Junior.Golf Offers PGA Junior League Golf Participants Complimentary NTPGA Junior Golf Foundation Memberships
NTPGA • September 21, 2016
Austin, Texas –
In an effort to grow the game, the Northern Texas PGA and Junior.Golf have partnered to provide PGA Junior League participants complimentary membership to the NTPGA Junior Golf Foundation giving them the ability to play in NTPGA junior golf tournaments.
In 2016, the NTPGA had 67 Teams and 715 participants in the PGA Junior League. To continue to provide a golfing experience for these young players, Junior.Golf is providing complimentary memberships for any participant that has not previously been a member to join the NTPGA Junior Golf Foundation. “We appreciate Junior.Golf supporting our growth of the game initiatives. Through their complimentary memberships, we anticipate that hundreds of junior golfers in North Texas will have the opportunity to join and start playing in our wide range of tournaments,” said Mark Harrison, NTPGA Executive Director / CEO.
The PGA Junior League launched in 2012 had 36,000 players across the country in 2016. In Texas there was 160 teams and over 1,500 players. Chuck Higgins PGA of America Area Director says “Junior League Golf is bringing new players to the game in a fun and social experience. We appreciate Junior.Golf being an advocate for growing the game”
Junior.Golf founded in 2015 has continued to support industry initiatives in growing the game. “Our mission is about sharing the gift of golf through technology and innovative programs. We are blessed to support the NTPGA and PGA Junior League to give players more opportunities for high 5’s and fist pumps” said Jason Black, founder of Junior.Golf
To learn more about the Junior.Golf, or to request a demo of the technology platform, contact Nick Pateman at (512) 317-9848 or email nick@junior.golf or visit the website www.junior.golf
About
Junior.GolfJunior.Golf is passionate about growing the game of golf by leveraging technology that support parents, players and golf professionals have a platform for a better experience. The Company has built an integrated platform that consist of mobile application, portal technology and digital kiosk to gamify the learning for players, provide a roadmap for parents and “the easy button” for the golf professional. Junior.Golf launched in Texas, will have 135 facilities on the platform in 2016 and expand platform nationally in 2017. The Company is supported by Callaway Golf, Annika Sorenstam, Joe Ogilvie and many top regional golf leaders.
Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation
Founded in 1983, the nationally acclaimed Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, is committed to introducing, promoting and growing the game of golf to a diverse group of kids in North Texas and instilling in them the positive, character developing traits for which the game is so well known.
Each year close to 10,000 children and their families are impacted by the game that lasts a lifetime through a full circle of programs and services including:
• Introduction – Golf in Schools, Fairway to Success After School Program, Drive, Chip and Putt and Summer Golf Camps.
• Playing – Team / PGA Junior League Golf, Prep, Medalist Levels and All-American Tours – 400+ tournaments per year.
• Education – College Scholarships – $1.79M distributed including a record $235,000 awarded in 2016.
• Employment – Internship, Camp Program and Full-Time.
• Philanthropy – Kids Play FORE Kids, Ewing Charity Classic, Birdies for Kids and the Royal Oaks’ Great 108
PGA Junior League
PGA Junior League Golf is the key youth initiative of PGA REACH, the charitable arm of the PGA of America. As such, the program focuses on fun, recreation, good health and sportsmanship. PGA Junior League Golf is recreational and developmental in nature and works with PGA Sections and local youth organizations across the country to offer an alternative, social golf format. This unique approach highlights team play versus individual competition and serves as a feeder system to transition youth golfers to existing junior golf programs. From the program's humble beginnings, participation has skyrocketed. PGA Junior League now boasts over 30,000 youth participants and 2,500 teams in 48 states and all 41 PGA Sections.
Press Contact
Name: William Lynch, Junior.Golf
Mobile: (847) 852 – 0399
Email: William@junior.golf
Website: www.junior.golf
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.
Friend and McCorkle Headed to Lajitas Golf Resort for Duel in the Desert
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.