Northern Texas PGA Announces New Co-Title Sponsors of the Texas State Open - Championship Returning to The Cascades Club in Tyler

NTPGA • May 11, 2018

The Northern Texas PGA Section set to conduct the Tanos Exploration II / Patterson-UTI Drilling Texas State Open

(DALLAS, Texas) – The Northern Texas PGA announced today a multi-year agreement with Tanos Exploration II, LLC and also Patterson-UTI Drilling as the new co-title sponsors of the Texas State Open. The championship will be named and referred to as the “Tanos Exploration II / Patterson-UTI Drilling Texas State Open.”

The tournament will return to Tyler, Texas and will be played at The Cascades Club, where it was played from 2006 – 2011. The Cascades Club will join Horseshoe Bay Resort and The Woodlands as facilities who have hosted the Texas State Open for seven or more years.

The Tanos Exploration II / Patterson-UTI Drilling Texas State Open will be played July 31 – August 3. It will be the 48th playing of this historic event.

“Tanos is very excited to team with another local industry leader as a co-title sponsor of the Texas State Open and in doing so, bringing this historically rich event back to Tyler,” said Nick Pollard, Vice President of Business Development for Tanos Exploration II, LLC.

Mike Holcomb, President of Patterson-UTI Drilling Company LLC added, “Patterson-UTI Drilling has a long history of operating in the East Texas area and we are excited about the opportunity to partner with Tanos Energy in sponsoring the Texas State Open. On behalf of our many employees who live in the Tyler Area, we would like to thank the PGA for the opportunity to bring this great event back to Tyler.”

“Over the past four years, the Texas State Open has gained a lot of momentum thanks to the support of our corporate partners and championship sites with the purse increasing by 60% to $200,000.00,” said Mark Harrison, Executive Director / CEO of the Northern Texas PGA. “With Tanos Exploration II, Patterson-UTI Drilling and The Cascades Club, we look to continue the positive momentum and we are very excited about our new partnerships with Tanos and Patterson-UTI Drilling.”

“It is also fitting that an event of this stature is returning to The Cascades Club. The membership at the club as well as the entire community of Tyler embraced the Texas State Open when we last played the event in East Texas. The Northern Texas PGA is very excited to work with the exceptional team at The Cascades Club lead by PGA General Manager Matthew Cohen as we return to Tyler," said Harrison.

The Texas State Open has crowned many past and future stars over its 47-year history. Three-time Texas State Open Champions include: Ben Crenshaw (’75, ’79 and ’80), Jeff Maggert (’88, ’90 and ’94) and Kelly Grunewald (’02, ’05 and ’06). Lee Trevino leads the list of those with two Texas State Open victories. In addition, PGA TOUR Members, Martin Piller (2008) and Shawn Stefani (2011) both captured the Texas State Open when it was last played at The Cascades Club. 2017 champion, Brax McCarthy of Fort Worth, Texas, has his sights set on defending his title this year.

The Tanos Exploration II / Patterson-UTI Drilling Texas State Open is open to all professionals, competitive amateurs and junior golfers with advanced tournament experience. Qualifying for the championship will be conducted from June 11 – July 18. Registration will be available beginning Friday, May 11. The entry deadline is June 7. For more information, visit www.ntpga.com.

Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation’s scholarship program with the creation of the Tanos Exploration II / Patterson-UTI Drilling Texas State Open Scholarship. The scholarship will be designated for a NTPGA Junior Golf Foundation Member from the Tyler area who will be attending college this fall. This year alone, the NTPGA Junior Golf Foundation will be awarding more than $300,000 in scholarships to 42 high school seniors from North Texas.



ABOUT TANOS EXPLORATION II, LLC
Tanos Exploration II, LLC is a privately held company that was capitalized in July 2013 in order to take advantage of more than 120 years of combined management experience exploiting conventional and unconventional reservoirs in the Ark-La-Tex area. Tanos II combines exceptional people, technical expertise and operating efficiencies to maximize value and investor returns.

A BOUT PATTERSON-UTI DRILLING COMPANY, LLC
Patterson-UTI Drilling, a subsidiary of Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTEN), operates a fleet of fit for purpose, land-based drilling rigs primarily in oil and natural gas producing regions of the continental United States. Patterson-UTI Drilling is a leader in innovation, dependability, technology, people and processes, with more than 250 rigs in our fleet. With expertise and scale in major operational areas, our oilfield solutions deliver results that lead your business into the next generation of oil and gas. With headquarters in Houston, Texas and regional offices throughout our operating areas, let’s team up to advance your business.

ABOUT THE CASCADES CLUB
The Cascades, a Master-Planned 5-Star community, is the most comprehensive community in East Texas. This luxury lake front golf, tennis, fitness and residential community sits on 500 acres and is located just four miles from downtown Tyler, Texas. The Cascades is also conveniently located midway between Dallas, Texas and Shreveport, Louisiana. The Cascades Club golf course was re-designed by PGA Tour player Mark Hayes to challenge players at any skill level. Lush, tour-quality greens and broad fairways wind among tall oak and pine trees, with many holes set alongside scenic lakes on the golf course, and a stunning back drop framed by Lake Bellwood greeting you on your first tee shot of the day.

ABOUT THE NORTHERN TEXAS PGA
The Northern Texas PGA is one of 41 Sections that comprise the PGA of America. It has a professional membership of more than 850. The Section encompasses the state of Texas just north of Austin. The not-for-profit organization is governed by an elected board of directors, who are PGA golf professionals. The operational focus of the Section is to provide services to golf professionals and the golf industry, while promoting and growing the game. The Section is best known for promoting and growing the game through the nationally acclaimed Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization

By Molly Rawlins December 17, 2025
Paez, McCorkle, Shields also honored with Playing Awards
By Margaret Miller December 9, 2025
LAJITAS, Texas (December 9) – Brandon Bingaman, PGA assistant professional at Gleneagles Country Club, won the Duel in the Desert at Lajitas Golf Resort to claim the 2025 Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Match Play Championship Open Division title. Rob Shields, PGA member at The Winsford Group, claimed the Senior Division title. The No. 2-seeded Bingaman battled No. 12 Jon Antunes, PGA director of instruction at Heart of Texas Golf Academy, in a 36-hole final match for the title and $10,000. Both players began their run to the championship match back in October at White Bluff Resort, where they battled their way through the 32-player Match Play Championship bracket. “It’s incredible out here,” said Bingaman. “Jon is awesome; we couldn’t have had more fun. It’s hard, because on one hand you want to win and it's stressful, but on the other hand we were just two guys enjoying playing golf.” After playing 18 holes on Monday, their match stood at 2UP in favor of Bingaman. He continued his charge with birdies on holes 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8, extending his lead to 7UP. Antunes quickly answered back with a long putt on the 9th hole to cut into Bingaman's lead. But, Bingaman drained a birdie putt on hole 13 to end the match. He claimed his first Match Play title 7&5. Bingaman made a putter switch in between the 36-hole match. “I brought two putters with me. I’ve been flipping back and forth recently between a L.A.B Putter and a Scottie Cameron, which did me well last week. Going into this weekend, I had a good feeling [about the latter], and good feelings turned into good playing.” This is the first year that Bingaman has made it to the final match. Antunes has won the title twice, previously in 2021 and 2022. “This was my first time qualifying for [Duel in the Desert], and I was super excited because I’ve heard nothing but great things about Lajitas Golf Resort,” said Bingaman. In the Senior Division, Rob Shields, PGA Member of the Winsford Group, started the day with a 1UP lead over Billy Harris. Harris birdied the 2nd hole to tie the match, and on the next hole, he went 1UP. Shields and Harris battled back and forth on holes 4, 5, 6 and 7 before Shields won holes 8, 9 and 10. His 3UP lead was enough to take the victory on hole 16, 3&2. “I think my putting was good. I hit the fairways today, which is good because if not, you’re playing in the trees, or desert; but, it was fun. I had a good time,” said Shields. He continued by praising his opponent and friend, Billy Harris, “I’ve known Billy for a long time. He’s a good guy.” Shields earned $5,000 for his victory today and his first match play title. This year was the fourth year that the Open Division championship match was conducted in Lajitas and the second year that the Senior Division joined them. “This place is a hidden gem. It’s a great golf course, lots and lots of fun. It was a joy being out here. The elevation changes are awesome,” said Shields about Lajitas Golf Resort. The Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Match Play Championship was presented by Adventures In Golf, Lajitas Golf Resort, PGA TOUR, THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, TPx Communications and XXIO.
Cameron Doan GY
By Molly Rawlins November 21, 2025
2025 NTPGA Award Winners
November 18, 2025
HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 18, 2025) – The historic 45th Joe Black Cup has concluded, and we proudly congratulate Team NTPGA on securing the victory at BraeBurn Country Club with a final score of 15.5–8.5 over Team STPGA. Team NTPGA established early momentum during Day One, delivering an impressive performance in the Four-Ball and Foursomes matches, where they earned 9.5 points to build a commanding lead. Their strong play continued into the Singles matches, where they successfully held off a determined rally from Team STPGA. Throughout Tuesday’s competition, spectators were treated to a dynamic and engaging battle, with the leaderboard frequently shifting between red and blue as both teams exchanged critical points to tie the session 6-6. This year’s event was elevated by a truly memorable “Evening of Honor,” during which we welcomed and celebrated 29 Past Captains. Their presence underscored the tradition, legacy, and camaraderie that define the Texas Joe Black Cup Matches. The evening served as a powerful reminder of the event’s rich history and the influential leaders who have helped shape its enduring significance. We extend heartfelt congratulations to Team NTPGA for their outstanding performance and to both teams for exemplifying sportsmanship, competitive spirit, and pride in their respective sections. The 45th Joe Black Cup will long be remembered as a fitting tribute to the heritage of golf in Texas, Mr. Joe Black, and the individuals who continue to elevate the game. After 45 years of competition, the Northern Texas PGA now holds a 22–21–2 lead over the Southern Texas PGA in the storied history of the Joe Black Cup Matches. The 46th playing will return to Midland Country Club on November 16–17, 2026, where Team STPGA will look to reclaim the cup and bring it back to Southern Texas. A special thank you to Club Car, Srixon, Cleveland Golf, Peter Millar, and Winston Collection for their outstanding partnership and support in creating a world-class atmosphere befitting this historic 45th edition of the Matches. To view the final results, click here .