Kern & Coughlan Set to Face Off in Final Match of the Yamaha Golf-Car Company / Lajitas Golf Resort Match Play Championship, Smith Claims Senior Title
NTPGA • October 10, 2017
ODESSA, Texas –
The morning Quarter Final Matches of the Yamaha Golf-Car Company / Lajitas Golf Resort Match Play Championship featured three of the top four seeded professionals advancing to the afternoon Semi-Final Matches.
During the opening match of the morning, #8 seed Gabe Reynolds, PGA director of instruction at Top Golf Dallas, bested #16 seed Joe Brown, PGA teaching professional at The Courses at Watters Creek, 3&2. The second match of the morning took extra holes, but #4 seed Danny Coughlan, PGA head professional at Abilene Country Club, was able to defeat #21 seed Ben Cuzen, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club, in 23 holes. #2 seed Ben Kern, PGA head professional at Diamondback Golf Club, topped #7 seed Lee Rhind, PGA director of instruction at Midland Country Club, 7&5, and the final match of the morning resulted in the #14 seed Adam Headley, PGA head professional at Hillcrest Country Club, besting #11 seed Vince Jewell, PGA teaching professional at Woodbridge Golf Club, 5&4.
The afternoon Semi-Final matches featured Gabe Reynolds versus Danny Coughlan and Ben Kern versus Adam Headley.
In the first Semi-Final match, Headley took the lead on hole #7 going 1UP, but a birdie by Kern on #10 brought the match back to all square. Kern was 2UP after 13 holes when Headley birdied #15 to bring the match back to 1UP with three to play. Kern then managed one more birdie on #17 for a 2&1 victory over Headley.
Reynolds and Coughlan faced off in the other afternoon match. For the second straight match it took Coughlan extra holes to best his opponent, but after some back and forth, Coughlan was able to make par on the 20th hole to beat Reynolds for the win.
Kern and Coughlan will face off in the 18-hole Championship Match on Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m. Both will be vying for their first Match Play title. The champion will take home a crystal trophy as well as $5,500 of the $36,800 Open Division purse.
The Championship included a Senior Division that included eight of the top professionals from the 2017 OMEGA Senior Points Challenge competing for their own $9,200 purse. In the Championship match, #1 seed Bruce Smith, PGA director of instruction at Black Belt Golf Academy, squared off against #7 seed Henry Cagigal, PGA assistant professional at Rockwood Golf Course. Smith started strong going 3UP after six holes where he stayed through 10. But a couple of bogeys on the backside by Smith made the final match interesting down the stretch. He was finally able to best Cagigal 2&1 on #17. Smith took home a crystal trophy and a check for $2,800.
The Yamaha Golf-Car Company / Lajitas Golf Resort Match Play Championship is being contested October 9-11 at Odessa Country Club’s Old Course in Odessa, Texas, a 7,069-yard, par 72 layout. The Championship is presented by Adventures In Golf and AT&T Byron Nelson. The top 32 players on the final 2017 Yamaha Golf-Car Company / Lajitas Golf Resort Player of the Year Points Challenge were invited to compete in the season-ending major championship.
OPEN DIVISON CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2017
9:00 a.m. #1 Tee
#2. Ben Kern, Diamondback Golf Club vs. #4. Danny Coughlan, Abilene Country Club
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.”
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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!