Meet the Four Northern Texas PGA Members that will represent Our Section at the 47th National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship

Lexie Lenderman • November 15, 2023

Four Northern Texas PGA assistant professionals will be making the trip down to Port St. Lucie, Florida, to play in the 47th National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship (PPC). The Championship will take place November 16-19 at PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker Course. Learn more about these professionals below!


PGA Assistant Professional at Cross Timbers Golf Club Dustin Nelson will be competing in his third Assistant PGA Professional Championship. Nelson, the most seasoned Assistant PGA Professional Championship competitor out of the group, is looking to make the final cut again this year. “I’m excited to be back,” said Nelson. “The first time I went I didn't make the cut and last year I did so I’m looking forward to doing better this time.” He is pretty familiar with playing at PGA Golf Club, and shared that his favorite hole on the Wanamaker course is hole 1. “On the days you get to start on hole 1, you get to jump off to a good start.” Since Nelson is a returnee to the Assistant PGA Professional Championship, he said that he would tell a first-time qualifier to treat it as just another tournament. “I would tell them not to overthink it. It is just another golf tournament like we’ve all played.” He shared, “The first year I went I made it bigger than what it was going in instead of just playing another golf round.” 


First time Assistant PGA Professional Championship qualifier, Corbin Renner, PGA assistant professional at Shady Oaks Country Club, is excited for the opportunity to play. He shared that most of his family lives near Port St. Lucie, so he feels as if he has a “home crowd advantage” this week. He is not only looking forward to being back in the Florida weather, but also seeing his friends from other Sections, specifically the friends he made from the New York Section (Metropolitan) while earning his PGA Membership. Renner mentioned that his golf mentor, Ben Parks, played a major role in where he is today. “He took me under his wing and showed me everything from saying ‘yes ma’am’ and ‘no ma’am’ to the fundamentals of golf.” He added, “I make sure that when I’m teaching kids and mentoring them, the values that he instilled in me I pass on to everyone else.” While Renner hopes to be successful this week, he knows that he will have an enjoyable trip simply knowing that he will have friends and family cheering him on. “I’m going to give it my best and know that I’ll be there supported by a lot of family and friends. I’m going to have as much fun as I can with the guys that I’m playing with, and the good golf will come.”


PGA Assistant Professional at Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco Ricky Liu will also be competing in the Assistant PGA Professional Championship for the first time. “When I got the call I was shaking,” said Liu. “I’m excited about the competition, the environment and meeting new people.” Since becoming a Northern Texas PGA Member back in March, Ricky has been able to not only compete in tournaments, but also meet and learn from other professionals. “It’s cool to see what they do in the golf industry and how I can bring that to Fields Ranch.” He also mentioned being mentored by the professionals at Fields Ranch: Glen Griffith, PGA head golf professional, Trish Holt, PGA head golf professional, and Paul Earnest, PGA director of golf and operations. “Paul said I need to be healthy and take the time to focus on myself as I prepare for next week.” Liu was part of the Sam Houston State University PGA Golf Management program with fellow Northern Texas PGA qualifier Spencer Dillard. “It’s really cool to be part of this small crew from Sam Houston State and we all get to go play in this event together.” He added, “[Dillard] was a senior when I was a freshman and the bond is still there.”


Spencer Dillard, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club, is looking to continue his successful season at the Assistant PGA Professional Championship. He has not only qualified for the Assistant PPC, but also the Levy Cup Matches team, Duel in the Desert and the PGA Professional Championship. Dillard mentioned that being able to qualify for these tournaments has helped his momentum and confidence tremendously. “Playing more tournament golf throughout the entire year just makes you more prepared and more confident.” Dillard was able to card almost 20 rounds at the PGA Golf Course while playing golf at Sam Houston State University. “It kinda feels like a home course,” said Dillard. “I’ve been in all the places where you shouldn’t hit and should hit, so I have some pretty good feedback.” Dillard also mentioned with some enthusiasm that one of his golf mentors Mike Watson, PGA head golf professional and general manager at Castle Bay Country Club in Hampstead, North Carolina, will be in attendance to cheer him on.


The champion of the Assistant PGA Professional Championship will have the opportunity to play in the 2024 PGA Professional Championship at Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco on April 28 to May 1. 


We wish our Members the best of luck as they begin competing in the 47th National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship. We look forward to watching each of you as you compete this week. If you would like to follow along, please go to www.go.pga.com/scoring.

Team of Murphy, Faulk Jr. Win Playoff to Capture 1st & 10th Tee Golf Energy Bar Pro-Junior Championship

By Erik Anderson • August 10, 2026
PLANO, Texas (August 10) – Seth Murphy, Associate at John Sikes Golf Academy and Thomas Faulk Jr. (a) captured the 1st & 10th Tee Golf Energy Bar Pro-Junior Championship title. The pair carded a 33-31–64, 8-under-par and made birdie on the first playoff hole. The pair began their round on the 8th hole and opened with a par. Six birdies on their next eight holes set them up for success for the first round. Their final nine holes were steady, with 7 pars and two birdies, but the bogey-free round was enough to get them into a two-team playoff against Ryan Grider, Associate at The Lakes at Castle Hills, and Colten Karstendiek (a). After a safe drive on the first playoff hole from Faulk Jr., Murphy was able to attack and had just 135 yards into the par-4 18th hole. He hit a pitching wedge to 10 feet and buried the putt. Murphy said, “He [Thomas] made about a 20-footer on our second hole, and that just put us on the pace we needed to get some momentum going. We gave ourselves lots of opportunities, double opportunities, where we were both putting for birdie, which is always nice. Just overall, we teamed very well today.” Faulk Jr added, “I started off hot and helped him out, and then when I was winding down, he got things going. We just made putts and pars when we needed to. It was just the team working.” Ryan Grider, Associate at The Lakes at Castle Hills, and Colten Karstendiek (a) fired 32-32–64 to finish in second place. Matt Weinberger, PGA senior director of member and amateur championships at PGA of America and Owen Layton (a) shot 31-35–66 to claim third place. The Championship featured 64 teams consisting of one PGA professional and one junior golfer between the ages of 7-19. The teams competed in a Four-Ball Stroke Play format. There was also a second division within the Championship where PGA professionals and their children competed for a separate title. The nine-team division was claimed for the third consecutive year by Jon Antunes, PGA director of instruction at Heart of Texas Golf Academy and his daughter Hannah Antunes (a) with a score of 34-34–68. For the professionals in the field today, there was a skins game with a $4,500 payout. Only one skin was earned today. Hanna Dickens, Associate at The Ronny Golf Park, made a birdie on hole 14 to earn the skin. The 1st & 10th Tee Golf Energy Bar Pro-Junior Championship was presented by CMC Design, PGA TOUR, and THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson.

Jerry J. Ransom Pro-Junior-Am Benefits the Northern Texas PGA Foundation

By Logan Bearden • August 3, 2026
$268,000 Donated to Foundation

Watkins Goes Wire-to-Wire, Defends Title at the 56th M&P Group Texas State Open

By Erik Anderson • July 31, 2026
Doggett (a) and McIlwain (a) Share Low Amateur Honors Walts Finishes as Top PGA Professional

Watkins Maintains Lead, Field Closes Gap Heading into the Final Round of 56th M&P Group Texas State Open

By Erik Anderson • July 30, 2026
TYLER, Texas (July 30) – Matthew Watkins of Rockwall, TX, carded a third-round 35-35–70, even par, and maintains the 54-hole lead at the 56th M&P Group Texas State Open. After a 36-hole score of 61-61–122, Watkins sits at 18-under-par for the championship. “I just kind of hung in there on the front nine, shot even. Then, kind of had it going just a little bit on 10 through 12. It was just an up-and-down day overall,” said Watkins. Watkins held a 6-stroke lead heading into the third round, but the field has cut it to just four. “Definitely going to be a little different than going into today. Probably a lack of concentration problem today, but still hung in there well.” Last year, Watkins held the 54-hole lead and said he was battling some nerves. “I’m definitely more comfortable, but still have to have a good round tomorrow if I want to win. Four [shots] can happen in three holes,” Watkins added. Watkins will look to defend his title beginning at 9:50 tomorrow morning. There is a three-way tie for second at 14-under-par between Cameron Sisk of Scottsdale, AZ, Cooper Schultz of Wichita, KS, and John Sand of Irving, TX. Cameron Sisk is a former Arizona State University standout. He finished his career there as a three-time All-American, two top-ten finishes at the NCAA individual Championships and 14th in the PGA TOUR University rankings. Sisk found himself behind the pack early this week, but with a second round of 64 and a 32-33–65 in today’s third round, Sisk has climbed back into contention. On the 12 par 5s Sisk has played this week, he is 12-under-par and credited his play on those holes as the reason he is tied for second heading into tomorrow’s final round. “You really got to take care of the par 5s out here. There are a few tougher par 3s and par 4s out here, so as long as you birdie the gettable holes, you’ll be in good shape,” said Sisk. After his 63 yesterday, Cooper Schultz shot a bogey-free 33-33–66 to cut his eight-shot deficit in half today. Of the three players tied for second, Schultz will be the first one out tomorrow as he tees off right before the final group. “It’ll be nice, I won’t feel like I have to press or anything. I’m just going to try and take what the course gives me. If I end up shooting 9-under, then great, if I shoot 2-under, that’s fine too, but I’ll just stay within myself and play the game I know I can play,” said Schultz. John Sand fired a bogey-free, 32-32–64, good for the joint low round of the day. He finished strong with birdies on holes 14, 15 and 16. The week has been steady so far for Sand, with rounds of 66, 66, 64, he sits just four back of Watkins. Sand and Sisk will join Watkins at 9:50 a.m. tomorrow, while Schultz precedes them in the 9:40 a.m. grouping. Bret Gray, PGA Member, is in solo fifth after a round of 34-30–64 and is the Low PGA Professional in the championship. Gray graduated from Sam Houston State University’s golf management program last December. He holds a one-stroke lead over Chase Walts, PGA assistant professional at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, TX in the PGA Member Division. Gray said, “I’ve done a lot of preparation and practice for moments like this, so I’m excited to tee it up tomorrow.” Gray and Walts both tee off at 9:40 a.m. Blake Elliott of Bullard, TX, continues to climb the leaderboard after a third-round 31-34–65, 5-under-par that propelled him 18 spots up the championship leaderboard. His round moved him to 10-under-par and he currently sits tied for eleventh place. Elliott has been battling an injury this week, but continues to fight through it. “It is what it is at this point. My speed’s down right now and kind of flinching at it a couple of times here and there, but it is what it is.” Grant Doggett (a) of Beach City, TX, leads the Amateur Division at 6-under-par. His third round 33-36–69, 1-under-par has him tied for 32nd overall. Doggett (a) is the defending Low Amateur after finishing at 11-under-par and 12th place overall last year. Doggett (a) is a senior at the University of Houston and grew up playing golf on the Southern Texas PGA Junior Tour. He holds a one-stroke lead over the next closest amateur, Kaelen Dulany (a) of Keller, TX. The 56th 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. 66 players (59 professionals and 7 amateurs) made the cut at 2-under-par and are competing for a $203,850 Championship purse. The champion, if a professional, will take home $40,000. The only amateur to win the Texas State Open was Homero Blancas in 1960. The final round starts 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 fourth year as the title sponsor, and the Championship is presented by Joyce Crane and Higginbotham and supported by CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances, Holiday Inn - Tyler Conference Center and Patterson Tyler. The championship is being played at Cascades Country Club for a record 15th time. Cascades Country Club Par: 35-35–70 Yardage: 6,882 yards