Korte Takes Early Two-Stroke Lead at 55th M&P Group Texas State Open

Steven Clements • July 30, 2025

Romo Cards 1-under-par in Opening Round

TYLER, Texas (July 29) – Chris Korte, of Littleton, CO leads the 55th M&P Group Texas State Open after an opening round 62. His 8-under-par, 32-30–62, was enough to gain a two-stroke lead heading into tomorrow’s second round.

Korte got off to a steady start on the front-nine with three birdies and six pars. Turning to the more scorable back-nine, he went 4-under on holes 10-14 and added two more birdies on 17 and 18.

“It was a fun day. I got off to a good start, made a couple nice little par saves here and there,” said Korte about his opening round. “This rough is no joke, when you hit it in there, a lot of times it's tough to get one up and down or judge the distance on your second shot. I played a really solid round.”

“I’ve been playing great golf recently. Monday qualified into a couple Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR events and have just been trying to find the putter. Luckily today I felt like I gained a couple shots finally, so that was probably the biggest difference.”

Korte received the final sponsor exemption into the Championship and has taken advantage of it so far. During the past year, he has successfully Monday qualified into four PGA TOUR events and one Korn Ferry Tour event, most recently teeing it up in the Barracuda Championship.

Korte played in the morning wave today and will play in the afternoon wave tomorrow. He tees off at 1:15 p.m.

Matthew Watkins, of Rockwall, TX is one of two players tied for second behind Korte. The former Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour member, carded a 6-under-par round and is looking for his first victory at the Championship. He previously earned Low Amateur honors in 2021 and 2023.

Speaking about returning to Cascades Country Club Watkins said, “You have to hit it great off the tee, which I love. It’s a good tight golf course, lots of trouble off the tee. There are a lot of irons out here, you have to be a good ball striker off the tee and into the green. The greens are great.”

Brandon Bingaman, PGA assistant professional at Gleneagles Country Club, leads the PGA Professional Division. He carded a 32-34–66, 4-under-par. Gilbert Mendez, PGA assistant professional at Sun City Golf Club, is one-stroke behind Bingaman at 3-under-par.

Blake Elliott, of Bullard, TX is at 4-under-par and sits highest on the leaderboard of the five East Texas locals in the field. This is Elliott’s sixth appearance in the Championship and he has made the cut each time, including two top-five finishes.

“It’s awesome sleeping in my own bed, getting up and doing what I usually do every day. It's nice being home and having some friends and family come out,” said Elliott about playing at home in East Texas.

The amateur leaderboard is led by Cody Massa (a), of Cave Creek, AZ. He recorded a first round 66, 4-under-par.

At 1-under-par is former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS analyst Tony Romo (a). He is looking to make his first cut at the Championship and will begin his second round at 8:24 a.m. tomorrow.

“I’ve worked really hard this last year, hours and hours a day trying to work on my weaknesses and I think that helps quite a bit. A couple weeks ago I really started to find it. I got up and down [during today’s round], that kinda starts getting you into a rhythm,” said Romo.

Kacy Clemens (a), the former University of Texas baseball standout and son of former MLB pitcher Roger Clemens, is in the field this year.

“It's cool playing around pros and watching those guys hit the ball. They are really good. It's just fun to play and compete in a different realm. You’d be surprised that standing over 5-footers gets your heart going,” said Clemens about his Texas State Open debut.

Round one had calm conditions with nearly no wind. Tomorrow’s second round is expected to have high temperatures over 100 degrees and an east wind around 10mph.

The 55th M&P Group Texas State Open is a 72-hole stroke play event with a field of 156 professionals and amateurs.

This is the M&P Group’s third year as the title sponsor and the Championship is presented by Joyce Crane and supported by CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances, Holiday Inn - Tyler Conference Center, Jucys and Patterson Tyler.

Cascades Country Club

Par: 35-35–70

Yardage: 6,882 yards

View current results HERE

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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.

Korte Takes Early Two-Stroke Lead at 55th M&P Group Texas State Open

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

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