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 Logan Bearden June 16, 2026
From left to right: Sa'Mareion Tucker, Matisse Edwards, Daisy Navarro, Leibi Chavira Reyes, Yvette Altamirano, Abril Guerrero, Ariel Meza Meza. (not pictured is Camyre' Williams who was unable to attend the banquet)
By Erik Anderson June 16, 2026
del Olmo Delivers in the Senior Division
By Logan Bearden June 9, 2026
Frisco, Texas (June 9, 2026) – The Northern Texas PGA (NTPGA) Foundation is pleased to continue its charitable commitment to higher education by announcing our 2026 scholarship recipients. Ninety high school seniors who will be attending college this fall have earned scholarships totaling $947,500, breaking last year’s record by $184,500! Since its inception in 1983, the Foundation’s scholarship program has now reached an incredible milestone, surpassing 1,000 scholarships awarded for a lifetime total of nearly $7.5 million in student support. “What amazing numbers these are!” said Northern Texas PGA Chief Executive Officer Mark Harrison. “The growth and support we have seen for our scholarship program over the last few years is remarkable, and truly unmatched. I want to thank all of our partners who make this year-over-year record possible, and I also want to congratulate and wish the best of luck to the young men and women who have worked diligently throughout high school to receive one of our scholarships this year. I know they will go on to do great things.” The 2026 scholarship amounts vary from $2,500 to $20,000. In addition, two students were awarded a “last-dollar” full scholarship to two of the Foundation’s partner schools, the University of North Texas at Dallas (UNTD) and the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), and one student was awarded a full-ride scholarship to the University of North Texas, which is a new partner school for this year. Congratulations to our 2026 scholarship recipients: A.B. 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. W. Samuell High School Matisse Edwards – David W. 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. Carter High School Jackie Cupit Scholarship Brody Callens – White Oak High School Jerry Andrews Scholarship Dylan Wisener – Sachse High School Jerry J. Ransom Scholarship Max Cearley – Rockwall High School Brooks Head – Coppell High School Reed Heilig – Flower Mound High School Brooklynn Landrumm – Melissa High School Van Leugers – Rockwall High School Haylie Moore – Burleson Centennial High School Bryan Sargent – Walnut Grove High School Joe Black / Texas Golf Hall of Fame Scholarship Jacob Mekelburg – Maypearl High School Joe Bob Joyce Family Foundation Scholarship William Wampler – Canton High School Jon and Kim Morgan Scholarship Aashi Vakta – Justin Wakeland High School Jordan Spieth Family Foundation Scholarship Damir Ali – Thomas Jefferson High School Marely Angeles – Lincoln High School Dayanara Aquino – W.W. Samuell High School Montrell Horner – Lincoln High School Links on PGA Parkway Scholarship Anisaa Abdullah – Emmett J. Conrad High School Reagan Lorenson – McKinney North High School Daphny Moore – Keene High School M&P Group Texas State Open Scholarship Samuel Fate – Tyler Legacy High School Mac Spikes PGA Member Scholarship Anabelle Floriani – Lone Star High School Miss Katie Scholarship Gloria Solis – Thomas Jefferson High School Never Stop Believing Scholarship Annabeth Boyd – Trinity Preparatory Academy Perry Arthur Scholarship Faith Hughes – Community Christian School Philip Bleakney Scholarship Samuel Williams – Vilonia High School Randy Smith Scholarship Carson Niemann – Byron Nelson High School Ronny Glanton Scholarship Addison Akers – Bryan Adams High School Ronny Golf Park Scholarship Madison Bixler – Lone Star High School Riaan Nazrul – Panther Creek High School Carlo Rogers – Panther Creek High School Royal Oaks Country Club / Nicholas Stafford Scholarship Kian Sköld – Frisco High School Scottie and Meredith Scheffler Scholarship Austin Morrissette – Northwest High School Addelyn Schwarzlose – Tascosa High School Sherrill Park / Two Dads and a Coach Scholarship Kristin Coffman – Berkner High School Tehan Scholarship Cooper Knapp – Wylie High School The CJ Cup Byron Nelson Scholarship Aiden Tiet – Garland Christian Academy UNT / Fore Frisco Scholarship Kayla Rochez – Panther Creek High School UNTD / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship Daisy Navarro – W.W. 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.
By Erik Anderson June 2, 2026
FRISCO, Texas (June 2, 2026) – Following a milestone celebration of their 20-year partnership this May, the Northern Texas PGA (NTPGA) and Ewing Automotive Group are proud to announce a five-year extension of their agreement. This agreement ensures the Ewing Automotive Group will remain a key supporter of golf in North Texas through 2030. Under the extended terms, Ewing Automotive Group will continue as the title sponsor of the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour and its three competitive tours. As one of the largest programs of its kind in the United States, the Junior Tour serves approximately 4,500 members (ages 6–19) and conducts more than 450 tournaments annually. The pathway includes The Prep Tour powered by Ewing Subaru of Plano, The Medalist Tour powered by Ewing Buick GMC, and The All American Tour powered by Mercedes-Benz of Plano. A recent addition to the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour is the Randy Smith Tour . This non-competitive tour is a beginner-friendly tour focused on fun, teamwork, and learning, and is the first step on the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour pathway. Since the partnership’s inception in 2006, the scope of junior golf in the region has expanded significantly. The Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour has hosted over 6,565 tournaments and facilitated approximately 365,000 rounds of golf. Annual event totals have more than doubled, rising from 200 tournaments in 2006 to 457 in 2025. Beyond the numbers, the Junior Tour has become a premier proving ground for elite talent. Alumni of the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour have secured nine Major Championships, including titles won by Scottie Scheffler (4), Jordan Spieth (3), Angela Stanford (1), and Brittany Lang (1). Remarkably, since 2006, NTPGA Junior Tour alumni have produced more major champions than entire nations, including England, Australia, Spain, and South Africa. The extension also reaffirms Ewing Automotive Group’s commitment to the Northern Texas PGA Foundation through the continued hosting of the Ewing Charity Classic. Over the past 30 years, the Ewing Charity Classic and its predecessor, The Westcott Pro-Am, have raised over $6.3 million to support community outreach programs. Furthermore, the "Closest-to-the-Hole" contest, a tradition started by Fin Ewing III in 2012 to recognize and thank participating PGA professionals, will continue through 2030 by awarding a new car for first place and cash prizes for second and third places in the shootout.  “Learning to play golf as a child was an incredible blessing that provided priceless time with my father and brother,” said Finley Ewing IV, CEO of Ewing Automotive Group. “We credit golf for our close family relationships, and that passion eventually led to scholarships at Vanderbilt and Texas Tech for my brother, Charlie, and me, providing access to amazing opportunities. We are honored to help provide that same foundation for the next generation.” The partnership extension also secures vital funding for the NTPGA Foundation’s scholarship program. Two Ewing Automotive Group scholarships, valued at $5,000 each, will be awarded annually to graduating seniors. This contribution supports a program that has grown from $62,000 in total annual giving in 2006 to $947,500 in 2026. “Simply put, we could not achieve our mission at the Northern Texas PGA without the unwavering support of Fin Ewing III and his family,” said Mark Harrison, CEO of the Northern Texas PGA. “The Ewing name is synonymous with golf in North Texas, but more importantly, the family represents the very best of our community. Their generosity allows us to go above and beyond in serving our PGA professionals and growing the game. We are thrilled to formally extend this partnership, but even more grateful to continue the friendship through the end of the decade and well beyond.”