Killeen Conquers the West Texas Wind to Claim the Joyce Crane | Veritex Bank Section Championship

Steven Clements • September 22, 2021

MIDLAND, Texas - JJ Killeen, PGA director of instruction at 4ORE! Golf, conquered the West Texas winds to claim the Joyce Crane | Veritex Bank Section Championship.

 

Killeen fired rounds of 67-74–141 to finish at 3-under-par and win by one shot. This season was his first playing with the Northern Texas PGA and this marks his first win with the Section.

 

Winds topped 30 mph today after a cold front rolled through West Texas overnight. Killeen said the two rounds “really couldn’t have been more different, the weather and my golf game in general.” 

 

“I grinded the whole back nine, made a bunch of good par saves and had a clutch chip in/pitch in,” said Killeen. 

 

Jeff Barton, PGA director of instruction at Preston Trail Golf Club finished in second place and 2-under-par. He also recorded a double eagle on the par-5 fourth hole.

 

The Senior Division was claimed by Mickey Piersall, PGA Life Member after rounds of 72-73–145 to finish at one-over-par. Piersall was down by two shots with two holes to play, but birdied the 17th and made par at the 18th to win.

 

Piersall has won four Senior Division Section individual major championships after today’s win. He also secured a spot into the 2021 Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf Match Play Championship. This was the final chance to do so.

 

“I thought the golf course was in great shape, and it’s a great facility. I didn't have any expectations of winning, my goal was to qualify for the match play [championship],” said Piersall. “I had no idea that I won until I turned the scorecard in.”

 

The Joyce Crane | Veritex Bank Section Championship was the final individual stroke play major championship of the 2021 season. It was also the last chance  to earn points towards the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf / XXIO / ASICS Player of the Year Points Challenge presented by Adventures In Golf and Cyber Group. The winners for all 2021 Northern Texas PGA playing awards will be announced Wednesday, September 29, 2021 by 5:00 p.m. 

 

The championship also served as the final qualifier for the Texas Joe Black Cup Matches and Levy Cup Matches.

 

96 Northern Texas PGA Members competed for a Section Championship record overall purse of $100,000. Killeen took home $10,000 and Piersall took home $5,000 for their wins. 

 

In addition to the $10,000, Killeen also earned an exemption into the 2022 AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch. “Nothing is better than playing on the PGA TOUR for a golfer in the world. Period,” said Killeen.

 

The Joyce Crane | Veritex Bank Section Championship was presented by AT&T Byron Nelson, Ewing Automotive Group, GT Golf Supplies, Jim Beam Black, the PGA TOUR, and Surf & Turf Golf. 

 

Midland Country Club: 7,094-yard, par 72. 


View final results HERE

Northern Texas PGA Announces 2026 Chapter Award Winners

By Erik Anderson • October 26, 2026
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.

A Full Circle Summer

By Erik Anderson • October 21, 2026
NTPGA Junior Tour Alumni Sweep the 2026 NTPGA Section Individual Majors

Walts, Reynolds Earn Finalist Spots for Duel in the Desert Finale

By Erik Anderson • October 7, 2026
Friend and McCorkle Headed to Lajitas Golf Resort for Duel in the Desert

Dillard Wins $25,000 at Jerry J. Ransom Northern Texas PGA Shootout at The Oaks in Back-to-Back Years

By Erik Anderson • September 29, 2026
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.