Napier Makes Late Charge to Take Two Stroke Lead into the Third Round of the 54th M&P Group Texas State Open

Steven Clements • August 1, 2024

Tanner Napier of Paris, TX played his last five holes 6-under par to surge into the lead at the 54th M&P Group Texas State Open. Napier carded a 34-29–63, 7-under-par to back up his first round 62. He sits at 15-under-par through 36 holes.


The 15-under-par start ties the low 36-hole total held by Kelly Grunewald who set the 36-hole mark at White Bluff Resort (New Course) in 2005. Grunewald went on to capture the championship that year, his second of three Texas State Open titles. 


Yesterday Napier eagled the par-5, 18th hole by chipping in from 30-yards short of the green. Today he chipped in once again on the 18th. “It was incredible, we like to call that a heater. I chipped in on hole 18 for eagle again,” said Napier.  Today was also the second day in a row that Napier shot 29 on the back nine. “I was kind of in shock for a second to be honest…it was a great way to finish and I can’t wait to get back out there tomorrow.”


Blake Elliott of Bullard, TX is two shots back at 13-under-par after a second round of 4-under-par, 66. Elliott is the only player in the field without a bogey this week. “It’s always really hard to back up a low round like that,” he said referring to his first round 61. “But I was just staying patient and waiting for some putts to fall.“


The Championship features two additional divisions, Low PGA Professional and Low Amateur. 


Spencer Dillard, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club in Dallas, TX, leads the PGA Professional Division at 9-under-par after rounds of 66, 65. Brandon Bingaman, PGA assistant professional at Gleneagles Country Club in Plano, TX, is two strokes behind Dillard.


“Anytime we get to go out and compete against these guys it's awesome. We love to represent the PGA Members, but we want to win ourselves. We are going for the trophy.” Dillard continued, “Tomorrow I am going to play the best that I can and hope that I can catch up and hang my head in good graces.” 


Sangha Park (a) of Odessa, TX leads the Amateur Division at 8-under-par, after back-to-back rounds of 66.


61 players survived the 36-hole cut that was 2-under. Of the 61 players, three were PGA Golf Professionals and six were amateurs. 


Gregory Odom Jr. of Memphis, TN is at 9-under-par and made his first cut after turning professional earlier in the summer. Odom earned an exemption into the Championship by winning the Southwest Airlines Showcase at Cedar Crest in November of last year. 


“Playing in the Southwest Airlines Showcase was a great opportunity…I’m just honored and happy to be here,” Said Odom. “I finally made my first cut as a professional…I’ve just been trying to grind hard.”


The 54th M&P Group Texas State Open is a 72-hole stroke play event and consists of 156 professionals and amateurs. The starting field was made up of exempt players as well as successful qualifiers. The 61 players who made the cut will compete for the Championship purse of $201,000. The winner will take home $40,000. 


This is M&P Group’s second year as the title sponsor and the Championship is presented by Joyce Crane and supported by Christus Trinity Mother Frances, Holiday Inn - Tyler Conference Center, Jucys Hamburgers and Patterson Tyler.


The Cascades Country Club

Par: 35-35–70

Yardage: 6,882 yards


View Round Two Results HERE

View Round Three Tee Times HERE

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Crockroft Memorial Scholarship Saydi Durbin – Mart High School Ethan Hocking – Mart High School Allison and Jerry Freeman Scholarship Niko Klassen – Homeschool ANNIKA Foundation Scholarship Alicia Bellendir – Coppell High School April and Mark Anthony Scholarship Huey Black – Canyon High School Baylor Scott & White Scholarship Garrick Ly – Lone Star High School Aliya Rasheed – Panther Creek High School Ben Hogan Foundation / Fred & Michele Reynolds Scholarship Jeffery Rubenstein – Highland Park High School Ben Hogan Foundation / Lillie Biggins Scholarship Mikayla Martin – Homeschool Ben Hogan Foundation / Mike McMahan Scholarship Adam Strauss – Greenhill School Ben Hogan Foundation / Mike Wright Scholarship Gracie Ellis – Clarendon High School Birdies For Kids Scholarship Sydnee Fain – Midland High Jade Mara – Argyle High School Cameron Doan NTPGA Golf Professional of the Year Scholarship Landon Reece – Mildred High School CJ Corporation Scholarship Katherine Bustetter – Centennial High School Harper Mallonee – Highland Park High School Luke Martin – Rockwall-Heath High School Delaney Newberry – Highland Park High School Yunjae Park – Prosper High School Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship Yvette Altamirano – W. 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Carter High School Abril Guerrero – Thomas Jefferson High School Ariel Meza Meza – Thomas Jefferson High School Sa'Mareion Tucker – Lincoln High School Camyre' Williams – Lincoln High School Destination Grapevine Texas Women's Open Scholarship Audrey McCallum – Colleyville Heritage High School Dr. Bill Blair Scholarship Cameron Warner – Wakeland High School Ewing Automotive Scholarship Hannah Antunes – China Spring High School Avery Jones – Homeschool Fore Frisco Scholarship Amara Okafor – Lone Star High School Rajdeep Singh – Panther Creek High School Lauryn Spraggs – Panther Creek High School Nikki Zahedi – Lone Star High School Frank & Evelyn Borgsmiller Scholarship Alan Ocampo – Thomas Jefferson High School Fritz and Mary Lee Duda Family Foundation Scholarship Taylor Carr – McKinney Boyd High School Giveback Foundation Scholarship Jelani Johnson Simon – Panther Creek High School Evan Tupper – Lone Star High School Holly & Doug Brooks Family Foundation Scholarship Keegan Batla – Garden City High School Darby Ehrbar – Flower Mound High School Tyson Embry – Marcus High School Caroline Fent – Ursuline Academy of Dallas Riley Gudgeon – Hebron High School Xiyu Mei – Walnut Grove High School Jude Robbins – Wakeland High School I Am a Golfer Foundation Scholarship De'Asia Williams – David W. 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Samuell High School UTA / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship Leibi Chavira Reyes – W.W. Samuell High School West Texas Legends Scholarship honoring Jenny Cox Claire Smiley – Amarillo High School West Texas Legends Scholarship honoring S.A. Smith, Hart Warren, Jay McClure, and Sherwin Cox Gunnar Barrera – Levelland High School Three additional scholarship winners will be announced later this June, with recipients selected via random drawings at two upcoming events. First, the Jerry J. Ransom Pro-Junior-Am fundraising tournament will award a $5,000 scholarship to a participating recent graduate. Later in the month, the S.A. Smith West Texas Junior Invitational will host a drawing for two $2,500 memorial scholarships in honor of Jerry D. Smith, one awarded to a male participant and one to a female participant.