Grider Grabs the Early Lead at the 52nd Higginbotham Texas State Open

Steven Clements • July 27, 2022

TYLER, TX – Ryan Grider leads the 52nd Higginbotham Texas State Open by two shots after 18 holes of play at the Cascades Country Club in Tyler, Texas. With birdies on his last two holes, Grider fired a bogey free opening round of 31-32–63, 7-under-par. 


This is Girder’s fifth Texas State Open appearance and his first as a professional. In his last three appearances he has finished inside the top 20 and as high as T10 in 2019 when playing as an amatuer.


“Today was one of those days where I hit some bad shots, but I got away with them. I just need to try to minimize those going forward. I got off to a good start there [Hole 10] and stayed patient and made a few pars. I really got things going on the scorable holes on the back nine,” said Grider.


Grider is a former Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour member and graduated from Baylor in 2021 and turned pro shortly after. He has played on the All Pro Tour, Forme Tour, and Korn Ferry Tour over the past year.


Bullard resident Blake Elliott currently sits at 5-under-par and in a tie for second place. “I hit the ball pretty good and made a lot of putts. Didn’t hit anything too close, but I made a lot of 20-footers. The eagle I made was from probably 15-feet,” said Elliott.


The Championship features two additional divisions, Low Amateur and Low PGA Professional. Trevor Bailey (a) of New Braunfels Texas leads the Amateur Division at 5-under-par. JJ Killeen, PGA head professional at Red Feather Golf and Social Club leads the PGA Professional Division at 3-under-par.


The 52nd Higginbotham Texas State Open runs through Friday, July 29. The 72-hole stroke play event consists of 156 professionals and amateurs competing for a $200,000 purse. The field will be cut to the low 55 scores and ties after the second round tomorrow afternoon. 


The Cascades Country Club

Par: 35-35–70

Yardage: 6,882 yards


View Round One results HERE



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ABOUT HIGGINBOTHAM

Employee owned and customer inspired, Higginbotham is a single source solution for insurance, financial and HR services. The firm was established in 1948 and ranks by revenue as the nation’s 20th largest independent insurance firm, making it the largest Texas-based broker. Serving thousands of businesses and individuals through locations coast to coast, Higginbotham’s approach to finding insurance, employee benefit and risk management solutions is more individual and less institutional. By understanding customer priorities, eliminating inefficiencies and committing to transparency, Higginbotham is a place that leads with values so value leads.

ABOUT THE CASCADES COUNTRY CLUB

The Cascades Country Club, a Master-Planned 5-Star community, is the most comprehensive community in East Texas. This luxury lake front golf, tennis, fitness and residential community sits on 386 acres and is located just five miles from downtown Tyler, Texas. The Cascades Country Club is also conveniently located midway between Dallas, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana. The Cascades Country Club was re-designed by PGA Tour player Mark Hayes to challenge players at any skill level.  Lush, tour-quality greens and broad fairways wind among tall oak and pine trees, with many holes set alongside scenic lakes on the golf course, and a stunning back drop framed by Lake Bellwood greeting you on your first tee shot of the day. 


ABOUT THE NORTHERN TEXAS PGA

The Northern Texas PGA is one of 41 Sections of the PGA of America and its geographic territory includes the State of Texas north of the 31st latitude, or just north of Austin. The Northern Texas PGA has approximately 900 PGA members and associates employed at more than 300 facilities. 

 

The Northern Texas PGA has 17 full-time staff members and is currently headquartered in Dallas. The Northern Texas PGA will be joining the PGA of America national office relocation to Frisco in the fall of 2022 with its own state-of-the-art headquarters on the PGA Frisco campus.

 

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.

Headley and del Olmo Capture First Section Victories at Joyce Crane | Veritex Bank Section Championship

By Steven Clements • September 17, 2025
LEWISVILLE, Texas (September 16) – Adam Headley, PGA head professional at Green Tree Country Club captured the Joyce Crane | Veritex Bank Section Championship after a 6-under-par final round. His bogey-free 34-32–66 and a first round 69, got him to 9-under-par for the Championship and a one stroke victory. It also earned Headley an exemption into the 2026 THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson. Headley was playing in the third to last group and began the final round three strokes behind the leaders. He quickly fell further behind the lead after starting with three pars, until a birdie at the par-5 4th hole got things going. On the back nine it was a battle between Headley and Brian Norman, PGA instructor at Lakewood Country Club. Headley eagled the 12th hole and added two more birdies on 15 and 18 to close and post 9-under-par. “My goal today was to play the par fives 4-under. I accomplished that,” said Headley. “I don’t like to look at the leaderboard, but I looked at it going into 18 tee and had a feeling I was sitting pretty good there.” “Honestly I didn’t think I'd ever win one. Not because I'm not a good player but because we have so many good players in the Section. If I had to choose any tournament to win, it would be this one.” Headley earned $9,250 along with his exemption into THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson. “I’ve been a golf pro for almost 20 years and now to be playing in a PGA TOUR event, I don’t care how I do, It’s going to be a blast. I’m super excited about it, it’s a dream come true.”

Killeen Leads the Joyce Crane | Veritex Bank Section Championship

By Hailey Rasco • September 16, 2025
Randolph and Shields Tied for Senior Division Lead

PGA of America REACH Foundation Announces 2025-26 Class of PGA WORKS Fellows

September 9, 2025
23 recent college and university graduates to get hands-on golf industry experience

Ronny Glanton Announced to PGA of America Hall of Fame

By Steven Clements • September 8, 2025
The PGA of America announced today that Ronny Glanton, PGA head professional at Sherrill Park Golf Course, will be inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame. Glanton, a native of Mineral Wells, Texas, began his career in 1981 as an Assistant Professional at Sherrill Park Golf Course in Richardson, Texas. Upon achieving PGA of America membership in 1984, he took over as Head Professional and has been at the Richardson facility ever since. He is the only member to serve twice as President of the NTPGA (2006-07, ‘18-’19). Glanton played a key role in the PGA of America’s relocation to Frisco, Texas. He is a passionate advocate for junior golf, developing impactful programs like the Sherrill Park Learning Center and the Hawks junior golf team, which have introduced thousands of new golfers to the game; his leadership in the creation of “The Ronny” Golf Park on the PGA Frisco campus further expands community outreach and player development. Among his previous awards are PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year (2020), NTPGA Golf Professional of the Year (1999, ‘07, ‘19), NTPGA Bill Strausbaugh Award (2003-05, ‘08, ‘14) and NTPGA Merchandiser of the Year (1994), plus induction into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 2022. Glanton actively supports his colleagues, raising over $100,000 through pro-ams for PGA Members facing medical hardships. He’s also been a four-time contestant in the PGA Professional Championship, five-time contestant in the Senior PGA Professional National Championship and seven-time participant in the PGA TOUR Byron Nelson (now the CJ Cup Byron Nelson). Glanton is a three-time NTPGA Major Champion, six-time Senior Division Major Champion and a 17-time member of the NTPGA Joe Black Cup Team, which he has also captained three times. The PGA of America Hall of Fame originated in 1940 at the suggestion of famed sportswriter Grantland Rice. It is the highest honor the PGA of America can bestow upon its membership or ambassadors of the game. For a full list of PGA of America Hall of Fame members, click here. “The PGA of America is honored to recognize our 2025 Hall of Fame Class and celebrate the incredible impact they have had throughout their careers, inspiring thousands both on and off the course,” said PGA of America President and Master Professional Don Rea Jr., PGA Owner/Operator of Augusta Ranch Golf Club (Arizona). “Whether they have won Major Championships, given thousands of lessons or captivated audiences with trick shots, each PGA Hall of Fame Member has played an essential role in shaping the game of golf as we know it today.” The 2025 PGA of America Hall of Fame Inductees fall under four induction categories: PGA of America Past President Category, PGA of America Golf Professional Category, Tour Player Professional Category and PGA of America Ambassador Category. Congratulations to Ronny on this momentous occasion!