Lohmeyer & Dillard Tie Course Record After First Round of the Joyce Crane | Veritex Bank Section Championship
THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson Exemption on the Line for Champion
DALLAS, Texas (September 16) – Matt Lohmeyer, PGA director of instruction at SLICGOLF and Spencer Dillard, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club, lead the Joyce Crane | Veritex Bank Section Championship. Both professionals fired an opening round of 33-33-66, 6-under-par at the newly renovated Gold Course at Dallas Athletic Club. The pair hold a two-stroke lead with 18-holes remaining tomorrow.
Lohmeyer, who started his round on the back nine, got off to a quick start with an eagle on the par-5, 11th hole. He followed with two more birdies in the next three holes. “In my practice round yesterday, I had eight birdies and an eagle,” Lohmeyer said. “Today, I had an eagle and six birdies, so that’s two good rounds I haven’t had back-to-back in a long time, on a difficult golf course.”
Dillard was able to card one of the two bogey-free rounds today. “It feels good,” Dillard said about his first round. “I’ve been struggling with my swing a little bit and sometimes when you’re struggling a little bit, you play your best because you’re so focused on one or two things. You’re not worried about all the trouble or all the pressure.”
The pair of 6-under-par rounds tie the Gold Course record originally set by Blaine Hale, Jr. The PGA TOUR member and former Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour member set the record on February 3, 2024, just weeks after the course reopened from a 12-month renovation.
The Open Division totals 81 PGA professionals, with 11 taking it under-par. The winning professional in the Open Division will be rewarded with an exemption into THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson for 2025.
The Senior Division consists of 42 professionals ages 50 and over, playing for a separate title and purse. Brennan Little, PGA sits atop the Senior Division after first round action. He recorded a score of 3-under-par, 39-30–69 and holds a two-stroke lead over Rob Shields, PGA member at The Winsford Group.
The Championship boasts a Northern Texas PGA record $110,000 overall Championship purse. For the fourth-consecutive year, the field is competing for a purse of $100,000 or more. The Open Division champion will earn $8,750 and the Senior Division champion will earn $4,750.
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. It is also 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 and THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson.
Dallas Athletic Club (Gold Course)
Par: 35-37–72
Open Division Yardage: 7,099 yards
Senior Division Yardage: 6,725 yards
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