Cuzen Captures Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship

NTPGA • August 23, 2016

DALLAS, TEXAS – Ben Cuzen, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club, captured the Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship after besting Stuart Deane, PGA golf coach at The University of Texas at Arlington, and Brian Norman, PGA teaching professional at Gleneagles Country Club, in a four-hole, sudden death playoff. Cuzen, Deane and Norman all carded a 1-over 143 for two rounds to force the three-way playoff. The three competitors headed to hole 18 to settle the Championship. Cuzen and Deane notched birdies on the first playoff hole, while Norman made par. Cuzen and Deane then played hole 18 three more times before Cuzen came out on top with a par to secure the win and his first section individual major championship. He took home a $4,100 check for his victory.

"I made it a little harder on myself than I expected, but I was strangely calm all day. Thanks to Cameron and all the guys at [Preston Trail] for all the things we work on all year long, so it's good to see it finally pay off and get the first one," said Cuzen after the playoff. "It has been one of my goals for the past couple of years to make it to the [PGA Professional Championship] and then hopefully into the PGA. This will be my first time there, so that was a huge motivation and I am really excited about it."

Cuzen will lead six other PGA professionals who qualified today from the Northern Texas Section to the 2017 PGA Professional Championship, presented by Club Car, Mercedes-Benz USA and OMEGA. The Championship will be contested June 25 - June 28, 2017 at Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Oregon. Joining him will be Deane and Norman as well as Greg Gregory, PGA assistant professional at Hidden Creek Golf Course, Sam Randolph, PGA director of instruction at Mira Vista Country Club, Patrick Buhrmann, PGA director of instruction at Performance Golf, and Brett Beaty, PGA assistant professional at Dallas National Golf Club.

In addition, Brad Ott, PGA director of instruction at TPC Craig Ranch, will also be in the 2017 PGA Professional Championship field. He is exempt based on his top 20 finish at the 2016 PGA Professional Championship earlier this year.

The top 20 players from the 2017 PGA Professional Championship will compete in the 99th PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina set for August 7-13, 2017.

This 36-hole NTPGA Section major championship was the third of the four individual stroke play championships that comprise the Yamaha Golf-Car Company / Lajitas Golf Resort Player of the Year Points Challenge. It also served as a qualifier to earn points to make the 2016 Yamaha Golf-Car Company / Lajitas Golf Resort Match Play Championship and Texas Joe Black Cup team.

The Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship was presented by Club Car, Mercedes-Benz and OMEGA and supported by Titleist/FootJoy, TaylorMade Golf Companies, Nike Golf and PGA TOUR. The Championship was conducted at Royal Oaks Country Club a 7,022-yard, par 71 layout located in Dallas, Texas.

The Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship featured 112 Section PGA members who competed for the $29,500 overall purse.

Royal Oaks Country Club
Dallas, Texas
Par: 35-36--71
Yardage: 7,022

Final Results.

Northern Texas PGA Announces 2026 Chapter Award Winners

By Erik Anderson • October 26, 2026
On behalf of each NTPGA Chapter Awards Committee, East Texas, Metro Texas and West Texas, we are pleased to announce the 2026 Northern Texas PGA Chapter Award Winners below. 2026 East Chapter Award Winners Golf Professional of the Year Tim Lawson, The Pinnacle Golf Club Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Justin Benson, Eagle's Bluff Country Club Teacher & Coach of the Year Cory Ryan, Crown Colony Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Private Kendall Earp Motes, Sulphur Springs Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Public Doug Myer, Tyler Golf Professional Development Award John Sikes, Eagle's Bluff Country Club Bill Strausbaugh Award Doug Myer, Tyler Golf Player Development Award John Sikes, Eagle's Bluff Country Club Patriot Award Dick Goetz, PGA Life Member Youth Player Development Award Mike Williams, Alpine Target Golf Center 2026 Metro Chapter Award Winners Golf Professional of the Year Abe Hernandez, Royal Oaks Country Club Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Shelly Davis, Dallas Athletic Club Teacher & Coach of the Year Gabe Reynolds, Topgolf - Dallas Merchandiser of the Year - Private Brian Schorsten, Colonial Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Public Chad Williams, Tierra Verde Golf Club Professional Development Award Deborah Foley, PGA of America Bill Strausbaugh Award Trish Holt, Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco Player Development Award Michelle Edgar, The Clubs of Prestonwood - The Hills Patriot Award Bob Nied, The Courses at Watters Creek Youth Player Development Award Garrett Anderson, Golf Clubs at The Tribute 2026 West Chapter Award Winners  Golf Professional of the Year Jimmy Tidwell, Abilene Country Club Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Dru Hein, Midland Country Club Teacher & Coach of the Year Brandon Veld, Red Feather Golf & Social Club Merchandiser of the Year - Private Matt Lawson, Lubbock Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Public Casey Renner, Palo Duro Creek Golf Course Professional Development Award Brian Nagy, Abilene Country Club Bill Strausbaugh Award Jake McCullough, Odessa Country Club Player Development Award Thomas Martin, Green Tree Country Club Patriot Award George Priolo, Ross Rogers Golf Complex Youth Player Development Award Ryan Osgood, Odessa Country Club Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients.

A Full Circle Summer

By Erik Anderson • October 21, 2026
NTPGA Junior Tour Alumni Sweep the 2026 NTPGA Section Individual Majors

Walts, Reynolds Earn Finalist Spots for Duel in the Desert Finale

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Dillard Wins $25,000 at Jerry J. Ransom Northern Texas PGA Shootout at The Oaks in Back-to-Back Years

By Erik Anderson • September 29, 2026
GREENVILLE, Texas (September 28) – For the second year in a row, Spencer Dillard, PGA director of golf at Golf Clubs at The Tribute, claimed the Jerry J. Ransom Northern Texas PGA Shootout at The Oaks, taking home $25,000 for the win. Just like last year, it took Dillard two playoff holes to best runner-up Nick Paez, instructor at The Ronny Golf Park. Both players found the 440-yard, par 4, 9th green in two, but a costly three-putt from Paez from 35 feet led to Dillard finishing off a nervy three-foot putt for the win. Dillard also won with a par in last year’s event and has now taken home the victory in two out of three years in the event’s short history. “It’s pretty special, just the opportunity to play in the event. I just can’t thank Dr. Ransom enough for putting this on and all he does for us,” said Dillard. “Just being able to play is a huge deal and then lasting through the shootout is so tough, so it feels great to be here.” The players in the shootout were battling in what seemed to be a competition of who could continue to make birdies. “Nathan was 9-under through a 12-hole stretch today and still went out. There is so much talent in our Section, so you got to go win it,” said Dillard. Longtime Northern Texas PGA Foundation supporter Jerry J. Ransom welcomed 98 Northern Texas PGA Members and Associates to The Oaks Country Club for the third annual Shootout. The event was created to recognize the PGA Professionals across the Section who dedicate their time and energy to growing the game through the NTPGA Foundation’s initiatives. The event was developed by Ransom as a way to thank PGA Professionals across the Northern Texas Section while also providing exposure to The Oaks Country Club. The Oaks is a top-five nine-hole course in Texas according to the Dallas Morning News golf course rankings. The format for the event featured a 9-hole qualifier, with the top three finishers and one randomly selected participant moving on to the evening shootout. Nathan Park, instructor at Stonebriar Country Club, qualified first after finishing with an impressive 6-under-par, 30. Dillard was the next to advance, carding a 4-under-par, 32, and finally Paez at 3-under-par, 33, who won a six-for-one spot playoff with a birdie on the first extra hole in the playoff. Zack Vinson, PGA head professional at Athens Country Club, was the random drawing winner. The nine-hole Shootout portion of the event was played in three stages of three holes each, with one professional eliminated after every stage. After the first three holes, Vinson was eliminated and landed a prize of $2,500. The scores were then reset to even par, and the second three holes saw Nathan Park bow out, despite being 9-under-par through 15 holes. He played his final three holes in the shootout at even par. Still, he earned $7,500 for his efforts. The scores again reset to even par for the final three-hole segment, where Dillard and Paez battled it out for three holes, followed by two extra holes in the playoff.