Northern Texas PGA Announces New Title Sponsor of the Texas State Open
Molly Rawlins • April 16, 2021
The Northern Texas PGA Section set to conduct the Higginbotham Texas State Open at The Cascades Club for a Record 10th Time
DALLAS, Texas
– Today, the Northern Texas PGA announced a multi-year agreement with Higginbotham Insurance Agency, Inc. as the title sponsor of the Texas State Open. The championship will be named and referred to as the “Higginbotham Texas State Open.”
The Higginbotham Texas State Open will be played July 27 – July 30. It will be the 51st playing of this historic event.
The tournament will be played at The Cascades Club in Tyler, Texas, for a record 10th time. It was played at the club from 2006 – 2011 and from 2018 to present.
“Partnering with the Northern Texas PGA is a perfect fit for Higginbotham because both of our organizations are committed to positively impacting the communities, we serve through exceptional people who live by the core values that guide us,” said Higginbotham Chairman and CEO Rusty Reid. “At Higginbotham, we’re family to our employees, accountable to our clients, teammates to our carriers and generous to our communities. This partnership gives us a new avenue to drive those values in our community with the creation of the Higginbotham Texas State Open Scholarship. Providing opportunities to young talent has always been important to us, and with the Northern Texas PGA and their Foundation, we can help develop our future leaders.”
“Over the past several years, the Texas State Open has gained a lot of momentum thanks to the support of our corporate partners and the leadership and membership at The Cascades Club,” said Mark Harrison, Executive Director / CEO of the Northern Texas PGA. “Higginbotham is an iconic Texas brand with its roots running deep in the state, and we couldn’t be more excited to partner with Higginbotham to enhance the Texas State Open and continue the tournament’s positive momentum. Like Higginbotham, the Northern Texas PGA, who conducts the Texas State Open is unassailably Texan, with long histories that carry the Lone Star spirit in their DNA.”
“It is also fitting that this year will mark the 10th year that The Cascades Club will host the championship, which is a record for any facility in the storied history of the championship. The membership at the club, as well as the entire community of Tyler embrace the Texas State Open. Our team is very excited to continue to work with the exceptional team at The Cascades Club lead by PGA General Manager Matthew Cohen," said Harrison.
“The Cascades Club membership and staff are exceedingly proud and honored to once again be selected as the host venue for the 51st Higginbotham Texas State Open. Hosting the best state open in the country for a record-setting 10th time, and doing it again alongside the incredible Northern Texas PGA team is special. The outpouring of East Texas hospitality and support the Tyler and Cascades community provides for this event, the players, their caddies and families I believe is a big reason we have been fortunate enough to host on so many occasions. We look forward to providing another great test of championship golf and a great tournament experience for all the competitors and spectators again this summer,” stated Matthew Cohen, PGA General Manager at The Cascades Club.
The Texas State Open has crowned many past and future stars over its 50-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. 2020 champion Mitchell Meissner of San Antonio, Texas, has his sights set on defending his title this year.
The Higginbotham 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 7 – July 15. Registration is now available at www.ntpga.com. The entry deadline is June 3.
Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Northern Texas PGA Foundation’s scholarship program with the creation of the Higginbotham Texas State Open scholarship. The scholarship will be designated for an NTPGA Junior Tour Member from the Tyler area who will be attending college this fall. This year alone, the Northern Texas PGA Foundation will be awarding more than $450,000 in scholarships to approximately 50 high school seniors from North Texas.
ABOUT HIGGINBOTHAM INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.
Employee owned and customer inspired, Higginbotham is a single source solution for insurance, financial and HR services. The firm is ranked as the nation’s 21st largest independent insurance firm, making it the largest Texas-based broker. Serving thousands of businesses and individuals across 10 states, Higginbotham’s approach to finding insurance, employee benefit and risk management solutions is more individual and less institutional. By understanding customer priorities, eliminating inefficiencies and committing to transparency, Higginbotham is a place that leads with values so value leads.
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 386 acres and is located just five 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 of the PGA of America, and its geographic territory includes the State of Texas north of the 31st latitude, or just north of Austin. The Northern Texas PGA is comprised of approximately 850 PGA Members and Associates employed at more than 300 facilities.
The Northern Texas PGA has 14 full-time staff members and is currently headquartered in Dallas. The Northern Texas PGA will be joining the PGA of America national office relocation to Frisco in 2022 with its own state of the art headquarters on the PGA Frisco campus.
In addition to managing the day-to-day affairs of the Section, the Northern Texas PGA also operates a non-profit and charitable foundation that focuses on five pillars: junior golf, college scholarships, inclusion, fellowships, and military & veterans. The mission of the Northern Texas PGA Foundation is positively impacting lives and communities through golf.
Contacts:
Higginbotham Insurance Agency, Inc.
Lane Gallagher, Director, Strategic Marketing and Communications
Tel: 817-347-7068
Email: lgallagher@higginbotham.net
The Cascades Club
Matthew Cohen, PGA General Manager
Tel: 903-525-0002
Email: matthew@cascadesoftexas.com
Northern Texas PGA Section
Mark Harrison, Executive Director / CEO
Tel: 214-420-7421
Email: mharrison@ntpga.com
From left to right: Karina Herrera, Jocelyn Ancelmo, Crystal Soto, Natalie Guerrero, Quintasia Isby, Maryah Smith, Clarissa Gamez and Natalie Aranda.
McCorkle Captures Senior Division
TYLER, Texas (June 9, 2025) – Colton Hilburn, Associate at Abilene Country Club, leads the Prize Possessions | E-Z-GO Eastern Championship after round one. He carded a 35-31– 66, 5-under-par round and leads by one stroke. Regarding Willow Brook Country Club, Hilburn said, “It’s a great test. You’ve got to earn your way around here.” Hilburn’s back-nine performance was the best of the day, tallying four birdies and no bogeys. “I hit both par fives in two, so those were two easy two-putt birdies, and then I snaked in an 8-footer and a 15-footer for par, and then kind of rode that momentum and hit some good approach shots coming in,” Hilburn said.
The Northern Texas PGA (NTPGA) Foundation is pleased to continue its charitable commitment to higher education by announcing our 2025 scholarship recipients. Eighty-one high school seniors who will be attending college this fall have earned scholarships totaling $763,000 – breaking last year’s record by $26,500. This year, the NTPGA Foundation celebrates our newest recipients and the fact that since our scholarship program began, we have now awarded over $6 million in scholarships! The 2025 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). Since 1983, the Northern Texas PGA Foundation has awarded over $6 million in college scholarships to 922 deserving students. “Surpassing $6 million in scholarships awarded this year is an incredible milestone for our Foundation,” said Mark Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Texas PGA. “More importantly, it represents meaningful opportunities for 81 remarkable students who are continuing their journey in higher education. This level of impact is only possible because of the generous individuals and partners who believe in our mission and share our commitment to supporting the next generation. To our partners, donors and all those that participate in fundraising events that benefit our Foundation, thank you. And to this year’s scholarship recipients, congratulations. Your future is full of promise, and we’re honored to be a part of your path forward.” This year, of the scholarships awarded, 67% were based on financial need, academic performance, extracurricular activities and community involvement, while 33% were awarded based on academic performance, extracurricular activities and community involvement. Listed below are the names of the 2025 scholarship recipients: 2024 SA Smith Scholarship In Memory of Jerry D. Smith – Dylan Ford – Sonora Secondary School 2024 SA Smith Scholarship In Memory of Jerry D. Smith – Ella Upchurch – Monahans High School Allison & Jerry Freeman Scholarship – Emily Briscoe – Covenant Christian Academy Colleyville ANNIKA Foundation NTPGA Scholarship – Landry Addison – Lake Highlands High School April &Mark Anthony Scholarship – Brady Mann – Bridgeport High School Ben Hogan Foundation Scholarship/Robert Stennett Scholarship – Dorothy Chen – Allen High School Ben Hogan Foundation Scholarship/Robert Stennett Scholarship – Michael Xiao – Colleyville Heritage High School Ben Hogan Foundation Scholarship/Robert Stennett Scholarship – William Zhang – Highland Park High School Ben Hogan Foundation Scholarship/Robert Stennett Scholarship – Coleman Bales – Prestonwood Christian Academy North Birdies for Kids Scholarship – Avery Zweig – Enlightium Academy Birdies for Kids Scholarship – Taylor Phan – Wakeland High School Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship – Natalie Aranda – Thomas Jefferson High School Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship – Clarissa Gamez – Thomas Jefferson High School Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship – Maryah Smith – Booker T. Washington HSPVA Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship – Karina Herrera – W. W. Samuell High School Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship – Natalie Guerrero – W.W. Samuell High School Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship – Crystal Soto – W.W. Samuell High School Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open Scholarship – Chloe Sirkin – Grapevine High School Doug & Lisa Hickok Scholarship – Preston Bradford – Highland Park High School Dr. Bill Blair Scholarship – Alyse Gerardot – Liberty High School Ewing Automotive Scholarship – Grace Kalina – Wakeland High School Ewing Automotive Scholarship – Daniel Ferguson – Homeschool Fore Frisco – Layla Baker – Lone Star High School Fore Frisco – Jalen Randle – Lone Star High School Fore Frisco – Sa’Niyah Coleman – Panther Creek High School Fore Frisco – Marie Hampton – Panther Creek High School Fore Frisco – Joel Lim – Panther Creek High School Frank & Evelyn Borgsmiller Scholarship – Marianee Moran Argueta – Thomas Jefferson High School Fritz & Mary Lee Duda Family Foundation Scholarship – Kenneth Fambro – Carroll High School Holly & Doug Brooks Family Foundation Scholarship – Nicholas Norris – Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas Holly & Doug Brooks Family Foundation Scholarship – Connor Chisum – Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas Holly & Doug Brooks Family Foundation Scholarship – Sean Meador – Trinity Christian Academy Holly & Doug Brooks Family Foundation Scholarship – Emily York – Lovejoy High School Holly & Doug Brooks Family Foundation Scholarship – Noah Hankinson – Independence High School Holly & Doug Brooks Family Foundation Scholarship – Jackson Licker – Lovejoy High School I Am a Golfer Foundation Scholarship – Akela Larzeia – David W. Carter High School Jerry Andrews Scholarship – Lucas Latimer – Rockwall Heath High School Jerry J. Ransom Pro-Junior-Am Scholarship – To be announced June 23 Jerry J. Ransom Scholarship – Reese Rayburn – Walnut Grove High School Jerry J. Ransom Scholarship – Hayley Kiesling – Flower Mound High School Jerry J. Ransom Scholarship – Jack Gibson – Emerson High School Jerry J. Ransom Scholarship – Ella Murphree – Lubbock-Cooper High School Jerry J. Ransom Scholarship – Priscilla Gant – Cornerstone Christian Academy Jerry J. Ransom Scholarship – Lucy Kate Smith – Liberty University Online Academy Jerry J. Ransom Scholarship – Corbin Murray – Mansfield High School Joe Black/Texas Golf Hall of Fame Scholarship – Ava Murcer – Lake Highlands High School Joe Bob Joyce Family Foundation Scholarship – Jaxson Green – Troup High School Jon & Kim Morgan Scholarship – Aditya Dawane – Rick Reedy High School Jordan Spieth Family Foundation Scholarship – Jorge Marquez – Thomas Jefferson High School Jordan Spieth Family Foundation Scholarship – Alejandro Benitez – Thomas Jefferson High School Jordan Spieth Family Foundation Scholarship – Kiara Miles – Lincoln High School Jordan Spieth Family Foundation Scholarship – Stephanie Soria – W.W. Samuell High School Levy Cup Scholarship – Holden Harris – Argyle High School Links on PGA Parkway Scholarship – Adrienne Ahn-Upton – Laurel Springs High School Links on PGA Parkway Scholarship – Daniel Smith – Coppell High School Links on PGA Parkway Scholarship – Patrick Babb – Mansfield High School M&P Group Texas State Open Scholarship – Cameron Phillips – Grace Community School Mac Spikes PGA Member Scholarship – Mary Bleakney – Woodrow Wilson High School Miss Katie Scholarship – Kristopher Thomas – David W. Carter High School Miss Katie Scholarship – Makayla Guerrero – Lincoln High School Neil Lockie/Dallas District Golf Association Scholarship – Luke McKinley – McKinney High School Perry Arthur Scholarship – Jackson Hunt – New Tech High at Coppell Philip Bleakney Scholarship – Hudson Winter – Kingdom Preparatory Academy Randy Smith Scholarship – Haleigh Nash – Amarillo High School Rob Norland Scholarship – Brandt Powers – Malakoff High School Ronny Glanton Scholarship – Callan Patton – Colleyville Heritage High School Ronny Golf Park Scholarship – Adelina Toba – Wakeland High School Royal Oaks Country Club / Nicholas Stafford Scholarship – Isabella Carter – Shadow Creek High School Scottie & Meredith Scheffler Scholarship – Brandon Gullo – Frisco High School Scottie & Meredith Scheffler Scholarship – Luke Ratikowski – Plano Senior High School Sherrill Park / Two Dads and a Coach Scholarship – Adalyn Hardeman – JJ Pearce High School Tehan Scholarship – Brayden Tomlinson – Frenship High School THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson Scholarship – Leroy (LT) Harris – Walnut Grove High School Thomas Hanson Memorial Scholarship – Marek Oley – Colleyville Heritage High School Troy Reiser Scholarship – Kylie Hachtel – McKinney Boyd High School UNTD / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship – Quintasia Isby – Lincoln High School UTA / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship – Jocelyn Ancelmo – W. W. Samuell High School West Texas Legends Scholarship honoring SA Smith, Hart Warren, Jay McClure and Sherwin Cox – Brayden Bridges – Compass Academy Charter School