Maddie McCrary Leads 2024 Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open After Round One

Steven Clements • May 30, 2024

Angela Stanford Leads Ewing Automotive Group Legends of the LPGA Division

GRAPEVINE, Texas (May 29) – Maddie McCrary, former Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open Champion (2015), leads after a bogey free first round. Fort Worth native Angela Stanford leads the Ewing Automotive Group Legends of the LPGA Division. Both professionals fired rounds of 6-under-par, 66 at Grapevine Golf Course (Pecan/Mockingbird nines).

McCrary, who is from Wylie Texas, leads the pack by one stroke and accredates her good round to her putting. “My putter was really hot today. I’ve been working really hard on my putting,” said McCrary. She also added that on the par 5, 9th and 18th holes today she hit driver from the fairway to reach both greens, affording her the opportunity to two putt for birdie on both holes.

When asked why she continues to play in the Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open, the past champion said “It’s home!”

In the hunt for the Championship behind McCrary are 11 players within five shots of the lead. That includes Thienna Huynh (a), from Lilburn, Georgia, who shot a 5-under-par, 67. Her round included an eagle on the par-5 fourth hole. One of only seven eagles on the day.

In the Ewing Automotive Group Legends of the LPGA Division, Angela Stanford holds a four stroke lead over the 24 player field. Stanford comes into the week after a win at the LPGA Senior Championship on Saturday in Utah. That is her second win in two years at that championship. “It helps a ton. You know how momentum is in golf. I need to go home and get ready for the next two days and continue to ride the momentum,” said Stanford.

Today, Stanford carded a 31-35–66, 6-under par. “I was driving it straight…The weather was great, the lack of wind helped also.”

Stanford, who grew up in Fort Worth and played on the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour, spoke about why she elected to play in the Championship once again. “Everyone knows that I’m a Texan through and through and anything I can do to support Texas golf and the Northern Texas PGA, I want to do that. They gave me my opportunity as a junior. I think I had some of the best opportunities playing junior golf in this area.”

Five shots back of Stanford is World Golf Hall of Fame member Dame Laura Davies at 1-under-par. This is Davies first time playing in the Championship. The multiple time major champion said the following “I was looking at my schedule…It was a no brainer. Nice to play a tournament you haven’t played before. Very impressive, I love the course. It gives you a chance to make birdies, but equally it will take you apart if you’re not playing well.”

The second round will begin at 7:30 tomorrow morning. The Ewing Automotive Legends of the LPGA Division will tee off from 7:30 to 8:42 a.m. with the leaders playing at 8:42 a.m. The Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open will have the low 78 scores from round one play in the afternoon from 12:30 to 2:27 p.m. with the leaders playing at 2:27 p.m.

The event is open to the public and admission is free.

Grapevine Golf Course (Pecan/Mockingbird)

Par: 36-36-–72

Open Division: 6,300 yards

Legends of the LPGA Division: 6,145 yards

View first round results HERE

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Watkins Ties 54-Hole Scoring Record, Leads Heading into Final Round of 55th M&P Group Texas State Open

By Steven Clements • July 31, 2025

Bullard Native Elliott in the Hunt

Watkins and Korte Share 36-Hole Lead at 55th M&P Group Texas State Open

July 31, 2025

TYLER, Texas (July 30) – Matthew Watkins of Rockwall, TX, carded a second round low, 30-32–62, 8-under-par, to take the co-lead of the 55th M&P Group Texas State Open. He shares it with first round leader Chris Korte of Littleton, CO. Watkins rocketed to the top of the leaderboard at the end of his second round after an albatross on the par-5, 6th hole. He hit a 4-iron from 224 yards and holed it. “I hit a big slicing 4-iron in there, and it felt great,” said Watkins. He did not get a chance to watch his albatross go in. “I would have celebrated if I knew. I wish I would have seen it go in. I mean, I was just amazed.” Through two rounds, Watkins is 5-under-par on the 6th hole. He is looking for his first Texas State Open victory. He previously earned Low Amateur honors in 2021 and 2023. Tied with Watkins is Chris Korte, who followed his opening round 62 with a 34-30–64. He started the second round on the back-nine and birdied five of his first seven holes. A birdie on his tenth hole continued the scoring, but things slowed down with a streak of pars and a bogey on the 5th. 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. Josh Radcliff of Grapevine, TX, is two strokes behind Watkins and Korte at 12-under-par. He tied for the lowest score of round two with a 30-32–62. “It’s been a few years since I have played, but I love the state open. My in-laws live around here…it is always fun to come out to Tyler and play this event,” said Radcliff. One of many former Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour members in the field, including Watkins, Radcliff reflected on his junior golf career saying, “NTPGA is where I got my start in competitive golf playing the 9-hole events. I shot about 108 in my first 18-hole event with the NTPGA. I had a dream of playing professionally, and the NTPGA Junior Tour was a great place to start.” Watkins, Korte and Radcliff will tee off at 9:50 a.m. tomorrow in the final group. Blake Elliott of Bullard, TX, is once again in contention. His rounds of 66-67, 7-under-par, have him in a six way tie for ninth place. He will begin his third round at 9:30 a.m. Sulphur Springs native Trevor Norby also made the cut at 3-under-par. He will start at 8:10 a.m. tomorrow on the 10th hole. Cody Massa (a) of Cave Creek, AZ currently sits in first place on the Low Amateur leaderboard at 7-under-par. Massa, originally from Arlington, TX, attended Tyler Junior College from 2005 to 2007. Massa is no stranger to the Texas State Open competing in 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2016, with his highest finish coming at 7th place in 2016. Aside from the Texas State Open, Massa won the Arizona Mid-Am Championship in 2024 and 2025. Massa currently sits in first place on the Low Amateur leaderboard and tied for ninth place overall. Six amateurs made the cut. Brandon Bingaman, PGA assistant professional at Gleneagles Country Club in Plano, TX, finished the second round with a 34-33-67, 3-under-par. He is at 7-under-par for the Championship and leads the PGA Professional division into tomorrow’s third round. Bingaman credits his low rounds to his new, lighthearted take on his game. “I have been playing really well lately. These past couple of weeks I have really just been trying to have more fun with it, and I think that has reflected really well in the past few days,” said Bingaman. Five PGA of America Golf Professionals made the cut. Four from the Northern Texas Section and one from the Southern Texas Section. Kyle Pritchard leads the three past champions that survived the cut. He sits at 8-under-par. Mikel Martinson (a) and Shawn Stefani also advanced to the final two rounds. The 55th M&P Group Texas State Open is a 72-hole stroke play event with a field of 156 professionals and amateurs. The 36-hole cut was made to the low 55 players and ties. Sixty-one players made the cut at 1-under-par and are competing for a $201,000 Championship purse. The third round will begin at 8:00 a.m. and players will begin on the first and tenth holes and play in threesomes. 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 .

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

By Steven Clements • July 30, 2025

Romo Cards 1-under-par in Opening Round

PGA of America Golf Professional Blaine Seitz Earns PGA Master Professional Designation

July 28, 2025

FRISCO, Texas - PGA of America Golf Professional Blaine Seitz , Owner and Director of Instruction of TourShotGolf, and Master Club Fitter at 2nd Swing within the PGA of America Coaching Center powered by T-Mobile in Frisco, Texas, earned PGA Master Professional Status, the highest education designation available within the Association. Within the Association’s more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals, Seitz, a Member of the Northern Texas PGA Section, joins a highly regarded group as the 475th PGA Master Professional. He has earned this designation in Teaching and Coaching. "Becoming a PGA Master Professional is not just an achievement, but a realization of who I am and what I am meant to do,” said Seitz. “I’m a big believer that golf isn’t just a game, it’s also a form of therapy. We can use this game to help people get through life. I moved here to Texas to be with the PGA and put myself in a position to get this done. It’s been a big process to this point and it’s a true honor.” The PGA Master Professional 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 facilities. 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 & Coaching Designations. The 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. Seitz graduated from the PGA Professional Golf Management Program at Coastal Carolina University in 2012 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing. A PGA of America Golf Professional since 2013, Seitz worked as a PGA Assistant Golf Professional at The Suburban Club of Baltimore in Pikesville, Maryland. In 2015, he turned his focus to instruction and club fitting, becoming a PGA Teaching Professional at The Golf Club of Georgia, in Alpharetta, Georgia, and a Sales Representative at Arccos Golf. In 2018, TourShotGolf was born after Seitz spent six years as a CrossFit coach, developing mobility programs and working alongside CrossFit Games athletes to improve performance while decreasing risk of injury. By integrating these mobility programs with his golf students, Seitz observed significant improvements in their game. Seitz joined 2nd Swing in 2021 in Maryland before transferring to the Dallas location in 2023. He moved to the PGA of America Coaching Center in 2024 when 2nd Swing was named the official equipment trade-in partner of the Association. Over the last 10 years, Blaine has specialized in a holistic approach to golfers’ mobility, focusing on five pillars of peak performance: mindset, wellness, mobility, fitness and play. He is a TPI Fitness Coach, a certified Mobility Specialist, a Golf Fitness Association of America Top Golf Fitness Professional (2021-24) and on the Golf Digest “Top 100 Club Fitter” (2021-23) and “Best Clubfitters in America” (2023-24) lists. Seitz resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.