Northern Texas PGA Chapters Announce 2016 Chapter Award Winners
NTPGA • October 14, 2016
Each year the Northern Texas PGA Section recognizes its members and others in the golf community through the NTPGA Awards program.
On behalf of each NTPGA Chapter Awards Committee (East Texas, Metro and West Texas Chapter), we are pleased to announce the 2016 Northern Texas PGA Chapter Award winners below.
East Texas Chapter
- Golf Professional of the Year - Sean Hanson, Pinecrest Country Club
- Assistant Golf Professional of the Year - Brian Kleckner, Emerald Bay Club
- Teacher of the Year - John Sikes, Hollytree Country Club
- Youth Player Development Award - Roy Pace, Alpine Target Golf Center
- Bill Strausbaugh Award - Ben Burns, Crown Colony Country Club
- PGA Player Development Award - Darrell Chase, Peach Tree and Oak Hurst Golf Club
- Merchandiser of the Year - Private - Chris Hudson, Willow Brook Country Club
- Merchandiser of the Year - Public - Darrell Chase, Peach Tree and Oak Hurst Golf Club
- East Texas Chapter Player of the Year - John Sikes, Hollytree Country Club
- Golf Professional of the Year- Jason Daly, The Lakes at Castle Hills
- Assistant Golf Professional of the Year - Clif Nelson, Royal Oaks Country Club
- Teacher of the Year - Troy Denton, The Maridoe Golf Club
- Youth Player Development Award - Dave Ondocsin, Gleneagles Country Club
- Bill Strausbaugh Award - Jim Henderson, Stevens Park Golf Course
- PGA Professional Development Award - Stephen Aumock, Gleneagles Country Club
- PGA Player Development Award - Ira McGraw Jr., Cedar Crest Golf Course
- Merchandiser of the Year - Private - James Williams Jr., Ridgewood Country Club
- Merchandiser of the Year - Public - Brent Lingel, Keeton Park Golf Course
- Golf Professional of the Year- Jake McCullough, Odessa Country Club
- Assistant Golf Professional of the Year - Ben Mundy, Green Tree Country Club
- Teacher of the Year - Daniel Coughlan, Abilene Country Club
- Youth Player Development Award - Casey Renner, Palo Duro Creek Golf Club
- Bill Strausbaugh Award - Jason Hase, San Angelo Country Club
- PGA Professional Development Award - Jake McCullough, Odessa Country Club
- PGA Player Development Award - Kyle Monk, Gaines County Golf Course
- Merchandiser of the Year - Private - Adam Headley, Hillcrest Country Club
- Merchandiser of the Year - Public - George Priolo, Comanche Trail Golf Course
Congratulations to all of our winners!
If you have any questions, please contact your respective Chapter President.

PLANO, Texas (November 4) – The Northern Texas PGA team fell just shy of winning its fifth straight Levy Cup Matches. Team NTPGA lost to Team STPGA 11.5 to 12.5 after two days of competition at Gleneagles Country Club - Queen’s Course. The Levy Cup is a Ryder Cup-style format tournament featuring teams represented by four Assistant PGA Professionals and four Senior PGA Professionals (any classification, aged 50 and older) and four PGA Members Other who qualified through their respective Section Major Championships. The Matches were created in 2017 to celebrate Paul Levy, PGA, who was completing his first year of a two-year term as President of the PGA of America. During his career, Paul has been a member of both Sections. After Monday’s Four-Ball and Foursomes Matches, Team NTPGA trailed 7 to 5. They came out battling in the Singles Matches, winning 5.5 points in the first seven matches. That put Team NTPGA in the lead, but Team STPGA was able to win four of the last five Singles Matches and win the Levy Cup for the first time since 2020. “It was a very hard-fought couple of days by both teams. I could not have been happier to have been a part of this,” said NTPGA Captain Keith Harris, PGA. The 9th Levy Cup Matches were supported by Club Car, Dunning and Ping. Gleneagles Country Club - Queen’s Course Par: 36-35–71 Yardage: 6,676 yards View Final Match Standings HERE

PLANO, Texas (November 3) – The Northern Texas PGA trails the Southern Texas PGA 7-5 after day one of the 9th Levy Cup Matches at Gleneagles Country Club - Queen’s Course. The Levy Cup is a Ryder Cup-style format featuring teams represented by four Assistant PGA Professionals and four Senior PGA Professionals (any classification, aged 50 and older) and four PGA Members Other who qualified through their respective Section Major Championships. The Matches were created in 2017 to celebrate Paul Levy, PGA who was completing his first year of a two-year term as President of the PGA of America. During his career Paul has been a member of both Sections. After last year’s Matches were shortened due to weather and Team NTPGA won 9-3, Team STPGA was motivated to have a strong showing this year. They took the lead in the morning Four-Ball Matches after winning the final four matches. In the afternoon Foursomes Team NTPGA won 3.5 points to cut into the STPGA lead. Team NTPGA will need to win seven points to keep their winning streak alive and win their fifth straight Matches. Singles Matches begin at 8 a.m. tomorrow The 9th Levy Cup Matches are supported by Club Car, Dunning and Ping. Gleneagles Country Club - Queen’s Course Par: 36-35–71 Yardage: 6,676 yards View Current Match Standings HERE

Frisco, TX (October 30) – The Northern Texas PGA honored its inaugural Byron Nelson Foundation | Northern Texas PGA Hall of Fame members during a luncheon ceremony held today at the Home of the PGA of America in Frisco. Following the luncheon, attendees were welcomed to the Jerry J. Ransom Northern Texas PGA Golf House, where the names of the 2025 inductees were officially unveiled on the Byron Nelson Foundation | Northern Texas PGA Hall of Fame display. The inaugural class of 2025 included PGA Members Joe Black, Ross Collins, Ronny Glanton, David Price and Randy Smith, as well as non-Members/Ambassadors Dr. Bill Blair, Fin Ewing III and Jerry J. Ransom. “This means a lot,” said Dr. Blair after the ceremony. “Particularly coming from the Northern Texas Section, an organization that I have a lot of respect and admiration for. The induction ceremony was a great event, and a wonderful event to be a part of.” The Byron Nelson Foundation | Northern Texas PGA Hall of Fame was created to honor those in our community who embody the simple but powerful belief that Byron Nelson himself lived by every day: “Be good to the game and give back.” Those we celebrated today are more than great golf professionals or leaders. They are people who have devoted themselves to lifting others, to growing the game, and to leaving a legacy that will be felt for generations. Each inductee has distinguished themselves in four meaningful ways: Leadership and service Achievements and awards Support of the NTPGA Foundation and its growth-of-the-game initiatives The lasting impact they have made on those around them “What a special day to be a part of,” said Jake McCullough, honorary NTPGA President and chair of the Hall of Fame selection committee. “It has been an honor to help launch the hall of fame this year, and these eight men are very deserving of the honor they have received. The members of the Class of 2025 are game-changers who embody Mr. Nelson’s words of ‘be good to the game and give back.’” To be considered, nominees must be at least 50 years old, have made their mark over at least a decade within the Section, and, if a PGA Professional, they must be a Member in good standing. New members will be welcomed every other year. Learn more about each of the inductees on our website www.ntpga.com/hall-of-fame .

Mike McCabe, the General Manager of The Golf Clubs at The Tribute in The Colony, Texas, has earned PGA Master Professional Status, the highest educational designation a PGA of America Member can obtain. The 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 operations. 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 and Coaching Designations. McCabe is the 477th to earn the recognition, joining a special group among the more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals within the Association. He achieved his designation in Executive Management. “I’m passionate about being a PGA of America Golf Professional, and to achieve the highest honor in our educational program is something I don’t take lightly,” said McCabe, a PGA of America Golf Professional since 2007. “It’s a tremendous honor to be among an elite group of PGA Master Professionals. Going forward I look to continue mentoring the next generation to be good stewards of this beautiful game and growing future professionals.” The PGA Master Professional 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. McCabe, a native of Emporia, Kansas, graduated from The Golf Academy of America in December of 1996 and was the director of golf at Tour 18 Golf Course in Dallas. From 2003-11 he was the director of golf for Bridlewood Golf Club in Flower Mound where he was awarded the 2010 Northern Texas PGA Section Merchandiser of the Year award. In 2011 he became the general manager of The Old American Golf Club. In 2020, McCabe spearheaded the combination of Old American and the Tribute Golf Links into a semi-private, 36-hole club, now known as The Golf Clubs at The Tribute. Under his direction as general manager, the facility has become an award winning, nationally ranked member resort. McCabe was instrumental in bringing the LPGA Tour’s Volunteers of America Classic to the North Texas facility in 2018, which at the time was the only LPGA Tour event in Texas.

