NTPGA's Top 10 Moments from 2018

NTPGA • January 2, 2019

The Northern Texas PGA had a wonderful 2018, and our Section staff is looking forward to seeing what 2019 has in store for us! However, now that the holidays are over, we wanted to take a look back in chronological order at our favorite moments from 2018.

#1. Ronny Glanton Elected as NTPGA’s 28th President

The Northern Texas PGA held their 50th Annual Meeting on Monday, February 19 at The Westin Galleria Dallas. During the meeting, the membership elected new section leadership, including the 28th Northern Texas PGA President Ronny Glanton. Glanton was also the 22nd President of the NTPGA. Read more.

#2. Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation Awards Record $307,500 in Scholarships

The Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation is dedicated to continuing its charitable commitment to educational services. In 2018, 43 students earned scholarships totaling $305,000, the most ever given in a single year by the Foundation. Of the scholarships awarded, 69% were based on financial need, academic performance, extracurricular activities and community involvement, while 31% were awarded based on academic performance, extracurricular activities and community involvement. Also included in this number were five Fairway To Success scholarship recipients who were awarded $20,000 to continue their education. With these students, the Fairway To Success program reached $1 million given to DISD students in 11 years! Read more. *Please note that after this article was published in June, we were able to give out an additional $2,500 bringing the total to $307,500 for 2018.

#3. NTPGA Foundation Has Record-Breaking Summer Camp Attendance

The NTPGA Summer Golf Camp Program provides children ages 6-12 with an opportunity to be introduced to the game of golf. In the summer of 2018, 891 kids across 18 different locations spent five days learning the fundamentals of golf including full swing, putting, chipping, rules and safety. Along with the instruction from PGA Professionals, each camper received a new set of clubs, a hat, water bottle, golf balls, tees and free access to select golf courses. The future of Northern Texas is bright as more and more kids are introduced to golf through this great program! Learn more.

#4. PGA Member Wins Texas State Open for the First Time Since 1987

Ben Kern of Georgetown, Texas, and PGA head professional at Georgetown Country Club, captured the 48th Tanos Exploration II / Patterson-UTI Drilling Texas State Open by playing solid, and at times spectacular golf, with rounds of 70, 64, 62 and a final round of 70. He finished the Championship two strokes ahead of the competition at 14-under par 266 for 72-holes. Following the Texas State Open, Kern went on to claim Low PGA Professional honors at the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis, MO. Read more.

#5. NTPGA Junior Golf Three-Peat at Ben Hogan Junior Cup Matches

Shady Oaks Country Club, the Northern Texas PGA and the Southern Texas PGA hosted the 3rd Annual Ben Hogan Junior Cup Matches at Shady Oaks Country Club on Tuesday, August 7 – Wednesday, August 8. The Northern Texas PGA retained the Ben Hogan Junior Cup, finishing the event 13 – 11 over the Southern Texas PGA for a three-peat. With the victory, the Northern Texas PGA team now has a 3-0-0 record in the Matches. Read more.

#6. Former NTPGA Junior Tour Member Wins First Major

In September of 2018, Angela Stanford, a Fort Worth native and NTPGA Junior Tour Member from 1990 to 1994, captured her first major championship at the Evian Championship in Évian-les-Bains, France. The Championships website notes, "After a rollercoaster final sprint, the American Angela Stanford wins the Evian Championship 2018. The 40-year-old American had not won on tour since 2012. She is the first stars and stripes player on the shores of Lake Geneva since Natalie Gulbis in 2007." Read more.

#7. Cameron Doan Receives PGA of America Award

In August 2018, The PGA of America announced that Cameron Doan, PGA head professional at Preston Trail Golf Club in Dallas, was awarded the Bill Strausbaugh Award. This award is presented to those PGA Members who by their day-to-day efforts have made significant contributions through mentoring of PGA Professionals. The award also considers the integrity and character of the PGA Member, their service to the Association, involvement in community and charitable activities. Read more.

#8. Ewing Charity Classic Event Sets New Record

The 13th Annual Ewing Charity Classic, a fundraising golf tournament conducted by the Northern Texas PGA for the benefit of the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation, took place at Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas on Monday, November 26, 2018. The event raised a record high of $230,000. The Ewing Charity Classic, formerly the Westcott Pro-Am, is widely considered one of the most special and unique events in the country with $4.29 million raised during the past 23 years for the benefit of the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation's broad-based community outreach programs. Read more.

#9. PGA of America and NTPGA Headquarters Moving to Frisco

At the end of November 2018 at a special called meeting by the Frisco City Council, the Council approved a new development that includes the PGA of America relocating its headquarters to the City of Frisco. In addition to the headquarters campus, the development will also include an Omni resort, 45-holes of golf, 18-holes of which will be designed by Gil Hanse. The facility will be called PGA Frisco. What is very exciting for the Northern Texas PGA is that PGA Frisco will also become the home of the Northern Texas PGA! Read more.

#10. NTPGA Reaches 10,000 Through its 2018 Events and Programs

More important than any of these moments is the fact that we feel that we were able to truly serve the members and grow the game of golf this year. We estimate that we impacted the lives of 10,000 of people in the northern Texas community through golf, and that is for what we are always striving to do!

As you can see, 2018 set the bar high for 2019! But, as we reflect on these great memories, we know that this New Year will bring many more record-breaking and memorable moments. Best wishes for a prosperous 2019! Now, #getgolfing

Eight Dallas ISD Seniors Receive The 2026 Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarships

By Logan Bearden • June 16, 2026
From left to right: Sa'Mareion Tucker, Matisse Edwards, Daisy Navarro, Leibi Chavira Reyes, Yvette Altamirano, Abril Guerrero, Ariel Meza Meza. (not pictured is Camyre' Williams who was unable to attend the banquet)

Roberson Claims Prize Possessions | E-Z-GO Eastern Championship

By Erik Anderson • June 16, 2026
del Olmo Delivers in the Senior Division

90 Students Receive Northern Texas PGA Foundation Scholarships, Nearly $950,000 Awarded

By Logan Bearden • June 9, 2026
Frisco, Texas (June 9, 2026) – The Northern Texas PGA (NTPGA) Foundation is pleased to continue its charitable commitment to higher education by announcing our 2026 scholarship recipients. Ninety high school seniors who will be attending college this fall have earned scholarships totaling $947,500, breaking last year’s record by $184,500! Since its inception in 1983, the Foundation’s scholarship program has now reached an incredible milestone, surpassing 1,000 scholarships awarded for a lifetime total of nearly $7.5 million in student support. “What amazing numbers these are!” said Northern Texas PGA Chief Executive Officer Mark Harrison. “The growth and support we have seen for our scholarship program over the last few years is remarkable, and truly unmatched. I want to thank all of our partners who make this year-over-year record possible, and I also want to congratulate and wish the best of luck to the young men and women who have worked diligently throughout high school to receive one of our scholarships this year. I know they will go on to do great things.” The 2026 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), and one student was awarded a full-ride scholarship to the University of North Texas, which is a new partner school for this year. Congratulations to our 2026 scholarship recipients: A.B. Crockroft Memorial Scholarship Saydi Durbin – Mart High School Ethan Hocking – Mart High School Allison and Jerry Freeman Scholarship Niko Klassen – Homeschool ANNIKA Foundation Scholarship Alicia Bellendir – Coppell High School April and Mark Anthony Scholarship Huey Black – Canyon High School Baylor Scott & White Scholarship Garrick Ly – Lone Star High School Aliya Rasheed – Panther Creek High School Ben Hogan Foundation / Fred & Michele Reynolds Scholarship Jeffery Rubenstein – Highland Park High School Ben Hogan Foundation / Lillie Biggins Scholarship Mikayla Martin – Homeschool Ben Hogan Foundation / Mike McMahan Scholarship Adam Strauss – Greenhill School Ben Hogan Foundation / Mike Wright Scholarship Gracie Ellis – Clarendon High School Birdies For Kids Scholarship Sydnee Fain – Midland High Jade Mara – Argyle High School Cameron Doan NTPGA Golf Professional of the Year Scholarship Landon Reece – Mildred High School CJ Corporation Scholarship Katherine Bustetter – Centennial High School Harper Mallonee – Highland Park High School Luke Martin – Rockwall-Heath High School Delaney Newberry – Highland Park High School Yunjae Park – Prosper High School Deloitte / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship Yvette Altamirano – W. W. Samuell High School Matisse Edwards – David W. Carter High School Abril Guerrero – Thomas Jefferson High School Ariel Meza Meza – Thomas Jefferson High School Sa'Mareion Tucker – Lincoln High School Camyre' Williams – Lincoln High School Destination Grapevine Texas Women's Open Scholarship Audrey McCallum – Colleyville Heritage High School Dr. Bill Blair Scholarship Cameron Warner – Wakeland High School Ewing Automotive Scholarship Hannah Antunes – China Spring High School Avery Jones – Homeschool Fore Frisco Scholarship Amara Okafor – Lone Star High School Rajdeep Singh – Panther Creek High School Lauryn Spraggs – Panther Creek High School Nikki Zahedi – Lone Star High School Frank & Evelyn Borgsmiller Scholarship Alan Ocampo – Thomas Jefferson High School Fritz and Mary Lee Duda Family Foundation Scholarship Taylor Carr – McKinney Boyd High School Giveback Foundation Scholarship Jelani Johnson Simon – Panther Creek High School Evan Tupper – Lone Star High School Holly & Doug Brooks Family Foundation Scholarship Keegan Batla – Garden City High School Darby Ehrbar – Flower Mound High School Tyson Embry – Marcus High School Caroline Fent – Ursuline Academy of Dallas Riley Gudgeon – Hebron High School Xiyu Mei – Walnut Grove High School Jude Robbins – Wakeland High School I Am a Golfer Foundation Scholarship De'Asia Williams – David W. Carter High School Jackie Cupit Scholarship Brody Callens – White Oak High School Jerry Andrews Scholarship Dylan Wisener – Sachse High School Jerry J. Ransom Scholarship Max Cearley – Rockwall High School Brooks Head – Coppell High School Reed Heilig – Flower Mound High School Brooklynn Landrumm – Melissa High School Van Leugers – Rockwall High School Haylie Moore – Burleson Centennial High School Bryan Sargent – Walnut Grove High School Joe Black / Texas Golf Hall of Fame Scholarship Jacob Mekelburg – Maypearl High School Joe Bob Joyce Family Foundation Scholarship William Wampler – Canton High School Jon and Kim Morgan Scholarship Aashi Vakta – Justin Wakeland High School Jordan Spieth Family Foundation Scholarship Damir Ali – Thomas Jefferson High School Marely Angeles – Lincoln High School Dayanara Aquino – W.W. Samuell High School Montrell Horner – Lincoln High School Links on PGA Parkway Scholarship Anisaa Abdullah – Emmett J. Conrad High School Reagan Lorenson – McKinney North High School Daphny Moore – Keene High School M&P Group Texas State Open Scholarship Samuel Fate – Tyler Legacy High School Mac Spikes PGA Member Scholarship Anabelle Floriani – Lone Star High School Miss Katie Scholarship Gloria Solis – Thomas Jefferson High School Never Stop Believing Scholarship Annabeth Boyd – Trinity Preparatory Academy Perry Arthur Scholarship Faith Hughes – Community Christian School Philip Bleakney Scholarship Samuel Williams – Vilonia High School Randy Smith Scholarship Carson Niemann – Byron Nelson High School Ronny Glanton Scholarship Addison Akers – Bryan Adams High School Ronny Golf Park Scholarship Madison Bixler – Lone Star High School Riaan Nazrul – Panther Creek High School Carlo Rogers – Panther Creek High School Royal Oaks Country Club / Nicholas Stafford Scholarship Kian Sköld – Frisco High School Scottie and Meredith Scheffler Scholarship Austin Morrissette – Northwest High School Addelyn Schwarzlose – Tascosa High School Sherrill Park / Two Dads and a Coach Scholarship Kristin Coffman – Berkner High School Tehan Scholarship Cooper Knapp – Wylie High School The CJ Cup Byron Nelson Scholarship Aiden Tiet – Garland Christian Academy UNT / Fore Frisco Scholarship Kayla Rochez – Panther Creek High School UNTD / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship Daisy Navarro – W.W. Samuell High School UTA / NTPGA Fairway to Success Scholarship Leibi Chavira Reyes – W.W. Samuell High School West Texas Legends Scholarship honoring Jenny Cox Claire Smiley – Amarillo High School West Texas Legends Scholarship honoring S.A. Smith, Hart Warren, Jay McClure, and Sherwin Cox Gunnar Barrera – Levelland High School Three additional scholarship winners will be announced later this June, with recipients selected via random drawings at two upcoming events. First, the Jerry J. Ransom Pro-Junior-Am fundraising tournament will award a $5,000 scholarship to a participating recent graduate. Later in the month, the S.A. Smith West Texas Junior Invitational will host a drawing for two $2,500 memorial scholarships in honor of Jerry D. Smith, one awarded to a male participant and one to a female participant.

Ewing Automotive Group and Northern Texas PGA Announce Partnership Extension Through 2030

By Erik Anderson • June 2, 2026
FRISCO, Texas (June 2, 2026) – Following a milestone celebration of their 20-year partnership this May, the Northern Texas PGA (NTPGA) and Ewing Automotive Group are proud to announce a five-year extension of their agreement. This agreement ensures the Ewing Automotive Group will remain a key supporter of golf in North Texas through 2030. Under the extended terms, Ewing Automotive Group will continue as the title sponsor of the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour and its three competitive tours. As one of the largest programs of its kind in the United States, the Junior Tour serves approximately 4,500 members (ages 6–19) and conducts more than 450 tournaments annually. The pathway includes The Prep Tour powered by Ewing Subaru of Plano, The Medalist Tour powered by Ewing Buick GMC, and The All American Tour powered by Mercedes-Benz of Plano. A recent addition to the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour is the Randy Smith Tour . This non-competitive tour is a beginner-friendly tour focused on fun, teamwork, and learning, and is the first step on the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour pathway. Since the partnership’s inception in 2006, the scope of junior golf in the region has expanded significantly. The Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour has hosted over 6,565 tournaments and facilitated approximately 365,000 rounds of golf. Annual event totals have more than doubled, rising from 200 tournaments in 2006 to 457 in 2025. Beyond the numbers, the Junior Tour has become a premier proving ground for elite talent. Alumni of the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour have secured nine Major Championships, including titles won by Scottie Scheffler (4), Jordan Spieth (3), Angela Stanford (1), and Brittany Lang (1). Remarkably, since 2006, NTPGA Junior Tour alumni have produced more major champions than entire nations, including England, Australia, Spain, and South Africa. The extension also reaffirms Ewing Automotive Group’s commitment to the Northern Texas PGA Foundation through the continued hosting of the Ewing Charity Classic. Over the past 30 years, the Ewing Charity Classic and its predecessor, The Westcott Pro-Am, have raised over $6.3 million to support community outreach programs. Furthermore, the "Closest-to-the-Hole" contest, a tradition started by Fin Ewing III in 2012 to recognize and thank participating PGA professionals, will continue through 2030 by awarding a new car for first place and cash prizes for second and third places in the shootout.  “Learning to play golf as a child was an incredible blessing that provided priceless time with my father and brother,” said Finley Ewing IV, CEO of Ewing Automotive Group. “We credit golf for our close family relationships, and that passion eventually led to scholarships at Vanderbilt and Texas Tech for my brother, Charlie, and me, providing access to amazing opportunities. We are honored to help provide that same foundation for the next generation.” The partnership extension also secures vital funding for the NTPGA Foundation’s scholarship program. Two Ewing Automotive Group scholarships, valued at $5,000 each, will be awarded annually to graduating seniors. This contribution supports a program that has grown from $62,000 in total annual giving in 2006 to $947,500 in 2026. “Simply put, we could not achieve our mission at the Northern Texas PGA without the unwavering support of Fin Ewing III and his family,” said Mark Harrison, CEO of the Northern Texas PGA. “The Ewing name is synonymous with golf in North Texas, but more importantly, the family represents the very best of our community. Their generosity allows us to go above and beyond in serving our PGA professionals and growing the game. We are thrilled to formally extend this partnership, but even more grateful to continue the friendship through the end of the decade and well beyond.”