Northern Texas PGA Foundation Awards $763,000 in Scholarships
Margaret Miller • June 4, 2025
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
Friend and McCorkle Headed to Lajitas Golf Resort for Duel in the Desert
GREENVILLE, Texas (September 28) – For the second year in a row, Spencer Dillard, PGA director of golf at Golf Clubs at The Tribute, claimed the Jerry J. Ransom Northern Texas PGA Shootout at The Oaks, taking home $25,000 for the win. Just like last year, it took Dillard two playoff holes to best runner-up Nick Paez, instructor at The Ronny Golf Park. Both players found the 440-yard, par 4, 9th green in two, but a costly three-putt from Paez from 35 feet led to Dillard finishing off a nervy three-foot putt for the win. Dillard also won with a par in last year’s event and has now taken home the victory in two out of three years in the event’s short history. “It’s pretty special, just the opportunity to play in the event. I just can’t thank Dr. Ransom enough for putting this on and all he does for us,” said Dillard. “Just being able to play is a huge deal and then lasting through the shootout is so tough, so it feels great to be here.” The players in the shootout were battling in what seemed to be a competition of who could continue to make birdies. “Nathan was 9-under through a 12-hole stretch today and still went out. There is so much talent in our Section, so you got to go win it,” said Dillard. Longtime Northern Texas PGA Foundation supporter Jerry J. Ransom welcomed 98 Northern Texas PGA Members and Associates to The Oaks Country Club for the third annual Shootout. The event was created to recognize the PGA Professionals across the Section who dedicate their time and energy to growing the game through the NTPGA Foundation’s initiatives. The event was developed by Ransom as a way to thank PGA Professionals across the Northern Texas Section while also providing exposure to The Oaks Country Club. The Oaks is a top-five nine-hole course in Texas according to the Dallas Morning News golf course rankings. The format for the event featured a 9-hole qualifier, with the top three finishers and one randomly selected participant moving on to the evening shootout. Nathan Park, instructor at Stonebriar Country Club, qualified first after finishing with an impressive 6-under-par, 30. Dillard was the next to advance, carding a 4-under-par, 32, and finally Paez at 3-under-par, 33, who won a six-for-one spot playoff with a birdie on the first extra hole in the playoff. Zack Vinson, PGA head professional at Athens Country Club, was the random drawing winner. The nine-hole Shootout portion of the event was played in three stages of three holes each, with one professional eliminated after every stage. After the first three holes, Vinson was eliminated and landed a prize of $2,500. The scores were then reset to even par, and the second three holes saw Nathan Park bow out, despite being 9-under-par through 15 holes. He played his final three holes in the shootout at even par. Still, he earned $7,500 for his efforts. The scores again reset to even par for the final three-hole segment, where Dillard and Paez battled it out for three holes, followed by two extra holes in the playoff.
Woodson and Schaefer (a) Capture Senior Division
Little Secures Senior Division