Northern Texas PGA Announces Section Award Winners
Molly Rawlins • November 23, 2020
Simon Buckle Named Golf Professional of the Year

DALLAS, Texas –
Each year the Northern Texas PGA Section 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 2020 Section Award Winners.
Simon Buckle, PGA, is the recipient of the 2020 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.
Buckle recently resigned his position as head professional at Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas to explore new opportunities, but spent the past 10 years at the club focusing on delivering an exceptional customer experience to the Brook Hollow membership as well as developing adult and junior golfers.
Buckle served on the Northern Texas PGA Board of Directors in an At-Large position from 2011 to 2013. He is the current chairman of the Ewing Charity Classic Committee, which is responsible for overseeing the Northern Texas PGA Foundation’s largest annual fundraising endeavors. Buckle is also a founding member of the Birdies for Kids fundraiser. Combined, the Ewing Charity Classic and Birdies for Kids have raised a total of $7.03M for the Northern Texas PGA Foundation.
Buckle’s previous Northern Texas PGA awards include 2017 Merchandiser of the Year and 2006 Assistant Golf Professional of the Year.
View the full list of the Northern Texas PGA award winners below. Congratulations to all of our winners.
PGA Member Award Categories
Golf Professional of the Year Award – Simon Buckle, PGA Member
Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Award – Brian Kleckner, TPC Craig Ranch
Distinguished Service Award – Mickey Piersall, PGA Life Member
Teacher and Coach of the Year Award – Justin Poynter, Crown Golf
Randy Smith Youth Player Development Award – Joseph Anders, Brookhaven Country Club
PGA Player Development Award (Growth of the Game) – Abe Hernandez, Royal Oaks Country Club
Patriot Award – Ron Nash, PGA Life Member
Bill Strausbaugh Award (Club Relations, Employment and Mentoring) – Stephen Aumock, Gleneagles Country Club
Professional Development Award (Education / Building the Image of a PGA Professional) – Ira Molayo, Cedar Crest Golf Course
Merchandiser of the Year Award - Private Category – Jeremy Langdale, Ranchland Hills Golf Club
Merchandiser of the Year Award - Public / Resort Category – Dan Walden, Texas Star Golf Course
Yamaha Golf-Car Company & Srixon / Cleveland Golf / XXIO Player of the Year – Brian Norman, Royal Oaks Country Club
Ben Hogan / NTPGA Stroke Play Average Award – Brian Norman, Royal Oaks Country Club
OMEGA & XXIO Senior Points Challenge Winner – Jim Henderson, Stevens Park Golf Course
NTPGA Woman Player of the Year – Julie Wells, John Sikes Golf Academy
Non-PGA Member Award Categories
Bob Galt Award (Media) – Rick Arnett, Avid Golfer Magazine & The Ticket
Byron Nelson Award (Amateur) – Jon Morgan, Austin, Texas & Mark Anthony, Dallas, Texas
Leon Faucett Award (Sales Representative) – Steve Nichols & James Lloyd, Srixon / Cleveland Golf / XXIO / ASICS
Golf Course Superintendent Award – Russell Birkhimer, Golf Clubs at The Tribute
The Awards Committee consists of Committee Chair, Tim Cusick and PGA Committee Members Eric Hunt, Brian McKinley, John Sikes, Alan Alison, Brent Blackburn, Matt Currey, Tommy Darland, Cameron Doan, Ira Molayo, Jimmy Terry and Erik Wait.
The winner will be honored at an Awards Banquet still to be scheduled in 2021.

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