Jerry J. Ransom Launches New Event for Northern Texas PGA Golf Professionals who Support the Northern Texas PGA Foundation

Margaret Miller • September 25, 2024

$25,000 for the champion in one-day shootout

FRISCO, Texas (September 25, 2024) – Jerry J. Ransom, the namesake of the Jerry J. Ransom Northern Texas PGA Golf House and long-time NTPGA Foundation supporter, with the assistance of the Northern Texas PGA Section staff, recently announced the creation of a new event – the  Jerry J. Ransom NTPGA Shootout at The Oaks. 


The event is for 80 Northern Texas PGA Members and Associates employed at a facility that supports the NTPGA Foundation's growth of the game initiatives. It is meant to be a fun and unique way to thank the men and women in this Section who work diligently to continue to grow the game alongside the NTPGA Foundation.


What makes this competition unique? For starters, those eligible to play are limited to NTPGA golf professionals who have hosted a Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour tournament, a PGA HOPE clinic, a PGA Jr. League team, a Birdies for Kids fundraiser, or another initiative that has supported the NTPGA Foundation in 2023 or 2024. The Section professionals at facilities that hosted a Section major championship in 2023 or 2024 will also be eligible to participate.


What also makes this event special is the format and the purse for which these professionals will compete. On the morning of Sunday, November 17, the 80-player field will compete in a 9-hole stroke play competition at The Oaks Country Club in Greenville, Texas.  In the morning the 9-holes will serve as a qualifier for the afternoon shootout format. The low three players plus one name randomly drawn from the unsuccessful qualifiers will play a 9-hole shootout. The shootout will start at approximately 2:45 p.m. Members of The Oaks Country Club and the public are invited to attend the shootout. 


The format for the shootout is as follows:  Holes 1-3 will be played by all four players. After three holes, one player will be eliminated based on score. In the event of a tie, there will be a playoff. The remaining three players will play holes 4-6. Before the start of the playing of these three holes, the scores will be reset to even par. After playing holes 4-6, another player will be eliminated based on score. In the event of a tie, there will be a playoff. The remaining two players will play holes 7-9. Before the start of the playing of these three holes, the scores will be reset to even par. The winner of the shootout will be determined after playing holes 7-9 based on score for the last three holes. In the event of a tie, there will be a playoff. 


Players will be competing for a first-place prize check of $25,000! The runner-up will receive $15,000, third place will take home $7,500 and fourth place will earn $2,500.


“I wanted to do something for the PGA Professionals in the Northern Texas Section while bringing entertainment and exposure to The Oaks Country Club,” said Ransom about this new event. “I wanted to say a different kind of thank you by hosting them for a fun day of golf and a sizable purse.  It is going to be a great event!” 


The Jerry J. Ransom NTPGA Shootout at The Oaks will take place at The Oaks Country Club located in Greenville, TX, where Ransom currently serves as mayor. The Oaks Country Club is a 9-hole, par 36, quintessential, small-town, East Texas country club located approximately 60 minutes from Dallas. The club was founded in 1960 and is one of the most challenging 9-hole golf courses in Texas. 


“Leave it to Dr. Ransom to come up with such a creative way to thank our PGA professionals!” said Mark Harrison, CEO of the Northern Texas PGA. “Jerry is such a great patron to the Northern Texas PGA, the Northern Texas PGA Foundation and the men and women who are PGA of America Golf Professionals in our Section. This event will be a lot of fun!” 


More details about the event will be announced before November 17 once the field is finalized.  Thank you to Dr. Ransom and his involvement with the NTPGA, the NTPGA Foundation and now our PGA professionals. 

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.
By Steven Clements October 27, 2025
On behalf of each NTPGA Chapter Awards Committee, East Texas, Metro Texas and West Texas, we are pleased to announce the 2025 Northern Texas PGA Chapter Award Winners below. 2025 East Chapter Award Winners Golf Professional of the Year Doug Myer, Tyler Golf Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Emily Ming, Hide-A-Way Lake Golf Course Youth Player Development Award Tim Lawson, The Pinnacle Club Merchandiser of the Year - Private Chris Hudson, Willow Brook Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Public/Resort Bo Branyan, Van Zandt Country Club Professional Development Award Cory Ryan, Crown Colony Country Club Bill Strausbaugh Award Sean Hanson, Crossing Creeks Country Club Player Development Award Roy Pace, PGA Life Member Patriot Award Dick Goetz, PGA Life Member 2025 Metro Chapter Award Winners Golf Professional of the Year Trish Holt, Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Jarred Jeter, Shady Oaks Country Club Youth Player Development Award David Hirschfeld, Grapevine Golf Course Teacher & Coach of the Year Brian Norman, Lakewood Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Private Sarah Kim, Las Colinas Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Public/Resort Emily Loewer, Heritage Ranch Golf & Country Club Professional Development Award Neil Lockie, Dallas National Golf Club Bill Strausbaugh Award Chad Moscovic, The Ronny Golf Park Player Development Award Christian Maddox, Prestonwood Country Club Patriot Award Tommy Moore, The Clubs of Stonebridge Ranch 2025 West Chapter Award Winners Golf Professional of the Year Lee Rhind, Midland Country Club Assistant Golf Professional of the Year John Harney, Amarillo Country Club Youth Player Development Award Thomas Martin, Green Tree Country Club Teacher & Coach of the Year Lee Rhind, Midland Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Private Brandon Veld, Red Feather Golf and Social Club Merchandiser of the Year - Public/Resort Tommy Darland, Andrews Country Golf Course Professional Development Award Adam Headley, Green Tree Country Club Bill Strausbaugh Award Brian Nagy, Abilene Country Club Player Development Award John Bizik, Hogan Park Golf Course Patriot Award Alan Coe, Tascosa Golf Club Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients. All applicants are still in consideration for a 2025 Northern Texas PGA Section Award. Section Award winners will be announced on November 21.
October 16, 2025
A new beginning for junior golf that is founded on mentorship, family, and fun 
By Steven Clements October 7, 2025
WHITNEY, Texas (October 7) – Brandon Bingaman, PGA assistant professional at Gleneagles Country Club, and Jon Antunes, PGA director of instruction at Heart of Texas Golf Academy, have advanced through the starting field of 32 professionals to secure finalist spots at the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Match Play Championship. The two will compete in the Duel in the Desert at Lajitas Golf Resort on December 8-9. They will play a 36-hole final match at Lajitas Golf Resort’s Black Jack’s Crossing, the number one-rated public golf course in Texas. No.2 Bingaman took his quarter-final match to 21 holes before besting Tristan Cottrell, PGA assistant professional at Bent Tree Country Club. “Match play is always a grind, anything can happen,” said Bingaman. In the semi-finals he faced three time match play champion Greg Gregory, PGA head professional at Southern Oaks Golf Club. He defeated Gregory 5&4. “It’s always good playing against Greg, he’s beat me in this Championship a few times.” Bingaman punched his ticket to the Duel in the Desert and it will be his first time in Lajitas. “I’ve heard it’s awesome,” he said. No.12 Antunes went to 21 holes in the quarter-final match before defeating Brian Norman, PGA instructor at Lakewood Country Club. He followed that up with another extra holes match in the semi-finals against No.1 Matt Lohmeyer, PGA director of instruction at SLICGOLF. The two faced off for 22 holes before Antunes closed out the victory with a birdie on the fourth playoff hole. “I played a lot of golf,” said Antunes about his marathon day. “I’m very excited about Lajitas. I‘m ready to go down there and compete against Brandon.” The atmosphere down there is surreal, it’s a great place to sit back and reflect.” Yesterday, the Senior Division finalists were determined after the quarter and semi-final rounds. Rob Shields, PGA member at The Winsford Group, and Billy Harris, PGA Life Member, are the finalists. They will also play their final match as part of the Duel in the Desert. 2025 is the first time that the professionals can earn points towards their respective player of the year points races. Following the conclusion of the Championship, the Yamaha Golf-Car | Srixon and Nike Player of the Year Player of the Year, Woman Player of the Year, and the Rolex | XXIO Senior Points Challenge winners will be named. In addition to the extra points, the field is competing for a Championship purse of $56,300, with the Open Division champion earning $10,000, while the Senior Division champion will take home $5,000. The Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Match Play Championship was presented by Adventures In Golf, Lajitas Golf Resort, PGA TOUR, THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, TPx Communications and XXIO. White Bluff Resort (New Course) Par: 36-36–72 Open Division Yardage: 6,934 yards Senior Division Yardage: 6,505 yards View Current Results HERE