Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation Awards a Record $235,000 in Scholarships
NTPGA • July 13, 2016
DALLAS, TX –
The Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation is pleased to continue its charitable commitment to educational services by announcing its 2016 scholarship recipients. Twenty-nine recipients have earned scholarships totaling $235,000, the most ever given in a single year by the Foundation.
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.
NTPGA Junior Golf Foundation Scholarship Recipients
The Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation is pleased to announce its 2016 scholarship recipients.
- AT&T Byron Nelson Scholarship
- Elizabeth Walinder – Andrews, Texas – California Polytechnic Institute
- Ben Hogan Junior Cup Matches Scholarship
- Garrett Glanton – Richardson, Texas – Abilene Christian University
- Ben Hogan Foundation / Pat and Kori Green Scholarship
- Mark Miller – Colleyville, Texas – The University of Texas at Austin
- Ben Hogan Foundation / David Graham Scholarship
- Lucas Elliott – Granbury, Texas – Texas Southern University
- Ben Hogan Foundation / Gary and Judy Strong Scholarship
- Zachary Begland – Coppell, Texas – University of California at Los Angeles
- Birdies For Kids Scholarship
- Lacy Sheldon – Frisco, Texas – Montevallo University
- Briggs Berry Heart of a Lion Scholarship
- Brady Wright – Granbury, Texas – West Texas A&M University
- Cameron McCormick Golf Scholarship
- Belle Tan – Coppell, Texas – University of Arkansas at Monticello
- Cameron McCormick Golf Scholarship
- Ethan Waldroup – Flower Mound, Texas – Oklahoma State University
- Colonial Country Club Scholarship
- Erica Bolden – Arlington, Texas – University of North Texas
- Donald E. Steen Golf Scholarship
- Matthew Houser – Dallas, Texas – Southern Methodist University
- Ewing Automotive College Scholarship
- Noah Hasse – Dallas, Texas – Cameron University
- Holly & Doug Brooks Family Foundation Scholarship
- Grant Frye – Dallas, Texas – University of Arkansas
- Holly & Doug Brooks Family Foundation Scholarship
- Allison Kennedy – Coppell, Texas – University of Arkansas
- Holly & Doug Brooks Family Foundation Scholarship
- Ashleigh Evans – Farmersville, Texas – Oklahoma State University
- Jordan Spieth Family Foundation Scholarship
- Peri’Don Castille – Dallas, Texas – Oklahoma City University
- Jordan Spieth Family Foundation Scholarship
- Ana Hernandez – Frisco, Texas – Texas A&M University
- Kids Play FORE Kids Community Outreach Scholarship
- Hanna Harrison – Plano, Texas – Dallas Baptist University
- Mac Spikes PGA Member Scholarship*
- John Stalder – Allen, Texas – Blinn College
- Paul Earnest Dallas District Golf Association Scholarship
- Cameron Clark – Dallas, Texas – Amherst College
- Randy Smith Award
- Harrison Mahon – San Diego, California – University of California at Los Angeles
- Royal Oaks Country Club / Nicholas Stafford Scholarship
- Justin Yarbrough – Dallas, Texas – University of Missouri
- West Texas Legends Scholarship honoring S.A. Smith, Hart Warren and Jay McClure
- Kinley Lee – Clyde, Texas – University of Arkansas at Monticello
*Denotes - Annually awarded to a child or grandchild of a Northern Texas PGA Member
Fairway to Success Deloitte / Northern Texas PGA Scholarship Recipients
The Deloitte Fairway to Success After School Program completed the ninth year of outreach at three DISD high schools – W.W. Samuell, Thomas Jefferson and Lincoln. These schools were selected by DISD for their level of need, lack of outside resources, and commitment of staff leadership to this project. Fairway to Success is a collaborative effort between Deloitte, Northern Texas PGA and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, which provides scholarships to at risk students who are learning to play golf.
Fairway to Success is helping to impact and change the lives of children in our community. The five-week, after school program boasted record participation numbers, with 167 DISD high school students learning the basics of golf from PGA professionals over the course of the academic year. Students also went on a field trip to a local golf course and graduating seniors were given the opportunity to apply for a $20,000 college scholarship.
Deloitte, The Northern Texas PGA and United Way are proud to announce the 2016 scholarship recipients:
- Ariatna Barcenas – W.W. Samuell High School – Texas A&M University
- Mohamed Mohamed – W.W. Samuell High School – The University of Texas at Austin
- Marco Ramirez – Thomas Jefferson High School – The University of Texas at Austin
- Renee Moreno – Thomas Jefferson High School – Texas A&M University
- Debra Jackson – Lincoln High School – The University of Texas at Austin
- Kewona-Labria Jones – Lincoln High School – The University of Texas at Austin
Established in 2007, the Fairway to Success Program has annually awarded scholarships to deserving students based on academic performance, extracurricular activities, community involvement and financial need. Since its inception, the program has awarded more than $760,000 to deserving students in our community. Funding is entirely through the individual contributions of Deloitte personnel in North Texas and the endowment recently surpassed the $1.4 million mark. 100% of the contributions made are designated to fund scholarships.
About the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation
The Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation is committed to introducing, promoting and growing the game of golf to a diverse group of kids in North Texas and instilling in them the positive, character developing traits for which the game is so well known. Each year close to 10,000 children and their families are impacted by the game that lasts a lifetime through a full circle of programs and services including:
• Introduction – Fairway to Success After School Program, Drive, Chip and Putt and Summer Golf Camps
• Playing – Team Golf, PGA Junior League Golf, Prep and Medalist Levels, All-American Tour – 400+ tournaments per year
• Education – College Scholarships – $1.79M distributed including $235,000 awarded in 2016
• Employment – Internship and Camp Program
• Philanthropy – Kids Play FORE Kids, Ewing Charity Classic, Birdies for Kids and the Royal Oaks’ Great 108
For more information about the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation Scholarship Program or for additional information about our 2016 recipients, please contact Alyssa Richardson at arichardson@ntpga.com or (214) 420-7421 or visit www.ntpgajuniorgolf.com.
Doggett (a) Claims Low Amateur Honors Bingaman Finishes as Top PGA Professional
Bullard Native Elliott in the Hunt
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 .
Romo Cards 1-under-par in Opening Round