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

By Molly Rawlins April 8, 2026
GRAPEVINE, Texas – Registration is now open for the 2026 Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open and its qualifying events. The Championship will take place Wednesday, May 27, through Friday, May 29, at Grapevine Golf Course. This 46th year of the Championship marks another chapter in the event’s rich history, continuing its tradition as one of the premier women’s tournaments in Texas. The projected overall purse is $80,000. For the third consecutive year, Grapevine Golf Course will serve as host, reinforcing the City of Grapevine’s commitment to supporting and growing women’s golf. Known for its hospitality and spirited community, Grapevine looks forward to building on the success of previous Championships while delivering a first-class experience for players and spectators alike. The 2026 Championship continues its partnership with the ANNIKA Women’s All Pro Tour (WAPT). Thanks to the support of the ANNIKA WAPT, this Championship allows the top two finishers to receive exemptions into the Epson Tour’s Island Resort Championship, June 22–28 in Harris, Michigan. Additionally, ANNIKA WAPT members will earn points toward the Callaway Race to Q2, with all earnings counting toward the 2026 ANNIKA WAPT Official Money List. A total of 144 players will compete in a 54-hole stroke play format, with a cut to the low 50 players and ties after 36 holes. New for 2026, players shall gain access to compete in the Championship through qualifying events unless they are otherwise exempt. Exemption categories for the 2026 Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open include: Past Champions Top 10 professionals and ties from the 2025 Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open Top five amateurs and ties from the 2025 Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open First five LPGA Tour Members First 10 Epson Tour Members ANNIKA Top 80 through third event ending April 24 Five amateurs ranked within the Top 500 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking Six All American Tour Exemptions Two Legends Junior Tour Exemptions Two Prestige Exemptions One Host Exemption Two Sponsor Exemptions Three NTPGA/WAPT Exemptions Three Good Good Golf Exemptions Eligibility for the 2026 Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open is open to professional and amateur golfers. Amateurs are encouraged to hold a USGA Handicap Index of 6.4 or lower. Additionally, the Championship is recognized as an official Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking and World Amateur Golf Ranking event, further enhancing its prestige and competitive significance. Registration for the 2026 Championship can be found HERE . Qualifying information can be found HERE . For more information about the Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open, visit www.ntpga.com/texas-womens-open . For those wishing to attend the event, admission is complimentary, allowing fans to enjoy top-tier women’s golf in an accessible public setting at one of Texas’ top-ranked public courses. With more than 20 hotels to stay at, it is an easy weekend getaway while you catch the action or play a few rounds of your own. Grapevine offers a wide range of accommodations from luxury resorts like the Gaylord Texan to family-friendly stays like Great Wolf Lodge, plus a variety of select-service hotels. For more information, visit www.grapevinetexasusa.com/texaswomensopen . ###
By Erik Anderson March 31, 2026
Golding and Walden win Senior Division
By Erik Anderson March 25, 2026
Brown and Gibralter (a) claim Senior Division
By Erik Anderson March 3, 2026
THE COLONY, Texas (March 2) – The team of Robert Bruns, PGA Head Professional at Trinity Forest Golf Club, along with partner Chase Walts, PGM Student at Methodist University who currently works as an assistant at Trinity Forest Golf Club won the 2026 KBS TOUR Shafts Pro-Assistant Championship after a two hole playoff. The two carded a bogey-free, 12-under-par, final score after shooting 64 on Old American Golf Club and a 31 on the back nine of Tribute Golf Links. They bested the team of Spencer Dillard and Alastair Jones from Preston Trail Golf Club. The 27-hole, Four-Ball Stroke Play Championship was hosted at Golf Clubs at The Tribute for the sixth straight year. Teams played Old American Golf Club and the back nine of Tribute Golf Links. Bruns and Walts both had looks inside 10 feet on the second playoff hole, though it was Bruns who poured in the winning putt. “I knew he had it in the bag, so I think that made it much easier for me to just be free and let it go,” said Bruns. Walts recently became an assistant professional at Trinity Forest, and said, “Robert is such a huge mentor to me and my career already. I hope to learn from everything he knows and that goes for golf as well.” “It makes it much easier when you’re in the mix coming down the fairway and you have a great relationship with each other. At the end of the day you’re just having fun,” Bruns said after their victory. This is the first win for both Bruns and Walts in Section Major Championships. The pair earned $3,200 ($1,600 each) out of the record $32,000 total championship purse. The KBS TOUR Shafts Pro-Assistant Championship was presented by Callaway Golf, Club Car, Evolve Golf, Landmark Golf Course Products, Range Servant, THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, and Winston Collection. View the final results HERE . Old American Golf Club Par: 35-36–71 Yardage: 6,770 Tribute Golf Links (Back nine) Par: 36 Yardage: 3,368