Kern Leads After Round One of the Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship

NTPGA • August 21, 2017

LEWISVILLE, TEXAS – Ben Kern, PGA head professional at Diamondback Golf Club, leads after round one of the Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship. Kern posted an opening round of 4-under par 68, notching four birdies on his first four holes. Despite carding four bogeys later in the round, he finished strong carding another birdie on #12 and an eagle on #18 to sit atop the leaderboard heading into tomorrow’s final round. Kern will be vying for his first career Northern Texas individual major championship win. He was elected to PGA membership in July, making this the first time he is eligible to compete in this Championship.

Getting the victory tomorrow will be a battle as two competitors sit a stroke back of at 3-under par and will be in the final pairing with Kern. Josh Havard, PGA director of instruction at Rolling Hills Country Club, and Brian Coe, PGA teaching professional at Golf Center at the Highlands, both fired opening rounds of 69.

The field is competing for eight qualifying spots for the 2018 PGA Professional Championship, presented by Club Car, Mercedes-Benz USA and OMEGA. The Championship will be contested June 17 - June 20, 2018 at Bayonet Black Horse in Seaside, California.

The top 20 players from the 2018 PGA Professional Championship will compete in the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis, Missouri, set for August 6 - 12, 2018. Greg Gregory, PGA assistant professional at Hidden Creek Golf Course, Stuart Deane, PGA director of instruction at The University of Texas at Arlington, and Brian Norman, PGA teaching professional at Gleneagles Country Club, are all automatically exempt into the 2018 PGA Professional Championship with their top 20 finishes at the 2017 PGA Professional Championship earlier this year.

This 36-hole NTPGA Section major championship is the third of the four individual stroke play championships that comprise the Yamaha Golf-Car Company / Lajitas Golf Resort Player of the Year Points Challenge presented by Adventures In Golf. It also serves as a qualifier to earn points to make the 2017 Yamaha Golf-Car Company / Lajitas Golf Resort Match Play Championship, Texas Joe Black Cup team and Levy Cup team.

The Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship is presented by Club Car, Mercedes-Benz and OMEGA and supported by TaylorMade adidas, Titleist & FootJoy, Golf Advisor and PGA TOUR. The Championship is being conducted at The Lakes at Castle Hills a 7,259-yard, par 72 layout located in Lewisville, Texas.

The Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship features 102 Section PGA members who are competing for a $22,500 projected purse with the champion taking home $2,970.

The Lakes at Castle Hills
Lewisville, Texas
Par: 36-36--72
Yardage: 7,259

Round one results

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!