Northern Texas PGA Announces New Title Sponsor, Site of the Texas Women's Open

March 21, 2024
  • NTPGA set to conduct the Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open at Grapevine Golf Course
  • Legends of the LPGA Division Included
  • Projected Record Total Purse of $150,000

 

Today, the Northern Texas PGA announced a multi-year agreement with the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau to become the title sponsor of the Texas Women’s Open. The Championship will be named the “Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open.”

 

The Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open will take place May 29 – 31, 2024, at Grapevine Golf Course in Grapevine, Texas. It will be the 44th playing of this historic event.

 

The Women’s Texas Open was first played in 1933. Some of the game’s greatest names won the event in its early years, including Babe Zaharias, Betty Jameson and Betsy Rawls. The playing of the event was stopped in 1955 and revived in 2001 by the Northern Texas PGA to promote the game to female golfers throughout the region. The name was changed to the Texas Women’s Open.

 

Today, the Texas Women’s Open offers a competitive tournament for some of the best professional and amateur female golfers in the country.

 

In 2020, the Championship featured an incredibly talented professional field that included numerous LPGA Tour stars. It was the first professional golf tournament played in the world following the COVID shutdown. The current world number three ranked golfer, Celine Boutier, captured the Championship that year.

 

In 2023, the Texas Women's Open began featuring a separate division for the Legends of the LPGA. The division is sponsored by the Ewing Automotive Group, a longtime partner and supporter of the game of golf in Texas. Eligibility in the Ewing Automotive Group Legends of the LPGA Division is open only to members on the Legends of the LPGA Priority List. Those who were entered last year included World Golf Hall of Famers like Sandra Haynie and Hollis Stacy along with native Texans, Angela Stanford, Jill McGill and Cindy Figg-Currier. This group of Legends combined for more than 50 LPGA Tour wins, including 10 major championships.

 

The 2024 starting field will be comprised of 144 professionals and top amateurs from all over the country. The Open Division will consist of 120 professionals and amateurs competing for a projected $75,000 purse and the Legends of the LPGA Division will consist of 24 professionals competing for a separate $75,000 purse. The tournament will be played on the Pecan and Mockingbird nines of the 27-hole facility at Grapevine Golf Course.


“Destination Grapevine is proud to be a multi-year sponsor in partnership with Grapevine Golf Course. It’s a great honor for Grapevine and our Byron Nelson-inspired golf course to host the historic and prestigious Texas Women’s Open incorporating the legends of LPGA Championship,” said Paul W. McCallum, Executive Director of the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau.

 

Defending champion Grace Jin of Huntsville, Texas, will try to become one of only a handful of players to claim more than one Texas Women’s Open title.  Only one player has won five Texas Women’s Open events: Babe Zaharias (‘40, ’45, ’46, ‘51 and ’52); other World Golf Hall of Famers who have captured multiple championships include Betty Jameson and Betsy Rawls.

 

“Over the past several years, the Texas Women’s Open has gained great momentum. It was a goal of the Northern Texas PGA’s Board of Directors to continue that energy by securing a title sponsor and permanent home for the event,” said Mark Harrison, CEO of the Northern Texas PGA. “We couldn’t be more excited than to partner with the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau to enhance the Texas Women’s Open and continue the Championship’s positive momentum.”


“It is also fitting that the City of Grapevine’s own golf course will host the Championship. Grapevine Golf Course is known for its exceptional year-round course conditioning, service and amenities highlighted by a new clubhouse that opened last year. Our team is very excited to work with the team at Grapevine Golf Course led by PGA Director of Golf Robert Singletary, who was instrumental in bringing this partnership to the table," said Harrison. 

 


The Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open is open to all professionals and competitive amateurs aged 18 & over. Junior golfers can earn exemptions into the Championship through qualifying events.  Eligibility for the Ewing Automotive Group Legends of the LPGA Division is open only to members on the Legends of the LPGA Priority List. Registration is now available at https://www.ntpga.com/texas-womens-open.  The entry deadline is Thursday, May 23.

 

Proceeds from the Championship will benefit the Northern Texas PGA Foundation’s scholarship program with the creation of the Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open Scholarship. The scholarship will be designated for a Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour Member from the Grapevine area who will be attending college this fall. In 2024, the Northern Texas PGA Foundation plans to award more than $700,000 in scholarships to approximately 75 high school seniors from North Texas.


ABOUT THE GRAPEVINE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

The Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau acts as the promotional arm of the City of Grapevine and is responsible for actively selling, marketing and publicizing Grapevine globally. The Bureau promotes the city’s hotels, meeting facilities, historic and family attractions, festivals and events, dining establishments and retail businesses to the group meetings and leisure markets.

 

ABOUT GRAPEVINE GOLF COURSE

Grapevine Golf Course is a 27-hole facility located in Grapevine, Texas. The original 18-holes opened in 1979 and was designed by Byron Nelson. In 1999, a third nine opened and was designed by D.A. Weibring’s Golf Resources. Golf enthusiasts for years have enjoyed playing a rare blend of rolling fairways, penalty areas and bunkers that create a simultaneously challenging yet relaxing experience.

 

ABOUT THE NORTHERN TEXAS PGA

The Northern Texas PGA is one of 41 Sections of the PGA of America. Its geographic territory includes the State of Texas north of the 31st latitude, or just north of Austin. Over 1,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals employed at more than 300 facilities comprise this Section.

 

Northern Texas PGA headquarters are located on the PGA Frisco campus and feature state-of-the-art office space, a growth of the game pavilion and a golf park designed for junior golfers.

 

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, internships and military & veterans.

Watkins Ties 54-Hole Scoring Record, Leads Heading into Final Round of 55th M&P Group Texas State Open

By Steven Clements • July 31, 2025
Bullard Native Elliott in the Hunt

Watkins and Korte Share 36-Hole Lead at 55th M&P Group Texas State Open

July 31, 2025
TYLER, Texas (July 30) – Matthew Watkins of Rockwall, TX, carded a second round low, 30-32–62, 8-under-par, to take the co-lead of the 55th M&P Group Texas State Open. He shares it with first round leader Chris Korte of Littleton, CO. Watkins rocketed to the top of the leaderboard at the end of his second round after an albatross on the par-5, 6th hole. He hit a 4-iron from 224 yards and holed it. “I hit a big slicing 4-iron in there, and it felt great,” said Watkins. He did not get a chance to watch his albatross go in. “I would have celebrated if I knew. I wish I would have seen it go in. I mean, I was just amazed.” Through two rounds, Watkins is 5-under-par on the 6th hole. He is looking for his first Texas State Open victory. He previously earned Low Amateur honors in 2021 and 2023. Tied with Watkins is Chris Korte, who followed his opening round 62 with a 34-30–64. He started the second round on the back-nine and birdied five of his first seven holes. A birdie on his tenth hole continued the scoring, but things slowed down with a streak of pars and a bogey on the 5th. Korte received the final sponsor exemption into the Championship and has taken advantage of it so far. During the past year, he has successfully Monday qualified into four PGA TOUR events and one Korn Ferry Tour event, most recently teeing it up in the Barracuda Championship. Josh Radcliff of Grapevine, TX, is two strokes behind Watkins and Korte at 12-under-par. He tied for the lowest score of round two with a 30-32–62. “It’s been a few years since I have played, but I love the state open. My in-laws live around here…it is always fun to come out to Tyler and play this event,” said Radcliff. One of many former Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour members in the field, including Watkins, Radcliff reflected on his junior golf career saying, “NTPGA is where I got my start in competitive golf playing the 9-hole events. I shot about 108 in my first 18-hole event with the NTPGA. I had a dream of playing professionally, and the NTPGA Junior Tour was a great place to start.” Watkins, Korte and Radcliff will tee off at 9:50 a.m. tomorrow in the final group. Blake Elliott of Bullard, TX, is once again in contention. His rounds of 66-67, 7-under-par, have him in a six way tie for ninth place. He will begin his third round at 9:30 a.m. Sulphur Springs native Trevor Norby also made the cut at 3-under-par. He will start at 8:10 a.m. tomorrow on the 10th hole. Cody Massa (a) of Cave Creek, AZ currently sits in first place on the Low Amateur leaderboard at 7-under-par. Massa, originally from Arlington, TX, attended Tyler Junior College from 2005 to 2007. Massa is no stranger to the Texas State Open competing in 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2016, with his highest finish coming at 7th place in 2016. Aside from the Texas State Open, Massa won the Arizona Mid-Am Championship in 2024 and 2025. Massa currently sits in first place on the Low Amateur leaderboard and tied for ninth place overall. Six amateurs made the cut. Brandon Bingaman, PGA assistant professional at Gleneagles Country Club in Plano, TX, finished the second round with a 34-33-67, 3-under-par. He is at 7-under-par for the Championship and leads the PGA Professional division into tomorrow’s third round. Bingaman credits his low rounds to his new, lighthearted take on his game. “I have been playing really well lately. These past couple of weeks I have really just been trying to have more fun with it, and I think that has reflected really well in the past few days,” said Bingaman. Five PGA of America Golf Professionals made the cut. Four from the Northern Texas Section and one from the Southern Texas Section. Kyle Pritchard leads the three past champions that survived the cut. He sits at 8-under-par. Mikel Martinson (a) and Shawn Stefani also advanced to the final two rounds. The 55th M&P Group Texas State Open is a 72-hole stroke play event with a field of 156 professionals and amateurs. The 36-hole cut was made to the low 55 players and ties. Sixty-one players made the cut at 1-under-par and are competing for a $201,000 Championship purse. The third round will begin at 8:00 a.m. and players will begin on the first and tenth holes and play in threesomes. This is the M&P Group’s third 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 and Patterson Tyler. Cascades Country Club Par: 35-35–70 Yardage: 6,882 yards View current results HERE .

Korte Takes Early Two-Stroke Lead at 55th M&P Group Texas State Open

By Steven Clements • July 30, 2025
Romo Cards 1-under-par in Opening Round

PGA of America Golf Professional Blaine Seitz Earns PGA Master Professional Designation

July 28, 2025
FRISCO, Texas - PGA of America Golf Professional Blaine Seitz , Owner and Director of Instruction of TourShotGolf, and Master Club Fitter at 2nd Swing within the PGA of America Coaching Center powered by T-Mobile in Frisco, Texas, earned PGA Master Professional Status, the highest education designation available within the Association. Within the Association’s more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals, Seitz, a Member of the Northern Texas PGA Section, joins a highly regarded group as the 475th PGA Master Professional. He has earned this designation in Teaching and Coaching. "Becoming a PGA Master Professional is not just an achievement, but a realization of who I am and what I am meant to do,” said Seitz. “I’m a big believer that golf isn’t just a game, it’s also a form of therapy. We can use this game to help people get through life. I moved here to Texas to be with the PGA and put myself in a position to get this done. It’s been a big process to this point and it’s a true honor.” The PGA Master Professional program was established in 1969 to recognize PGA of America Members who make a significant effort to improve as golf professionals and maintain the highest degree of excellence for themselves and their facilities. The curriculum is designed to ensure golf professionals are prepared to meet the growing demands of the marketplace within the Executive Management, Golf Operations and Teaching & Coaching Designations. The program is available to those with at least 10 years of PGA of America Membership along with having achieved advanced certification through the PGA Specialized and Certified Professional Programs. The curriculum includes an extensive project based on the specific certification previously acquired by the PGA of America Golf Professional. PGA Master Professional status is earned upon successful completion of the project’s presentation. Seitz graduated from the PGA Professional Golf Management Program at Coastal Carolina University in 2012 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing. A PGA of America Golf Professional since 2013, Seitz worked as a PGA Assistant Golf Professional at The Suburban Club of Baltimore in Pikesville, Maryland. In 2015, he turned his focus to instruction and club fitting, becoming a PGA Teaching Professional at The Golf Club of Georgia, in Alpharetta, Georgia, and a Sales Representative at Arccos Golf. In 2018, TourShotGolf was born after Seitz spent six years as a CrossFit coach, developing mobility programs and working alongside CrossFit Games athletes to improve performance while decreasing risk of injury. By integrating these mobility programs with his golf students, Seitz observed significant improvements in their game. Seitz joined 2nd Swing in 2021 in Maryland before transferring to the Dallas location in 2023. He moved to the PGA of America Coaching Center in 2024 when 2nd Swing was named the official equipment trade-in partner of the Association. Over the last 10 years, Blaine has specialized in a holistic approach to golfers’ mobility, focusing on five pillars of peak performance: mindset, wellness, mobility, fitness and play. He is a TPI Fitness Coach, a certified Mobility Specialist, a Golf Fitness Association of America Top Golf Fitness Professional (2021-24) and on the Golf Digest “Top 100 Club Fitter” (2021-23) and “Best Clubfitters in America” (2023-24) lists. Seitz resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.