Killeen Leads the Joyce Crane | Veritex Bank Section Championship

Hailey Rasco • September 16, 2025

Randolph and Shields Tied for Senior Division Lead

LEWISVILLE, Texas (September 15) – JJ Killeen, PGA general manager at SugarTree Golf Club, leads the Joyce Crane | Veritex Bank Section Championship after round one. Killeen shot an opening round 34-32–66, 6-under-par at the Lakes at Castle Hills.


Killeen started his round on the back-nine and got off to a hot start making four consecutive birdies beginning on the 11th hole. A bogey free front-nine helped bolster the great start. 


“Today I hit it pretty well and had a good pairing. I made a few putts but also hit a lot of iron shots pretty close and made some easy birdies,” said Killeen. “Hopefully I can get it to click tomorrow too and do something good.” 


Killeen looks to capture his third Section Championship title after claiming back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022. This is the first time this year that Killeen has been in contention at an NTPGA Championship. “Just to be in any sort of contention for me this year is good.”


Tomorrow’s victor will earn an exemption into the PGA TOUR’s THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson. Fifteen professionals are within four strokes of Killeen’s lead. Brandon Bingman, PGA assistant professional at Gleneagles Country Club and Spencer Dillard, PGA head professional at Preston Trail Golf Club are the closest at 5-under-par.

In the Senior Division Sam Randolph, PGA instructor at Mira Vista Country Club and Rob Shields, PGA member at the Winsford Group lead at 4-under-par. They carded rounds of 33-35-68 and 35-33-68 respectively. The Senior Division totals 39 professionals ages 50 and over who are playing for a separate title and purse. 


Shields spoke about his round and said, “It was a good round today. I took advantage of the par-5s and hit the ball pretty solid. I had a lot of fun and I’m grateful to be here.” 


When asked what he needs to do tomorrow in order to win, Shields said, “I think it is going to take five, six, seven under-par to get it done.”


Nine professionals are within three strokes of their lead and are looking for the victory.


A new Northern Texas PGA record will be set this week with a $112,500 overall Championship purse.
This is the fifth-consecutive year where players are competing for a purse of $100,000 or more. The Open Division champion will earn $9,250 and the Senior Division champion will earn $4,500. 


The final round will begin at 8 a.m. tomorrow with tee times off of the #1 and #10 tees. Senior Division players will tee off first, followed by the Open Division. 


This 36-hole major championship is the final of four individual stroke play events that comprise the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Player of the Year Points Challenge presented by Adventures In Golf. Also, it is the final opportunity for professionals to earn points to qualify for the Texas Joe Black Cup and Levy Cup teams. 


The Joyce Crane | Veritex Bank Section Championship is presented by BlueGolf, Ewing Automotive Group, GT Golf Supply Co, PGA TOUR, StrackaLine, Strike Visuals, Super Mex Golf, and The CJ CUP Bryon Nelson.


The Lakes at Castle Hills

Par: 36-36-72

Open Division Yardage: 7,069 yards

Senior Division Yardage: 6,514 yards


View the Current Results
HERE

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Crockroft Memorial Scholarship Saydi Durbin – Mart High School Ethan Hocking – Mart High School Allison and Jerry Freeman Scholarship Niko Klassen – Homeschool ANNIKA Foundation Scholarship Alicia Bellendir – Coppell High School April and Mark Anthony Scholarship Huey Black – Canyon High School Baylor Scott & White Scholarship Garrick Ly – Lone Star High School Aliya Rasheed – Panther Creek High School Ben Hogan Foundation / Fred & Michele Reynolds Scholarship Jeffery Rubenstein – Highland Park High School Ben Hogan Foundation / Lillie Biggins Scholarship Mikayla Martin – Homeschool Ben Hogan Foundation / Mike McMahan Scholarship Adam Strauss – Greenhill School Ben Hogan Foundation / Mike Wright Scholarship Gracie Ellis – Clarendon High School Birdies For Kids Scholarship Sydnee Fain – Midland High Jade Mara – Argyle High School Cameron Doan NTPGA Golf Professional of the Year Scholarship Landon Reece – Mildred High School CJ Corporation Scholarship Katherine Bustetter – Centennial High School Harper Mallonee – Highland Park High School Luke Martin – Rockwall-Heath High School Delaney Newberry – Highland Park High School Yunjae Park – Prosper High School Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship Yvette Altamirano – W. 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Conrad High School Reagan Lorenson – McKinney North High School Daphny Moore – Keene High School M&P Group Texas State Open Scholarship Samuel Fate – Tyler Legacy High School Mac Spikes PGA Member Scholarship Anabelle Floriani – Lone Star High School Miss Katie Scholarship Gloria Solis – Thomas Jefferson High School Never Stop Believing Scholarship Annabeth Boyd – Trinity Preparatory Academy Perry Arthur Scholarship Faith Hughes – Community Christian School Philip Bleakney Scholarship Samuel Williams – Vilonia High School Randy Smith Scholarship Carson Niemann – Byron Nelson High School Ronny Glanton Scholarship Addison Akers – Bryan Adams High School Ronny Golf Park Scholarship Madison Bixler – Lone Star High School Riaan Nazrul – Panther Creek High School Carlo Rogers – Panther Creek High School Royal Oaks Country Club / Nicholas Stafford Scholarship Kian Sköld – Frisco High School Scottie and Meredith Scheffler Scholarship Austin Morrissette – Northwest High School Addelyn Schwarzlose – Tascosa High School Sherrill Park / Two Dads and a Coach Scholarship Kristin Coffman – Berkner High School Tehan Scholarship Cooper Knapp – Wylie High School The CJ Cup Byron Nelson Scholarship Aiden Tiet – Garland Christian Academy UNT / Fore Frisco Scholarship Kayla Rochez – Panther Creek High School UNTD / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship Daisy Navarro – W.W. Samuell High School UTA / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship Leibi Chavira Reyes – W.W. Samuell High School West Texas Legends Scholarship honoring Jenny Cox Claire Smiley – Amarillo High School West Texas Legends Scholarship honoring S.A. Smith, Hart Warren, Jay McClure, and Sherwin Cox Gunnar Barrera – Levelland High School Three additional scholarship winners will be announced later this June, with recipients selected via random drawings at two upcoming events. First, the Jerry J. Ransom Pro-Junior-Am fundraising tournament will award a $5,000 scholarship to a participating recent graduate. Later in the month, the S.A. Smith West Texas Junior Invitational will host a drawing for two $2,500 memorial scholarships in honor of Jerry D. Smith, one awarded to a male participant and one to a female participant.