Moscovic Takes Big Lead After 18 Holes in Lajitas

Steven Clements • December 11, 2023

LAJITAS, TX – Chad Moscovic, PGA director of golf park programming at the Northern Texas PGA, leads the Duel in the Desert 4up after 18 holes of the 36-hole final match. 


Moscovic, the No. 21 seed, earned his way into the final match after wins over No.12 Kent Graham, No.28 Michael Tangredi, No.4 Brian Norman and No.17 Greg Gregory at River Crest Country Club on October 2-3, 2023.


Playing alongside Moscovic is No.6 seed Spencer Dillard, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club. Dillard earned his spot in the finals with wins over No.27 Brian Coe, No.22 Cameron Doan, No.30 David Studebaker and No.2 JJ Killeen.


Moscovic, who was one down after three holes, totaled nine birdies on the day. “That was as good as I have hit it in a long time… I had three or four gimme birdies. I haven't made that many birdies in a long time,” said Moscovic.


For the second year in a row, Northern Texas PGA is conducting The Duel in the Desert at Lajitas Golf Resort’s Black Jack’s Crossing, the #1 ranked public golf course in Texas, voted by the Dallas Morning News.


The final 18 holes of the Duel in the Desert will begin at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. The two professionals are vying for a $10,000 winner’s check with the runner-up cashing $5,000.


The Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf / Asics Match Play Championship was presented by Adventures In Golf, AT&T Byron Nelson, Lajitas Golf Resort, PGA TOUR and XXIO. 


Lajitas Golf Resort’s Black Jack’s Crossing

Par: 36-36–72

Yardage: 7,236 Yards


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By Erik Anderson • September 29, 2026
GREENVILLE, Texas (September 28) – For the second year in a row, Spencer Dillard, PGA director of golf at Golf Clubs at The Tribute, claimed the Jerry J. Ransom Northern Texas PGA Shootout at The Oaks, taking home $25,000 for the win. Just like last year, it took Dillard two playoff holes to best runner-up Nick Paez, instructor at The Ronny Golf Park. Both players found the 440-yard, par 4, 9th green in two, but a costly three-putt from Paez from 35 feet led to Dillard finishing off a nervy three-foot putt for the win. Dillard also won with a par in last year’s event and has now taken home the victory in two out of three years in the event’s short history. “It’s pretty special, just the opportunity to play in the event. I just can’t thank Dr. Ransom enough for putting this on and all he does for us,” said Dillard. “Just being able to play is a huge deal and then lasting through the shootout is so tough, so it feels great to be here.” The players in the shootout were battling in what seemed to be a competition of who could continue to make birdies. “Nathan was 9-under through a 12-hole stretch today and still went out. There is so much talent in our Section, so you got to go win it,” said Dillard. Longtime Northern Texas PGA Foundation supporter Jerry J. Ransom welcomed 98 Northern Texas PGA Members and Associates to The Oaks Country Club for the third annual Shootout. The event was created to recognize the PGA Professionals across the Section who dedicate their time and energy to growing the game through the NTPGA Foundation’s initiatives. The event was developed by Ransom as a way to thank PGA Professionals across the Northern Texas Section while also providing exposure to The Oaks Country Club. The Oaks is a top-five nine-hole course in Texas according to the Dallas Morning News golf course rankings. The format for the event featured a 9-hole qualifier, with the top three finishers and one randomly selected participant moving on to the evening shootout. Nathan Park, instructor at Stonebriar Country Club, qualified first after finishing with an impressive 6-under-par, 30. Dillard was the next to advance, carding a 4-under-par, 32, and finally Paez at 3-under-par, 33, who won a six-for-one spot playoff with a birdie on the first extra hole in the playoff. Zack Vinson, PGA head professional at Athens Country Club, was the random drawing winner. The nine-hole Shootout portion of the event was played in three stages of three holes each, with one professional eliminated after every stage. After the first three holes, Vinson was eliminated and landed a prize of $2,500. The scores were then reset to even par, and the second three holes saw Nathan Park bow out, despite being 9-under-par through 15 holes. He played his final three holes in the shootout at even par. Still, he earned $7,500 for his efforts. The scores again reset to even par for the final three-hole segment, where Dillard and Paez battled it out for three holes, followed by two extra holes in the playoff.
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