Ewing Charity Classic Benefits NTPGA Foundation & Two PGA of America Golf Professionals Win Mercedes-Benz Cars in Closest to the Hole Shootout

November 28, 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.

Team NTPGA Falls Shy in 9th Levy Cup Matches

By Steven Clements • November 4, 2025
PLANO, Texas (November 4) – The Northern Texas PGA team fell just shy of winning its fifth straight Levy Cup Matches. Team NTPGA lost to Team STPGA 11.5 to 12.5 after two days of competition at Gleneagles Country Club - Queen’s Course. The Levy Cup is a Ryder Cup-style format tournament featuring teams represented by four Assistant PGA Professionals and four Senior PGA Professionals (any classification, aged 50 and older) and four PGA Members Other who qualified through their respective Section Major Championships. The Matches were created in 2017 to celebrate Paul Levy, PGA, who was completing his first year of a two-year term as President of the PGA of America. During his career, Paul has been a member of both Sections. After Monday’s Four-Ball and Foursomes Matches, Team NTPGA trailed 7 to 5. They came out battling in the Singles Matches, winning 5.5 points in the first seven matches. That put Team NTPGA in the lead, but Team STPGA was able to win four of the last five Singles Matches and win the Levy Cup for the first time since 2020. “It was a very hard-fought couple of days by both teams. I could not have been happier to have been a part of this,” said NTPGA Captain Keith Harris, PGA. The 9th Levy Cup Matches were supported by Club Car, Dunning and Ping. Gleneagles Country Club - Queen’s Course Par: 36-35–71 Yardage: 6,676 yards View Final Match Standings HERE

Team NTPGA Trails 7-5 After Day One of the 9th Levy Cup Matches

By Steven Clements • November 3, 2025
PLANO, Texas (November 3) – The Northern Texas PGA trails the Southern Texas PGA 7-5 after day one of the 9th Levy Cup Matches at Gleneagles Country Club - Queen’s Course. The Levy Cup is a Ryder Cup-style format featuring teams represented by four Assistant PGA Professionals and four Senior PGA Professionals (any classification, aged 50 and older) and four PGA Members Other who qualified through their respective Section Major Championships. The Matches were created in 2017 to celebrate Paul Levy, PGA who was completing his first year of a two-year term as President of the PGA of America. During his career Paul has been a member of both Sections. After last year’s Matches were shortened due to weather and Team NTPGA won 9-3, Team STPGA was motivated to have a strong showing this year. They took the lead in the morning Four-Ball Matches after winning the final four matches. In the afternoon Foursomes Team NTPGA won 3.5 points to cut into the STPGA lead. Team NTPGA will need to win seven points to keep their winning streak alive and win their fifth straight Matches. Singles Matches begin at 8 a.m. tomorrow The 9th Levy Cup Matches are supported by Club Car, Dunning and Ping. Gleneagles Country Club - Queen’s Course Par: 36-35–71 Yardage: 6,676 yards View Current Match Standings HERE

Northern Texas PGA Recognizes Newest Hall of Fame Members at 2025 Induction Ceremony

By Molly Rawlins • October 30, 2025
Frisco, TX (October 30) – The Northern Texas PGA honored its inaugural Byron Nelson Foundation | Northern Texas PGA Hall of Fame members during a luncheon ceremony held today at the Home of the PGA of America in Frisco. Following the luncheon, attendees were welcomed to the Jerry J. Ransom Northern Texas PGA Golf House, where the names of the 2025 inductees were officially unveiled on the Byron Nelson Foundation | Northern Texas PGA Hall of Fame display. The inaugural class of 2025 included PGA Members Joe Black, Ross Collins, Ronny Glanton, David Price and Randy Smith, as well as non-Members/Ambassadors Dr. Bill Blair, Fin Ewing III and Jerry J. Ransom. “This means a lot,” said Dr. Blair after the ceremony. “Particularly coming from the Northern Texas Section, an organization that I have a lot of respect and admiration for. The induction ceremony was a great event, and a wonderful event to be a part of.” The Byron Nelson Foundation | Northern Texas PGA Hall of Fame was created to honor those in our community who embody the simple but powerful belief that Byron Nelson himself lived by every day: “Be good to the game and give back.” Those we celebrated today are more than great golf professionals or leaders. They are people who have devoted themselves to lifting others, to growing the game, and to leaving a legacy that will be felt for generations. Each inductee has distinguished themselves in four meaningful ways: Leadership and service Achievements and awards Support of the NTPGA Foundation and its growth-of-the-game initiatives The lasting impact they have made on those around them “What a special day to be a part of,” said Jake McCullough, honorary NTPGA President and chair of the Hall of Fame selection committee. “It has been an honor to help launch the hall of fame this year, and these eight men are very deserving of the honor they have received. The members of the Class of 2025 are game-changers who embody Mr. Nelson’s words of ‘be good to the game and give back.’” To be considered, nominees must be at least 50 years old, have made their mark over at least a decade within the Section, and, if a PGA Professional, they must be a Member in good standing. New members will be welcomed every other year. Learn more about each of the inductees on our website www.ntpga.com/hall-of-fame .

Golf Clubs at The Tribute General Manager Mike McCabe Earns PGA Master Professional Designation

By Molly Rawlins • October 29, 2025
Mike McCabe, the General Manager of The Golf Clubs at The Tribute in The Colony, Texas, has earned PGA Master Professional Status, the highest educational designation a PGA of America Member can obtain. The program was established in 1969 to recognize PGA of America Members who make a significant effort to improve as golf professionals and maintain the highest degree of excellence for themselves and their operations. The curriculum is designed to ensure golf professionals are prepared to meet the growing demands of the marketplace within the Executive Management, Golf Operations and Teaching and Coaching Designations. McCabe is the 477th to earn the recognition, joining a special group among the more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals within the Association. He achieved his designation in Executive Management. “I’m passionate about being a PGA of America Golf Professional, and to achieve the highest honor in our educational program is something I don’t take lightly,” said McCabe, a PGA of America Golf Professional since 2007. “It’s a tremendous honor to be among an elite group of PGA Master Professionals. Going forward I look to continue mentoring the next generation to be good stewards of this beautiful game and growing future professionals.” The PGA Master Professional Program is available to those with at least 10 years of PGA of America Membership along with having achieved advanced certification through the PGA Specialized and Certified Professional Programs. The curriculum includes an extensive project based on the specific certification previously acquired by the PGA of America Golf Professional. PGA Master Professional status is earned upon successful completion of the project’s presentation. McCabe, a native of Emporia, Kansas, graduated from The Golf Academy of America in December of 1996 and was the director of golf at Tour 18 Golf Course in Dallas. From 2003-11 he was the director of golf for Bridlewood Golf Club in Flower Mound where he was awarded the 2010 Northern Texas PGA Section Merchandiser of the Year award. In 2011 he became the general manager of The Old American Golf Club. In 2020, McCabe spearheaded the combination of Old American and the Tribute Golf Links into a semi-private, 36-hole club, now known as The Golf Clubs at The Tribute. Under his direction as general manager, the facility has become an award winning, nationally ranked member resort. McCabe was instrumental in bringing the LPGA Tour’s Volunteers of America Classic to the North Texas facility in 2018, which at the time was the only LPGA Tour event in Texas.