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