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