Lajitas Golf Resort Set to Host Duel in the Desert

April 27, 2022

The Northern Texas PGA is excited to announce an update to our 2022 Section Major Championship schedule.


The NTPGA will conduct the first two days of the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf / Asics Match Play Championship on October 3-4 .  Professionals  who finish in the top 32 of the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf / Asics Player of the Year Points Challenge will be invited to compete in this season-ending championship. The top eight professionals  on the Rolex | XXIO Senior Points Challenge will earn an invitation as well.


Traditionally, the Open Division of the Match Play Championship is hosted over a series of three days with the Round of 32 and the Round of 16 playing day one, the Round of 8 and the Round of 4 playing day two, and the Final Match being played day three over 18 holes.


This year, however, the Final Match to determine the 2022 Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf / Asics Match Play Champion will not take place in October.


Instead, the two professionals who survive the first four rounds and earn a place in the Championship  Match will be flown to Terlingua, Texas, to compete in a 36-hole, finals showdown on December 12-13 at Lajitas Golf Resort’s Black Jack’s Crossing. The Duel in the Desert at Lajitas Golf Resort will feature a $10,000 prize for the champion and $5,000 for the runner-up.


“We are excited to provide this truly unique experience to our PGA Members,” said Mark Harrison, NTPGA Executive Director / CEO. “Our staff saw a special opportunity to enhance our partnership with Lajitas Golf Resort,  and I am very appreciative to them for playing host to this event as well as their continued support of our PGA Professionals. I would also like to thank our partners with Yamaha Golf-Car Company and Srixon / Cleveland Golf / Asics who will have representatives at the Championship Match as well. This should be fun!”


To earn a spot in the 32-place field and a chance to head to the Duel in the Desert at Lajitas Golf Resort, Members will need to earn points by playing in the Prize Possessions | E-Z-GO Eastern Championship on June 13-14, Jim Beam Black | Golf Pro Payments Western Championship on July 18-19,  Joyce Crane | Veritex Bank Section Championship on August 15-16, and the Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship on September 19-20.


Mark your calendar today, and we hope to see you at the Duel in the Desert at Lajitas Golf Resort in December!

Golf Clubs at The Tribute General Manager Mike McCabe Earns PGA Master Professional Designation

By Molly Rawlins • October 29, 2025
Mike McCabe, the General Manager of The Golf Clubs at The Tribute in The Colony, Texas, has earned PGA Master Professional Status, the highest educational designation a PGA of America Member can obtain. The program was established in 1969 to recognize PGA of America Members who make a significant effort to improve as golf professionals and maintain the highest degree of excellence for themselves and their operations. The curriculum is designed to ensure golf professionals are prepared to meet the growing demands of the marketplace within the Executive Management, Golf Operations and Teaching and Coaching Designations. McCabe is the 477th to earn the recognition, joining a special group among the more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals within the Association. He achieved his designation in Executive Management. “I’m passionate about being a PGA of America Golf Professional, and to achieve the highest honor in our educational program is something I don’t take lightly,” said McCabe, a PGA of America Golf Professional since 2007. “It’s a tremendous honor to be among an elite group of PGA Master Professionals. Going forward I look to continue mentoring the next generation to be good stewards of this beautiful game and growing future professionals.” The PGA Master Professional Program is available to those with at least 10 years of PGA of America Membership along with having achieved advanced certification through the PGA Specialized and Certified Professional Programs. The curriculum includes an extensive project based on the specific certification previously acquired by the PGA of America Golf Professional. PGA Master Professional status is earned upon successful completion of the project’s presentation. McCabe, a native of Emporia, Kansas, graduated from The Golf Academy of America in December of 1996 and was the director of golf at Tour 18 Golf Course in Dallas. From 2003-11 he was the director of golf for Bridlewood Golf Club in Flower Mound where he was awarded the 2010 Northern Texas PGA Section Merchandiser of the Year award. In 2011 he became the general manager of The Old American Golf Club. In 2020, McCabe spearheaded the combination of Old American and the Tribute Golf Links into a semi-private, 36-hole club, now known as The Golf Clubs at The Tribute. Under his direction as general manager, the facility has become an award winning, nationally ranked member resort. McCabe was instrumental in bringing the LPGA Tour’s Volunteers of America Classic to the North Texas facility in 2018, which at the time was the only LPGA Tour event in Texas.

Northern Texas PGA Announces 2025 Chapter Award Winners

By Steven Clements • October 27, 2025
On behalf of each NTPGA Chapter Awards Committee, East Texas, Metro Texas and West Texas, we are pleased to announce the 2025 Northern Texas PGA Chapter Award Winners below. 2025 East Chapter Award Winners Golf Professional of the Year Doug Myer, Tyler Golf Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Emily Ming, Hide-A-Way Lake Golf Course Youth Player Development Award Tim Lawson, The Pinnacle Club Merchandiser of the Year - Private Chris Hudson, Willow Brook Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Public/Resort Bo Branyan, Van Zandt Country Club Professional Development Award Cory Ryan, Crown Colony Country Club Bill Strausbaugh Award Sean Hanson, Crossing Creeks Country Club Player Development Award Roy Pace, PGA Life Member Patriot Award Dick Goetz, PGA Life Member 2025 Metro Chapter Award Winners Golf Professional of the Year Trish Holt, Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Jarred Jeter, Shady Oaks Country Club Youth Player Development Award David Hirschfeld, Grapevine Golf Course Teacher & Coach of the Year Brian Norman, Lakewood Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Private Sarah Kim, Las Colinas Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Public/Resort Emily Loewer, Heritage Ranch Golf & Country Club Professional Development Award Neil Lockie, Dallas National Golf Club Bill Strausbaugh Award Chad Moscovic, The Ronny Golf Park Player Development Award Christian Maddox, Prestonwood Country Club Patriot Award Tommy Moore, The Clubs of Stonebridge Ranch 2025 West Chapter Award Winners Golf Professional of the Year Lee Rhind, Midland Country Club Assistant Golf Professional of the Year John Harney, Amarillo Country Club Youth Player Development Award Thomas Martin, Green Tree Country Club Teacher & Coach of the Year Lee Rhind, Midland Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Private Brandon Veld, Red Feather Golf and Social Club Merchandiser of the Year - Public/Resort Tommy Darland, Andrews Country Golf Course Professional Development Award Adam Headley, Green Tree Country Club Bill Strausbaugh Award Brian Nagy, Abilene Country Club Player Development Award John Bizik, Hogan Park Golf Course Patriot Award Alan Coe, Tascosa Golf Club Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients. All applicants are still in consideration for a 2025 Northern Texas PGA Section Award. Section Award winners will be announced on November 21.

Northern Texas PGA Foundation Announces The Randy Smith Tour

October 16, 2025
A new beginning for junior golf that is founded on mentorship, family, and fun 

Bingaman and Antunes Secure Finalist Spots for Duel in the Desert Finale

By Steven Clements • October 7, 2025
WHITNEY, Texas (October 7) – Brandon Bingaman, PGA assistant professional at Gleneagles Country Club, and Jon Antunes, PGA director of instruction at Heart of Texas Golf Academy, have advanced through the starting field of 32 professionals to secure finalist spots at the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Match Play Championship. The two will compete in the Duel in the Desert at Lajitas Golf Resort on December 8-9. They will play a 36-hole final match at Lajitas Golf Resort’s Black Jack’s Crossing, the number one-rated public golf course in Texas. No.2 Bingaman took his quarter-final match to 21 holes before besting Tristan Cottrell, PGA assistant professional at Bent Tree Country Club. “Match play is always a grind, anything can happen,” said Bingaman. In the semi-finals he faced three time match play champion Greg Gregory, PGA head professional at Southern Oaks Golf Club. He defeated Gregory 5&4. “It’s always good playing against Greg, he’s beat me in this Championship a few times.” Bingaman punched his ticket to the Duel in the Desert and it will be his first time in Lajitas. “I’ve heard it’s awesome,” he said. No.12 Antunes went to 21 holes in the quarter-final match before defeating Brian Norman, PGA instructor at Lakewood Country Club. He followed that up with another extra holes match in the semi-finals against No.1 Matt Lohmeyer, PGA director of instruction at SLICGOLF. The two faced off for 22 holes before Antunes closed out the victory with a birdie on the fourth playoff hole. “I played a lot of golf,” said Antunes about his marathon day. “I’m very excited about Lajitas. I‘m ready to go down there and compete against Brandon.” The atmosphere down there is surreal, it’s a great place to sit back and reflect.” Yesterday, the Senior Division finalists were determined after the quarter and semi-final rounds. Rob Shields, PGA member at The Winsford Group, and Billy Harris, PGA Life Member, are the finalists. They will also play their final match as part of the Duel in the Desert. 2025 is the first time that the professionals can earn points towards their respective player of the year points races. Following the conclusion of the Championship, the Yamaha Golf-Car | Srixon and Nike Player of the Year Player of the Year, Woman Player of the Year, and the Rolex | XXIO Senior Points Challenge winners will be named. In addition to the extra points, the field is competing for a Championship purse of $56,300, with the Open Division champion earning $10,000, while the Senior Division champion will take home $5,000. The Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Match Play Championship was presented by Adventures In Golf, Lajitas Golf Resort, PGA TOUR, THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, TPx Communications and XXIO. White Bluff Resort (New Course) Par: 36-36–72 Open Division Yardage: 6,934 yards Senior Division Yardage: 6,505 yards View Current Results HERE