Northern Texas PGA to Conduct 50th Texas State Open & Energy Producers, Inc. Texas Women’s Open This Summer
Molly Rawlins • May 6, 2020
The Northern Texas PGA will conduct the 50th Texas State Open
and the Energy Producers, Inc. Texas Women’s Open
this summer.
The 50th Texas State Open is scheduled for July 28-31, 2020, at The Cascades Club in Tyler, Texas, and registration is open. The entry deadline is Thursday, June 4 at 5:00 p.m. CT.
The Energy Producers, Inc. Texas Women’s Open is scheduled to play June 2-4, 2020, at Golf Clubs at The Tribute – Old American course in The Colony, Texas. The entry deadline is Thursday, May 28 at 5:00 p.m. CT.
“We know that this is a very unprecedented time, but with the Governor’s recent orders, the guidelines related to engaging in outdoor activities and his specific guidelines for golf, the Northern Texas PGA is planning the conduct both the Texas State Open and the Texas Women’s Open this summer,” said Mark Harrison, Executive Director / CEO of the Northern Texas PGA. “We will continue to follow the guidance of public health officials, and we will conduct these historic Championships in a safe and responsible manner in the coming months. The health and safety of our contestants and volunteers as well as the staff at The Cascades Club, Golf Clubs at The Tribute and Northern Texas PGA remains our top priority.”
The Texas State Open is a 72-hole stroke play event that consists of 156 professionals and amateurs competing for a $120,000 projected purse. The champion will take home a first-place prize of $25,000. The field will play 36-holes before being cut to the low 55 scores and ties. All four rounds will be contested at The Cascades Club.
Unless otherwise exempt, professionals and amateurs gain access into the Texas State Open via an 18-hole qualifying event conducted at 17 sites in Texas and surrounding states during the months of June and July. The final field will consist of successful qualifiers and exempt players from categories defined here.
The Energy Producers, Inc. Texas Women’s Open is a 54-hole stroke play event that consists of 108 (subject to change) professionals and amateurs competing for a $50,000 projected purse. The champion will take home a first-place prize of $10,000. The field will play 36-holes before being cut to the low 50 scores and ties. In addition to the first-place prize, the 2020 Energy Producers, Inc. Texas Women’s Open champion will receive an exemption into the LPGA Tour’s 2021 Marathon LPGA Classic.
Contestants do not have to be residents of Texas to play in either the 50th Texas State Open or the Energy Producers, Inc. Texas Women’s Open. However, the Northern Texas PGA will enforce Governor Abbott’s travel restrictions under GA-20.
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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 .
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