Northern Texas PGA Foundation Awards $731,500 in Scholarships
Margaret Miller • June 3, 2024
Scholarships Given Now Surpass $5 Million in Total
The Northern Texas PGA (NTPGA) Foundation is pleased to continue its charitable commitment to higher education by announcing our 2024 scholarship recipients. A record 87 high school seniors who will be attending college this fall have earned scholarships totaling $731,500 – the most ever awarded in a single year by the NTPGA Foundation.
This year, the NTPGA Foundation celebrates our newest recipients and the fact that since our scholarship program began, we have now awarded over five million dollars in scholarships!
The 2024 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 $5.73 million in college scholarships to 841 deserving students.
“I am thrilled and more so appreciative to surpass $5,000,000 in scholarships awarded this year. It is a lot of money and every dollar is for students pursuing higher education,” said Mark Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Texas PGA. “We would not be able to continue and grow this program without the support of everyone who believes in our Foundation and our commitment to students’ higher education. Thank you to our supporters, and congratulations to the 87 students who received a scholarship this year. I know they all have a bright future ahead.”
This year, of the scholarships awarded, 62% were based on financial need, academic performance, extracurricular activities and community involvement, while 38% were awarded based on academic performance, extracurricular activities and community involvement.
Listed below are the names of the 2024 scholarship recipients:
- A.B. Crockroft Memorial Scholarship – Armando Chavez – Mart, Texas
- A.B. Crockroft Memorial Scholarship – Abram Ross – Mart, Texas
- A.B. Crockroft Memorial Scholarship – Coleman Arnett – Mart, Texas
- A.B. Crockroft Memorial Scholarship – Monte Swaner – Waco, Texas
- Allison and Jerry Freeman Scholarship – Wesley Preskenis – North Richland Hills, Texas
- April and Mark Anthony Scholarship – Garrett Moore – Lubbock, Texas
- Birdies for Kids Scholarship – Addison Carpenter – McKinney, Texas
- Birdies for Kids Scholarship – Trinity Harris – Red Oak, Texas
- Briggs Berry Heart of a Lion Scholarship – Ryli Lewis – Granbury, Texas
- Briggs Berry Heart of a Lion Scholarship – Akyah Ditto – Granbury, Texas
- Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship – Amy Lopez – Dallas, TX
- Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship – Jocelyn Owens – Dallas, TX
- Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship – Alan De La Torre – Dallas, TX
- Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship – Briana Perez – Dallas, TX
- Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship – Olayinka Ojo Quintana – Dallas, TX
- Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship – Stephanie Rodriguez – Dallas, TX
- Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open Scholarship – Landry Ashmore – Grapevine, Texas
- Dr. Bill Blair Scholarship – Harry Wang – Lucas, Texas
- Ewing Automotive Scholarship – Alexander Danko – Frisco, Texas
- Ewing Automotive Scholarship – Sydney McCullough – Odessa, Texas
- Frank & Evelyn Borgsmiller Scholarship – Melissa Ojeda – Dallas, Texas
- Fritz & Mary Lee Duda Family Foundation Scholarship – Samuel Bumgardner – Fort Worth, Texas
- Gentle Creek Salute to the Vets Scholarship – Josephine Craig – Moody, Texas
- Gentle Creek Salute to the Vets Scholarship – Lillie Spies – Mesquite, Texas
- Holly & Doug Brooks Family Foundation Scholarship – Antonio Dimafelix – Garland, Texas
- Holly & Doug Brooks Family Foundation Scholarship – Gabrielle Zang – Keller, Texas
- Holly & Doug Brooks Family Foundation Scholarship – Chiara Brambilla – Southlake, Texas
- Holly & Doug Brooks Family Foundation Scholarship – Sidney Gainor – Lewisville, TX
- Holly & Doug Brooks Family Foundation Scholarship – Chloe Gaines – Weatherford, Texas
- Holly & Doug Brooks Family Foundation Scholarship – Jason Lew – Southlake, Texas
- I Am a Golfer Foundation Scholarship – Patrick Worthey III – Cedar Hill, Texas
- I Am a Golfer Foundation Scholarship – Katelynn Moore – Dallas, Texas
- Jake McCullough / Dallas District Golf Association Scholarship – Katherine Rendon – Flower Mound, Texas
- Jerry Andrews Scholarship – Garrett McMellon - Garland, Texas
- Jerry J. Ransom Pro-Junior-Am Scholarship – To be announced July 1
- Jerry J. Ransom Scholarship – Leilani Diezi – Frisco, Texas
- Jerry J. Ransom Scholarship – Bella Leugers – Rockwall, Texas
- Jerry J. Ransom Scholarship – Catherine Swize – Midlothian, Texas
- Jerry J. Ransom Scholarship – Jillian Goodman – Dallas, Texas
- Jerry J. Ransom Scholarship – Connor Cassano – Shreveport, Louisiana
- Jerry J. Ransom Scholarship – Bailey Davidson – Dallas, Texas
- Jerry J. Ransom Scholarship – Hailey Ashcraft – Dallas, Texas
- Joe Bob Joyce Family Foundation Scholarship – Trista Volentine – Chandler, Texas
- Jon & Kim Morgan Scholarship – Rhea Dinesh – Frisco, Texas
- Jordan Spieth Family Foundation Scholarship – Jayden Blevins – Dallas, Texas
- Jordan Spieth Family Foundation Scholarship – Alejandro Canelo – Dallas, Texas
- Jordan Spieth Family Foundation Scholarship – Mario Gutierrez – Dallas, Texas
- Jordan Spieth Family Foundation Scholarship – Yasmin Cruz – Dallas, Texas
- Links on PGA Parkway Scholarship – Addison Kelley – Little Elm, Texas
- Links on PGA Parkway Scholarship – Travis Jay Rodriguez – Burleson, Texas
- Links on PGA Parkway Scholarship – Emmy Martinez – Dallas, Texas
- M&P Group Texas State Open Scholarship – Hudson Parr – Longview, Texas
- Mac Spikes PGA Member Scholarship – Hogan Kenney – Hickory Creek, Texas
- Mike & Rosie Moncrief/Ben Hogan Foundation Scholarship – Tarun Anand – Irving, Texas
- Miss Katie Scholarship – Alexis Reyes – Dallas, Texas
- Mizzen + Main Scholarship – Christian Clanton – Trophy Club, Texas
- Pat & Kori Green/Ben Hogan Foundation Scholarship – Hannah Martin – Flower Mound, Texas
- Perry Arthur Scholarship – Lindsey Li – Plano, Texas
- Philip Bleakney Scholarship – Isaac Gregorie – Dallas, Texas
- Randy Smith Scholarship – Bryana Ann Saucillo – Seagoville, Texas
- Rob Norland Scholarship – Morgan Nguyen – Carrollton, Texas
- Ronny Glanton Scholarship – Savannah McCabe – Frisco, Texas
- Royal Oaks Country Club / Nicholas Stafford Scholarship – Avery Nguyen – Carrollton, Texas
- Scottie & Meredith Scheffler Scholarship – Jace Boslow – Carrollton, Texas
- Scottie & Meredith Scheffler Scholarship – Connor Biggio – McKinney, Texas
- Sherrill Park / Two Dads and a Coach Scholarship – Alexis Small – Richardson, Texas
- Sherrill Park / Two Dads and a Coach Scholarship – William Winfield – Richardson, Texas
- Talley Riggins Construction Group Scholarship – Remi Morriss – McKinney, Texas
- Tehan Scholarship – Max Chan – Heath, Texas
- Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation Scholarship – Kayce Ford – Prosper, Texas
- Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation Scholarship – Jade Hofeldt – Sanger, Texas
- THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson Scholarship – Christopher Locke – Burleson, Texas
- THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson Scholarship – Vanessa Gonzalez – Dallas, Texas
- THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson Scholarship – Angel Torres – Dallas, Texas
- THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson Scholarship – Nancy Pacheco – Dallas, Texas
- The Ronny Golf Park Scholarship – Ace Sibley – Frisco, Texas
- The Ronny Golf Park Scholarship – Andrew Cannon – Frisco, Texas
- The Ronny Golf Park Scholarship – Bryce Cannon – Frisco, Texas
- The Ronny Golf Park Scholarship – Brooklyn Iley – Frisco, Texas
- Thomas Hanson Memorial Scholarship – Geren Gathright – Fort Worth, Texas
- Tony Romo / Invited Celebrity Classic Scholarship – Patrick Worthey III – Cedar Hill, Texas
- Tony Romo / Invited Celebrity Classic Scholarship – Sachin Kommineni – Coppell, Texas
- Troy Reiser Scholarship – Madison Stansberger – Fort Worth, Texas
- UNTD / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship – Jada Cole – Dallas, Texas
- UTA / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship – Daisy Mondragon – Dallas, Texas
- West Texas Legends Scholarship honoring SA Smith, Hart Warren, Jay McClure and Sherwin Cox – Andrew McWilliams – Midland, Texas
- Workday Scholarship – Aliesa Situmorang – Prosper, Texas
For more information about the NTPGA Foundation scholarship program or for additional information about our 2024 recipients, please visit www.ntpgajuniorgolf.com/scholarships.
PLANO, Texas (August 10) – Seth Murphy, Associate at John Sikes Golf Academy and Thomas Faulk Jr. (a) captured the 1st & 10th Tee Golf Energy Bar Pro-Junior Championship title. The pair carded a 33-31–64, 8-under-par and made birdie on the first playoff hole. The pair began their round on the 8th hole and opened with a par. Six birdies on their next eight holes set them up for success for the first round. Their final nine holes were steady, with 7 pars and two birdies, but the bogey-free round was enough to get them into a two-team playoff against Ryan Grider, Associate at The Lakes at Castle Hills, and Colten Karstendiek (a). After a safe drive on the first playoff hole from Faulk Jr., Murphy was able to attack and had just 135 yards into the par-4 18th hole. He hit a pitching wedge to 10 feet and buried the putt. Murphy said, “He [Thomas] made about a 20-footer on our second hole, and that just put us on the pace we needed to get some momentum going. We gave ourselves lots of opportunities, double opportunities, where we were both putting for birdie, which is always nice. Just overall, we teamed very well today.” Faulk Jr added, “I started off hot and helped him out, and then when I was winding down, he got things going. We just made putts and pars when we needed to. It was just the team working.” Ryan Grider, Associate at The Lakes at Castle Hills, and Colten Karstendiek (a) fired 32-32–64 to finish in second place. Matt Weinberger, PGA senior director of member and amateur championships at PGA of America and Owen Layton (a) shot 31-35–66 to claim third place. The Championship featured 64 teams consisting of one PGA professional and one junior golfer between the ages of 7-19. The teams competed in a Four-Ball Stroke Play format. There was also a second division within the Championship where PGA professionals and their children competed for a separate title. The nine-team division was claimed for the third consecutive year by Jon Antunes, PGA director of instruction at Heart of Texas Golf Academy and his daughter Hannah Antunes (a) with a score of 34-34–68. For the professionals in the field today, there was a skins game with a $4,500 payout. Only one skin was earned today. Hanna Dickens, Associate at The Ronny Golf Park, made a birdie on hole 14 to earn the skin. The 1st & 10th Tee Golf Energy Bar Pro-Junior Championship was presented by CMC Design, PGA TOUR, and THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson.
$268,000 Donated to Foundation
Doggett (a) and McIlwain (a) Share Low Amateur Honors Walts Finishes as Top PGA Professional
TYLER, Texas (July 30) – Matthew Watkins of Rockwall, TX, carded a third-round 35-35–70, even par, and maintains the 54-hole lead at the 56th M&P Group Texas State Open. After a 36-hole score of 61-61–122, Watkins sits at 18-under-par for the championship. “I just kind of hung in there on the front nine, shot even. Then, kind of had it going just a little bit on 10 through 12. It was just an up-and-down day overall,” said Watkins. Watkins held a 6-stroke lead heading into the third round, but the field has cut it to just four. “Definitely going to be a little different than going into today. Probably a lack of concentration problem today, but still hung in there well.” Last year, Watkins held the 54-hole lead and said he was battling some nerves. “I’m definitely more comfortable, but still have to have a good round tomorrow if I want to win. Four [shots] can happen in three holes,” Watkins added. Watkins will look to defend his title beginning at 9:50 tomorrow morning. There is a three-way tie for second at 14-under-par between Cameron Sisk of Scottsdale, AZ, Cooper Schultz of Wichita, KS, and John Sand of Irving, TX. Cameron Sisk is a former Arizona State University standout. He finished his career there as a three-time All-American, two top-ten finishes at the NCAA individual Championships and 14th in the PGA TOUR University rankings. Sisk found himself behind the pack early this week, but with a second round of 64 and a 32-33–65 in today’s third round, Sisk has climbed back into contention. On the 12 par 5s Sisk has played this week, he is 12-under-par and credited his play on those holes as the reason he is tied for second heading into tomorrow’s final round. “You really got to take care of the par 5s out here. There are a few tougher par 3s and par 4s out here, so as long as you birdie the gettable holes, you’ll be in good shape,” said Sisk. After his 63 yesterday, Cooper Schultz shot a bogey-free 33-33–66 to cut his eight-shot deficit in half today. Of the three players tied for second, Schultz will be the first one out tomorrow as he tees off right before the final group. “It’ll be nice, I won’t feel like I have to press or anything. I’m just going to try and take what the course gives me. If I end up shooting 9-under, then great, if I shoot 2-under, that’s fine too, but I’ll just stay within myself and play the game I know I can play,” said Schultz. John Sand fired a bogey-free, 32-32–64, good for the joint low round of the day. He finished strong with birdies on holes 14, 15 and 16. The week has been steady so far for Sand, with rounds of 66, 66, 64, he sits just four back of Watkins. Sand and Sisk will join Watkins at 9:50 a.m. tomorrow, while Schultz precedes them in the 9:40 a.m. grouping. Bret Gray, PGA Member, is in solo fifth after a round of 34-30–64 and is the Low PGA Professional in the championship. Gray graduated from Sam Houston State University’s golf management program last December. He holds a one-stroke lead over Chase Walts, PGA assistant professional at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, TX in the PGA Member Division. Gray said, “I’ve done a lot of preparation and practice for moments like this, so I’m excited to tee it up tomorrow.” Gray and Walts both tee off at 9:40 a.m. Blake Elliott of Bullard, TX, continues to climb the leaderboard after a third-round 31-34–65, 5-under-par that propelled him 18 spots up the championship leaderboard. His round moved him to 10-under-par and he currently sits tied for eleventh place. Elliott has been battling an injury this week, but continues to fight through it. “It is what it is at this point. My speed’s down right now and kind of flinching at it a couple of times here and there, but it is what it is.” Grant Doggett (a) of Beach City, TX, leads the Amateur Division at 6-under-par. His third round 33-36–69, 1-under-par has him tied for 32nd overall. Doggett (a) is the defending Low Amateur after finishing at 11-under-par and 12th place overall last year. Doggett (a) is a senior at the University of Houston and grew up playing golf on the Southern Texas PGA Junior Tour. He holds a one-stroke lead over the next closest amateur, Kaelen Dulany (a) of Keller, TX. The 56th 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. 66 players (59 professionals and 7 amateurs) made the cut at 2-under-par and are competing for a $203,850 Championship purse. The champion, if a professional, will take home $40,000. The only amateur to win the Texas State Open was Homero Blancas in 1960. The final round starts 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 fourth year as the title sponsor, and the Championship is presented by Joyce Crane and Higginbotham and supported by CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances, Holiday Inn - Tyler Conference Center and Patterson Tyler. The championship is being played at Cascades Country Club for a record 15th time. Cascades Country Club Par: 35-35–70 Yardage: 6,882 yards