Northern Texas PGA Announces Section Award Winners

Margaret Miller • November 19, 2021

Courtney Connell Named Golf Professional of the Year

DALLAS, Texas – Each year the Northern Texas PGA recognizes its members and others in the golf community through the NTPGA Awards program. On behalf of the Northern Texas PGA Awards Committee and past Presidents of the Section, it is our pleasure to announce the 2021 Section Award Winners.

 

Courtney Connell, PGA head professional at Mira Vista Country Club, is the recipient of the 2021 Northern Texas PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award. This is the highest annual honor given to a Northern Texas PGA member, awarded for qualities of leadership, strong moral character and a substantial record of service to the NTPGA and the game of golf. 

 

As PGA head professional at Mira Vista Country Club, Connell has spent the last 13 years focusing on delivering exceptional customer service to the Mira Vista membership as well as growing, and developing the game for adult and junior golfers.

 

Connell has been a PGA member for 35 years, joining the Quarter Century Club as a 25 year member of the PGA in 2011. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 2012 and is in his second and final year serving as NTPGA President. In 2004 Connell received “Master Professional” status, the highest level of PGA status awarded to members.

 

Congratulations to the following 2021 Northern Texas PGA Award Winners. 

 

PGA Member Award Categories

 

Golf Professional of the Year Award – Courtney Connell, Mira Vista Country Club

 

Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Award – Ashley Thorpe, Brook Hollow Golf Club

 

Distinguished Service Award – Billy Harris, Dallas Country Club

 

Teacher and Coach of the Year Award – Corey Lundberg, Altus Performance

 

Randy Smith Youth Player Development Award – Alex Curnutt, Lakewood Country Club

 

Player Development Award (Growth of the Game) – Chad Moscovic, Brook Hollow Golf Club

 

Patriot Award – Ira Molayo, Cedar Crest Golf Course

 

Bill Strausbaugh Award (Club Relations, Employment and Mentoring) – John Sikes, Hollytree Country Club

 

PGA Professional Development Award (Education / Building the Image of a PGA Professional) – Lee Rhind, Midland Country Club

 

Merchandiser of the Year Award (Private Category) – Brandon Veld, Lubbock Country Club

 

Merchandiser of the Year Award (Resort/Public Category) – Cody Roye, Golf Clubs at The Tribute

 

Playing Awards

 

Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf / XXIO / Asics Player of the Year – JJ Killeen, 4ORE! Golf

 

Ben Hogan / NTPGA Stroke Play Average Award – JJ Killeen, 4ORE! Golf

 

Rolex | XXIO Senior Points Challenge Winner – Bruce Smith, Black Belt Golf Academy

 

NTPGA Woman Player of the Year – Julie Wells, John Sikes Golf Academy

 

Non-PGA Member Award Categories

 

Bob Galt Award (Media) – Arnold Payne, WFAA-TV

 

Byron Nelson Award (Amateur) – Mark Harrison, Northern Texas PGA 

 

Leon Faucett Award (Sales Representative) – Rob Banta, Adventures In Golf

 

Golf Course Superintendent Award – Fore Brown, Midland Country Club

 

 

The winners will be honored at the President’s Dinner on Sunday, February 6, 2022

Northern Texas PGA Announces 2026 Chapter Award Winners

By Erik Anderson • October 26, 2026
On behalf of each NTPGA Chapter Awards Committee, East Texas, Metro Texas and West Texas, we are pleased to announce the 2026 Northern Texas PGA Chapter Award Winners below. 2026 East Chapter Award Winners Golf Professional of the Year Tim Lawson, The Pinnacle Golf Club Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Justin Benson, Eagle's Bluff Country Club Teacher & Coach of the Year Cory Ryan, Crown Colony Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Private Kendall Earp Motes, Sulphur Springs Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Public Doug Myer, Tyler Golf Professional Development Award John Sikes, Eagle's Bluff Country Club Bill Strausbaugh Award Doug Myer, Tyler Golf Player Development Award John Sikes, Eagle's Bluff Country Club Patriot Award Dick Goetz, PGA Life Member Youth Player Development Award Mike Williams, Alpine Target Golf Center 2026 Metro Chapter Award Winners Golf Professional of the Year Abe Hernandez, Royal Oaks Country Club Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Shelly Davis, Dallas Athletic Club Teacher & Coach of the Year Gabe Reynolds, Topgolf - Dallas Merchandiser of the Year - Private Brian Schorsten, Colonial Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Public Chad Williams, Tierra Verde Golf Club Professional Development Award Deborah Foley, PGA of America Bill Strausbaugh Award Trish Holt, Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco Player Development Award Michelle Edgar, The Clubs of Prestonwood - The Hills Patriot Award Bob Nied, The Courses at Watters Creek Youth Player Development Award Garrett Anderson, Golf Clubs at The Tribute 2026 West Chapter Award Winners  Golf Professional of the Year Jimmy Tidwell, Abilene Country Club Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Dru Hein, Midland Country Club Teacher & Coach of the Year Brandon Veld, Red Feather Golf & Social Club Merchandiser of the Year - Private Matt Lawson, Lubbock Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Public Casey Renner, Palo Duro Creek Golf Course Professional Development Award Brian Nagy, Abilene Country Club Bill Strausbaugh Award Jake McCullough, Odessa Country Club Player Development Award Thomas Martin, Green Tree Country Club Patriot Award George Priolo, Ross Rogers Golf Complex Youth Player Development Award Ryan Osgood, Odessa Country Club Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients.

A Full Circle Summer

By Erik Anderson • October 21, 2026
NTPGA Junior Tour Alumni Sweep the 2026 NTPGA Section Individual Majors

Walts, Reynolds Earn Finalist Spots for Duel in the Desert Finale

By Erik Anderson • October 7, 2026
Friend and McCorkle Headed to Lajitas Golf Resort for Duel in the Desert

Dillard Wins $25,000 at Jerry J. Ransom Northern Texas PGA Shootout at The Oaks in Back-to-Back Years

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.