Jordan Spieth Family Foundation Dedicated to NTPGA's Growth of the Game Initiatives
NTPGA • August 1, 2018
Dallas, Texas
– Three-time major champion Jordan Spieth and the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation, in conjunction with the Northern Texas PGA (NTPGA) Junior Golf Foundation, are pleased to announce a continued partnership to help grow the game of golf in North Texas.
The partnership is centered on growth initiatives for junior golfers in the Dallas / Fort Worth area, which include Drive, Chip and Putt local qualifiers conducted in North Texas and the summer golf camp program at Brookhaven Country Club.
In addition, the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation has embraced the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation’s commitment to educational services by providing six scholarships for deserving youth to attend college later this year. Three of these scholarships were designated for students who participated in the NTPGA’s Fairway to Success After School Program that serves three schools in the DISD. In addition, three additional scholarships were designated for junior golfers who are members of the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation. The scholarship winners were as follows:
- Omar Arriaga - Jordan Spieth Family Foundation Scholarship
- Jalen Gonzales – Jordan Spieth Family Foundation Scholarship
- Naila Lopez – Jordan Spieth Family Foundation Scholarship
- Phoebe Yuan – Cameron McCormick Golf Scholarship
- Lauren Wallace – Cameron McCormick Golf Scholarship
- Ranger Donnell – Cameron McCormick Golf Scholarship
“Fairway to Success is such a unique junior golf program,” Spieth said. “It’s bringing the game to those without access and using it as an avenue for mentorship and education. It’s amazing to hear the stories of these young people and how FTS assists them on their journeys. We couldn’t be prouder to be providing FTS scholarships.”
Additionally, Junior golfers that participate in a Drive, Chip and Putt qualifier this summer in North Texas who have never been a Member of the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation will receive one free tournament on the NTPGA’s Junior Tour compliments of the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation. To learn more about Drive, Chip and Putt visit www.drivechipandputt.com. In addition, thanks to the Holly and Doug Brooks Family Foundation, these kids will also become a Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation member at no charge.
Also, junior golfers that participate in a full day or half day summer camp at Brookhaven Country Club who have never been a Member of the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation will become a Junior Golf Foundation Member at no charge compliments of the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation. The camps are designed for kids ages 6-16 and are open to non-Brookhaven Members as well as Members. For more information on the camps, visit www.brookhavengolfacademy.com. Camps run through August 10.
“Drive Chip and Putt is one of the most exciting initiatives in the game right now,” Spieth said. “The first time I saw the competition in Augusta, I knew I wanted to support this platform and there’s no better way than supporting North Texas junior golfers specifically. This grant is very important to myself and our Foundation.”
“Growing the game through kids is our Foundation’s top priority. Programs like Drive, Chip and Putt and Summer Camps as well as several other initiatives are all wonderful ‘on ramps’ to the NTPGA’s Junior Golf Highway. They are perfect for kids who want to get started playing. We are truly honored to partner with Jordan on these initiatives as he learned how to compete on our Junior Tour more than a decade ago. He remains so grounded and he genuinely cares about kids, giving back and growing the game,” said Mark Harrison, Executive Director / CEO of the Northern Texas PGA.
For more information on this growth of the game initiative and partnership with the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation, please contact the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation at 214-420-7421.
To learn more about the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation, visit http://www.jordanspiethgolf.com/foundationor to learn more about the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation, visit www.ntpgajuniorgolf.com.
PLANO, Texas (August 10) – Seth Murphy, Associate at John Sikes Golf Academy and Thomas Faulk Jr. (a) captured the 1st & 10th Tee Golf Energy Bar Pro-Junior Championship title. The pair carded a 33-31–64, 8-under-par and made birdie on the first playoff hole. The pair began their round on the 8th hole and opened with a par. Six birdies on their next eight holes set them up for success for the first round. Their final nine holes were steady, with 7 pars and two birdies, but the bogey-free round was enough to get them into a two-team playoff against Ryan Grider, Associate at The Lakes at Castle Hills, and Colten Karstendiek (a). After a safe drive on the first playoff hole from Faulk Jr., Murphy was able to attack and had just 135 yards into the par-4 18th hole. He hit a pitching wedge to 10 feet and buried the putt. Murphy said, “He [Thomas] made about a 20-footer on our second hole, and that just put us on the pace we needed to get some momentum going. We gave ourselves lots of opportunities, double opportunities, where we were both putting for birdie, which is always nice. Just overall, we teamed very well today.” Faulk Jr added, “I started off hot and helped him out, and then when I was winding down, he got things going. We just made putts and pars when we needed to. It was just the team working.” Ryan Grider, Associate at The Lakes at Castle Hills, and Colten Karstendiek (a) fired 32-32–64 to finish in second place. Matt Weinberger, PGA senior director of member and amateur championships at PGA of America and Owen Layton (a) shot 31-35–66 to claim third place. The Championship featured 64 teams consisting of one PGA professional and one junior golfer between the ages of 7-19. The teams competed in a Four-Ball Stroke Play format. There was also a second division within the Championship where PGA professionals and their children competed for a separate title. The nine-team division was claimed for the third consecutive year by Jon Antunes, PGA director of instruction at Heart of Texas Golf Academy and his daughter Hannah Antunes (a) with a score of 34-34–68. For the professionals in the field today, there was a skins game with a $4,500 payout. Only one skin was earned today. Hanna Dickens, Associate at The Ronny Golf Park, made a birdie on hole 14 to earn the skin. The 1st & 10th Tee Golf Energy Bar Pro-Junior Championship was presented by CMC Design, PGA TOUR, and THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson.
$268,000 Donated to Foundation
Doggett (a) and McIlwain (a) Share Low Amateur Honors Walts Finishes as Top PGA Professional
TYLER, Texas (July 30) – Matthew Watkins of Rockwall, TX, carded a third-round 35-35–70, even par, and maintains the 54-hole lead at the 56th M&P Group Texas State Open. After a 36-hole score of 61-61–122, Watkins sits at 18-under-par for the championship. “I just kind of hung in there on the front nine, shot even. Then, kind of had it going just a little bit on 10 through 12. It was just an up-and-down day overall,” said Watkins. Watkins held a 6-stroke lead heading into the third round, but the field has cut it to just four. “Definitely going to be a little different than going into today. Probably a lack of concentration problem today, but still hung in there well.” Last year, Watkins held the 54-hole lead and said he was battling some nerves. “I’m definitely more comfortable, but still have to have a good round tomorrow if I want to win. Four [shots] can happen in three holes,” Watkins added. Watkins will look to defend his title beginning at 9:50 tomorrow morning. There is a three-way tie for second at 14-under-par between Cameron Sisk of Scottsdale, AZ, Cooper Schultz of Wichita, KS, and John Sand of Irving, TX. Cameron Sisk is a former Arizona State University standout. He finished his career there as a three-time All-American, two top-ten finishes at the NCAA individual Championships and 14th in the PGA TOUR University rankings. Sisk found himself behind the pack early this week, but with a second round of 64 and a 32-33–65 in today’s third round, Sisk has climbed back into contention. On the 12 par 5s Sisk has played this week, he is 12-under-par and credited his play on those holes as the reason he is tied for second heading into tomorrow’s final round. “You really got to take care of the par 5s out here. There are a few tougher par 3s and par 4s out here, so as long as you birdie the gettable holes, you’ll be in good shape,” said Sisk. After his 63 yesterday, Cooper Schultz shot a bogey-free 33-33–66 to cut his eight-shot deficit in half today. Of the three players tied for second, Schultz will be the first one out tomorrow as he tees off right before the final group. “It’ll be nice, I won’t feel like I have to press or anything. I’m just going to try and take what the course gives me. If I end up shooting 9-under, then great, if I shoot 2-under, that’s fine too, but I’ll just stay within myself and play the game I know I can play,” said Schultz. John Sand fired a bogey-free, 32-32–64, good for the joint low round of the day. He finished strong with birdies on holes 14, 15 and 16. The week has been steady so far for Sand, with rounds of 66, 66, 64, he sits just four back of Watkins. Sand and Sisk will join Watkins at 9:50 a.m. tomorrow, while Schultz precedes them in the 9:40 a.m. grouping. Bret Gray, PGA Member, is in solo fifth after a round of 34-30–64 and is the Low PGA Professional in the championship. Gray graduated from Sam Houston State University’s golf management program last December. He holds a one-stroke lead over Chase Walts, PGA assistant professional at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, TX in the PGA Member Division. Gray said, “I’ve done a lot of preparation and practice for moments like this, so I’m excited to tee it up tomorrow.” Gray and Walts both tee off at 9:40 a.m. Blake Elliott of Bullard, TX, continues to climb the leaderboard after a third-round 31-34–65, 5-under-par that propelled him 18 spots up the championship leaderboard. His round moved him to 10-under-par and he currently sits tied for eleventh place. Elliott has been battling an injury this week, but continues to fight through it. “It is what it is at this point. My speed’s down right now and kind of flinching at it a couple of times here and there, but it is what it is.” Grant Doggett (a) of Beach City, TX, leads the Amateur Division at 6-under-par. His third round 33-36–69, 1-under-par has him tied for 32nd overall. Doggett (a) is the defending Low Amateur after finishing at 11-under-par and 12th place overall last year. Doggett (a) is a senior at the University of Houston and grew up playing golf on the Southern Texas PGA Junior Tour. He holds a one-stroke lead over the next closest amateur, Kaelen Dulany (a) of Keller, TX. The 56th M&P Group Texas State Open is a 72-hole stroke play event with a field of 156 professionals and amateurs. The 36-hole cut was made to the low 55 players and ties. 66 players (59 professionals and 7 amateurs) made the cut at 2-under-par and are competing for a $203,850 Championship purse. The champion, if a professional, will take home $40,000. The only amateur to win the Texas State Open was Homero Blancas in 1960. The final round starts at 8:00 a.m., and players will begin on the first and tenth holes and play in threesomes. This is the M&P Group’s fourth year as the title sponsor, and the Championship is presented by Joyce Crane and Higginbotham and supported by CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances, Holiday Inn - Tyler Conference Center and Patterson Tyler. The championship is being played at Cascades Country Club for a record 15th time. Cascades Country Club Par: 35-35–70 Yardage: 6,882 yards