Northern Texas PGA Announces 2022 Section Award Winners

Molly Rawlins • November 30, 2022

Dean Larsson Named Golf Professional of the Year

DALLAS, TX – 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 2022 Section Award Winners.


Dean Larsson, PGA head professional at Royal Oaks Country Club, is the recipient of the 2022 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. 


Larsson has been the PGA head professional at Royal Oaks Country Club for the last nine and a half years. He manages the very active and successful tournament and instructional programs for members and their guests. Larsson is also dedicated to making sure his staff and their families maintain a good work-life balance and therefore enjoy coming to work to serve the membership of Royal Oaks each and every day. 


Larsson has been a key member in growing the Northern Texas PGA Foundation. He is a founding member of the Birdies for Kids fundraiser and participates yearly in The Great 108 at Royal Oaks which recently surpassed $2M raised for the Foundation in the last 39 years. In the past, Larsson has served on the Ewing Charity Classic Committee and was the Chairman of the Tournament Committee. He is also third on the all-time list of NTPGA individual major championships won with 15. 


In addition to Dean, congratulations to the following 2022 NTPGA Award winners. 

PGA Member Award Categories


PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award – Dean Larsson, Royal Oaks Country Club

 

PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Award – Austin Fields, Dallas National Golf Club

 

Distinguished Service Award – Greg Sikes, Hogan Park Golf Course

 

Teacher & Coach of the Year Award – Jack Daneshmand, Four Seasons Resort & Club

 

Randy Smith Youth Player Development Award – Charleton Dechert, The First Tee of Fort Worth

 

PGA Player Development Award (Growth of the Game) – Michelle Edgar, Royal Oaks Country Club

 

Patriot Award – Alan Coe, Tascosa Golf Club

 

Bill Strausbaugh Award (Club Relations, Employment and Mentoring) – Vince Bove, PGA of America

 

PGA Professional Development Award (Education / Building the Image of a PGA Professional) – Jeremy Langdale, Ranchland Hills Golf Club

 

PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award (Private Category) – Taylor Ruehl, Dallas National Golf Club

 

PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award (Resort/Public Category) – Robert Singletary, Grapevine Golf Course


 

Playing Awards


Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf / Asics Player of the Year – JJ Killeen, Red Feather Golf and Social Club

 

Ben Hogan / NTPGA Stroke Play Average Award – JJ Killeen, Red Feather Golf and Social Club

 

Rolex | XXIO Senior Points Challenge Winner – Stuart Hendley, Dallas Athletic Club

 

NTPGA Woman Player of the Year – Trish Holt, Lakewood Country Club


 

Non-PGA Member Award Categories


Bob Galt Award (Media) – Eli Jordan, Avid Golfer / The Ticket

 

Byron Nelson Award (Amateur) – Dr. Bill Blair, Fredericksburg

 

Leon Faucett Award (Sales Representative) – Yoyo Rosario, Lorente Golf

 

Golf Course Superintendent Award – Joe Livingston, River Crest Country Club

 

 

The winners will be honored at the Awards Banquet in February 2023. 

2026 Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open Set to Return to Grapevine Golf Course

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 . ###

Reynolds and Roberson Secure the 2026 GT Golf Supply Pro-Pro Championship

By Erik Anderson • March 31, 2026
Golding and Walden win Senior Division

Norman and Massa (a) go Back-to-Back at the Srixon / Cleveland Golf Pro-Scratch Championship

By Erik Anderson • March 25, 2026
Brown and Gibralter (a) claim Senior Division

Bruns And Walts Win 2026 KBS TOUR Shafts Pro-Assistant Championship After Two Hole Playoff

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