally, Charleton Dechert, PGA facilities manager at First Tee of Fort Worth, and Joey Anders, PGA instructor at Brookhaven Country Club were celebrated for having two of the top 10 largest programs in the country. Charleton serves as the PGA Jr. League Coordinator at First Tee of Fort Worth, an organization that focuses on introducing the game of golf to young people in the area. In 2023, he led the largest PGA Jr. League program in the nation for the second year in a row! 473 golfers participated in programming in 2023. That’s 109 more golfers than the second-largest program in the country. He continues to inspire and guide the next generation of golfers.
By Steven Clements 12 Dec, 2023
Chad Moscovic, PGA director of golf park programming at the Northern Texas PGA wins the 2023 Duel in the Desert at Lajitas Golf Resort to be named the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf / Asics Match Play Champion. No. 21 Moscovic started the second day of the 36-hole championship match with a 4up lead over No.6 Spencer Dillard, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club. The two were tied for the day through the 7th hole. On the 8th hole Dillard hit his drive into the desert which resulted in losing the hole. Moscovic then won the 10th and 12th holes to close out the match with a 7&6 victory. Speaking of his play Moscovic said, “Yesterday was very fun, today was very stressful. I played awesome both days, my driver was really good this week.” “Lajitas is really a special place, the golf course is great and the views are even better,” said Moscovic. In addition to the Duel in the Desert title, Moscovic earned $10,000 for his victory. Dillard also earned $5,000 for his runner-up finish. For the second year in a row, Northern Texas PGA is conducting The Duel in the Desert at Lajitas Golf Resort’s Black Jack’s Crossing, the #1 ranked public golf course in Texas, voted by the Dallas Morning News. Both professionals qualified for the Duel in the Desert by winning four matches at River Crest Country Club on October 2-3 and battling their way through the 32 player starting bracket. The Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf / Asics Match Play Championship was presented by Adventures In Golf, AT&T Byron Nelson, Lajitas Golf Resort, PGA TOUR and XXIO. Lajitas Golf Resort’s Black Jack’s Crossing Par: 36-36–72 Yardage: 7,236 Yards View the final results HERE
By Steven Clements 11 Dec, 2023
LAJITAS, TX – Chad Moscovic, PGA director of golf park programming at the Northern Texas PGA, leads the Duel in the Desert 4up after 18 holes of the 36-hole final match. Moscovic, the No. 21 seed, earned his way into the final match after wins over No.12 Kent Graham, No.28 Michael Tangredi, No.4 Brian Norman and No.17 Greg Gregory at River Crest Country Club on October 2-3, 2023. Playing alongside Moscovic is No.6 seed Spencer Dillard, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club. Dillard earned his spot in the finals with wins over No.27 Brian Coe, No.22 Cameron Doan, No.30 David Studebaker and No.2 JJ Killeen. Moscovic, who was one down after three holes, totaled nine birdies on the day. “That was as good as I have hit it in a long time… I had three or four gimme birdies. I haven't made that many birdies in a long time,” said Moscovic. For the second year in a row, Northern Texas PGA is conducting The Duel in the Desert at Lajitas Golf Resort’s Black Jack’s Crossing, the #1 ranked public golf course in Texas, voted by the Dallas Morning News. The final 18 holes of the Duel in the Desert will begin at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. The two professionals are vying for a $10,000 winner’s check with the runner-up cashing $5,000. The Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf / Asics Match Play Championship was presented by Adventures In Golf, AT&T Byron Nelson, Lajitas Golf Resort, PGA TOUR and XXIO. Lajitas Golf Resort’s Black Jack’s Crossing Par: 36-36–72 Yardage: 7,236 Yards View current results HERE
By Casey Rayburn 05 Dec, 2023
Last week, the Northern Texas PGA Foundation conducted the 3rd annual Northern Texas PGA HOPE Cup presented by the Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation on Wednesday, November 29 at The Oaks Country Club in Greenville. Nine teams competed in a 5-person scramble. One PGA of America Golf Professional and four Veterans comprised each team. The team of Thomas Valdez, director of instruction at Oakmont Country Club, and Veterans Anthony Applegate, Tyler Arnold, Jey Kim and Mark Stokes won the competition with a score of 6-under-par. Several features make this tournament unique, but the most special detail is that this event serves as a qualifier for the Secretary's Cup. The Secretary’s Cup is a tournament that is hosted by the PGA of America and is conducted in conjunction with the PGA Championship each May. It is a spirited nine-hole golf competition that kicks off PGA Championship week and features military Veterans who have participated in the PGA HOPE program hosted by their local PGA Section. Twelve teams from across the country will compete on Monday, May 13, 2024, at the University of Louisville Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. The champion team of Valdez, Applegate, Arnold, Kim and Stokes will represent the Northern Texas Section at the Secretary’s Cup. “Playing in the HOPE Cup today was by far the most fun I have ever had on the golf course,” said Valdez. “I told the team on our first tee box ‘Let’s have fun more than anything else,’ and boy did they deliver. Winning was icing on the cake. It was my honor and privilege to get the opportunity to hang out and play with my team, and we can not wait to represent Northern Texas in the Secretary’s Cup.” A closest-to-the-hole contest was also held for all Veterans who competed in the Northern Texas PGA HOPE Cup giving them a chance to win a $1,000 gift card. From 50 yards, Mark Stiverson hit his shot to 2 feet, 5 inches to win the prize. Thank you to Jerry J. Ransom, the Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation and The Oaks Country Club for their support of this incredible tournament. And, a special thank you to the PGA of America Golf Professionals across our Section who hosted a PGA HOPE program in 2023. The NTPGA Foundation served nearly 300 Veterans this year! PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, and introduces golf to active members of the military and Veterans to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being.
28 Nov, 2023
The 18th Annual Ewing Charity Classic, a fundraising golf tournament conducted by the Northern Texas PGA for the benefit of the Northern Texas PGA Foundation, was held today at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco. This year’s event raised $275,000.  The Ewing Charity Classic, formerly the Westcott Pro-Am (from 1996-2005), is widely considered one of the most special and unique pro-am events in the country with $5,643,500 raised during the past 29 years for the benefit of the Northern Texas PGA Foundation's broad-based community outreach programs. The money raised helps to further the Foundation’s mission to positively impact lives and communities through golf. The Ewing Charity Classic featured 21 teams consisting of three amateurs, a PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Korn Ferry Tour or LPGA Tour player and a PGA of America golf professional. Past and present tour players that participated in this year’s event included Parker Coody, Pierceson Coody, Ally Ewing, Gerina Mendoza, Chad Campbell, Ryan Palmer, Rich Beem, Todd Hamilton, Mark Brooks, Brad Faxon, J.J. Henry and others. The 18-hole format this year was as follows: The tour player and club professional played a modified alternate shot and the amateurs played their own ball with full handicaps (maximum of 28). The team score was the professional team score plus the low net score of the amateurs. PGA Professional Britt Patton, teamed up with celebrity Tony Romo (a) and amateurs Jeff Stiltner, Dean Woodward, and Joe Bob Joyce to shoot 13-under par, 131, to win the competition. For full event results, please click HERE . As is tradition after play, the PGA of America golf professionals who played in the tournament competed in a closest to the hole shootout to win a car, provided by Ewing Automotive. However, for the first time, the shootout took place on the campus of the Northern Texas PGA’s new home on The Ronny Golf Park. 22 PGA of America golf professionals took aim at a hole on the Golf Park from 86 yards under the lights and with their sights set on a 2024 Mercedes-Benz C300. Hitting first was Randy Smith, PGA director of instruction and golf professional emeritus at Royal Oaks Country Club. He confidently stepped up and hit his shot to 10 feet, 9 inches with an approach wedge. After 20 more professionals hit, no one had bested Smith. The final PGA Professional to hit was Jake McCullough, PGA director of golf at Odessa Country Club and the Northern Texas PGA Section President. Hitting a 54 degree wedge, McCullough hit a knock down that checked up to exactly 10 feet, 9 inches. The first tie in the history of the competition was settled in spectacular fashion when Fin Ewing III, owner of Ewing Automotive and the event's namesake decided to give a car to both professionals! “I’d rather see these guys win a car than anybody else. They’re the local celebrities that get forgotten,” said Ewing. “I thought Randy was closer, and I was happy that he was going to win, I thought that was awesome. Then they announced that it was tied and Fin said he would give cars to both of us. I was in disbelief, you just can’t make a guy like Fin up,” said McCullough. He has now won the shootout two years in a row and is the only two-time winner. The closest to the hole contest was Mr. Ewing’s idea as a way to not only help raise funds for the Northern Texas PGA Foundation but also to say a special thank you to the PGA of America golf professionals who participate in the event. In 2012, it was so well received that Mr. Ewing decided to keep the shootout going and has given away a car to a PGA of America golf professional each year since. Richie Hare, PGA director of golf at Trinity Forest Golf Club finished in second place after a shot of 12 feet, 3.5 inches to take home $5,000. The third place prize was awarded to Ronny Glanton, PGA head professional at Sherrill Park Golf Course, who took home $3,000 after a shot of 12 feet, 6 inches.
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