Pearce Captures Joyce Crane / Veritex Bank Section Championship

Taylor Coffelt • September 10, 2019

AMARILLO, TX – On the first hole of a sudden death playoff against Nic Ishee, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club, Shane Pearce, PGA head professional at Hurricane Creek Country Club, captured the Joyce Crane / Veritex Bank Section Championship when he made a 3-foot birdie putt on the par 5, 18th hole. Pearce held a two-stroke lead heading into today’s final round, but got off to a shaky start carding four consecutive bogeys on holes 3-6. He then managed one birdie on #16, and that was enough to force a playoff with Ishee who carded a 2-under for the day and tournament. Pearce finished with round totals of 66-74–140 to claim his first Northern Texas PGA individual major championship.

"It was tough not seeing the course before. I didn’t get to play here in 2015. I wasn’t a Class A Member yet. I got here on Sunday and came out to hit a few balls and drive the course, but I didn’t actually play a practice round. It’s kind of weird, my dad and I joked after the first round that I tend to play courses better when I don’t have a practice round,” Pearce stated after clinching the win. “This is a super special [win], it’s definitely something I’ve always wanted, but I never thought I’d get here. I’m just following in the footsteps of everyone that’s won this before, all the people I’ve always looked up to. That’s more special to me than the actual win, just following along in their footsteps.”

Pearce took home a check for $4,800 for his victory, but even more important is the exemption that he earned into the 2020 AT&T Byron Nelson.

“I’m excited but also horrified,” Pearce said about the exemption. “Back in 2012 when I went to Q-School I probably would have had some different emotions about that, probably would have felt more prepared, but I’m looking forward to it. It’s always been a dream to play on the PGA TOUR.”

The Section Championship also included a Senior Division that was comprised of 23 professionals aged 50 and older who elected to compete for a separate $14,200 purse and played from a modified yardage. Stuart Hendley, PGA director of instruction at Dallas Athletic Club, completed a three-peat as the Section Championship Senior Division champion. He finished the tournament at 3-under-par with rounds of 70-69—139 to capture his third consecutive Section Championship Senior Division win. He took home a check for $2,250.

“It’s fun winning. Our Section is big, so winning is nice, and this locks up the Points [Challenge Standings] for me which is always the goal,” Hendley said after today’s win. “When I lived in West Texas I played this course quite a bit, and I really like it. It’s one of my favorite courses in West Texas. You really have to control your ball, though, so I focused on getting the ball in the fairway to control where I was going on the green. I also putted really well, which is great because these greens are really difficult.”

The Joyce Crane / Veritex Bank Section Championship, presented by AT&T Byron Nelson, Ewing Automotive Group, GT Golf Supplies, PGA TOUR, Sterling Cut Glass, and Technogym, was conducted at Amarillo Country Club, a 6,937-yard, par 71 course located in Amarillo, Texas. The overall purse for the event was a record $52,500. The Open Division field consisted of 62 PGA professionals from the Northern Texas Section of the PGA of America who competed for an Open Division purse of $38,300.

The Joyce Crane / Veritex Bank Section Championship was the fourth and final individual stroke play major championship of the 2019 season to earn points towards the Yamaha Golf-Car Company & Srixon / Cleveland Golf / XXIO Player of the Year Points Challenge presented by Adventures In Golf & Green Garden Gold. The Eastern Championship, Western Championship, NTPGA Professional Championship and Section Championship all served as qualifiers for the year-end Yamaha Golf-Car Company & Srixon / Cleveland Golf / XXIO Match Play Championship. The Player of the Year Points Challenge also served as qualifying for the 2019 NTPGA Texas Joe Black Cup and Levy Cup teams.

Final Results.

Headley and del Olmo Capture First Section Victories at Joyce Crane | Veritex Bank Section Championship

By Steven Clements • September 17, 2025
LEWISVILLE, Texas (September 16) – Adam Headley, PGA head professional at Green Tree Country Club captured the Joyce Crane | Veritex Bank Section Championship after a 6-under-par final round. His bogey-free 34-32–66 and a first round 69, got him to 9-under-par for the Championship and a one stroke victory. It also earned Headley an exemption into the 2026 THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson. Headley was playing in the third to last group and began the final round three strokes behind the leaders. He quickly fell further behind the lead after starting with three pars, until a birdie at the par-5 4th hole got things going. On the back nine it was a battle between Headley and Brian Norman, PGA instructor at Lakewood Country Club. Headley eagled the 12th hole and added two more birdies on 15 and 18 to close and post 9-under-par. “My goal today was to play the par fives 4-under. I accomplished that,” said Headley. “I don’t like to look at the leaderboard, but I looked at it going into 18 tee and had a feeling I was sitting pretty good there.” “Honestly I didn’t think I'd ever win one. Not because I'm not a good player but because we have so many good players in the Section. If I had to choose any tournament to win, it would be this one.” Headley earned $9,250 along with his exemption into THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson. “I’ve been a golf pro for almost 20 years and now to be playing in a PGA TOUR event, I don’t care how I do, It’s going to be a blast. I’m super excited about it, it’s a dream come true.”

Killeen Leads the Joyce Crane | Veritex Bank Section Championship

By Hailey Rasco • September 16, 2025
Randolph and Shields Tied for Senior Division Lead

PGA of America REACH Foundation Announces 2025-26 Class of PGA WORKS Fellows

September 9, 2025
23 recent college and university graduates to get hands-on golf industry experience

Ronny Glanton Announced to PGA of America Hall of Fame

By Steven Clements • September 8, 2025
The PGA of America announced today that Ronny Glanton, PGA head professional at Sherrill Park Golf Course, will be inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame. Glanton, a native of Mineral Wells, Texas, began his career in 1981 as an Assistant Professional at Sherrill Park Golf Course in Richardson, Texas. Upon achieving PGA of America membership in 1984, he took over as Head Professional and has been at the Richardson facility ever since. He is the only member to serve twice as President of the NTPGA (2006-07, ‘18-’19). Glanton played a key role in the PGA of America’s relocation to Frisco, Texas. He is a passionate advocate for junior golf, developing impactful programs like the Sherrill Park Learning Center and the Hawks junior golf team, which have introduced thousands of new golfers to the game; his leadership in the creation of “The Ronny” Golf Park on the PGA Frisco campus further expands community outreach and player development. Among his previous awards are PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year (2020), NTPGA Golf Professional of the Year (1999, ‘07, ‘19), NTPGA Bill Strausbaugh Award (2003-05, ‘08, ‘14) and NTPGA Merchandiser of the Year (1994), plus induction into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 2022. Glanton actively supports his colleagues, raising over $100,000 through pro-ams for PGA Members facing medical hardships. He’s also been a four-time contestant in the PGA Professional Championship, five-time contestant in the Senior PGA Professional National Championship and seven-time participant in the PGA TOUR Byron Nelson (now the CJ Cup Byron Nelson). Glanton is a three-time NTPGA Major Champion, six-time Senior Division Major Champion and a 17-time member of the NTPGA Joe Black Cup Team, which he has also captained three times. The PGA of America Hall of Fame originated in 1940 at the suggestion of famed sportswriter Grantland Rice. It is the highest honor the PGA of America can bestow upon its membership or ambassadors of the game. For a full list of PGA of America Hall of Fame members, click here. “The PGA of America is honored to recognize our 2025 Hall of Fame Class and celebrate the incredible impact they have had throughout their careers, inspiring thousands both on and off the course,” said PGA of America President and Master Professional Don Rea Jr., PGA Owner/Operator of Augusta Ranch Golf Club (Arizona). “Whether they have won Major Championships, given thousands of lessons or captivated audiences with trick shots, each PGA Hall of Fame Member has played an essential role in shaping the game of golf as we know it today.” The 2025 PGA of America Hall of Fame Inductees fall under four induction categories: PGA of America Past President Category, PGA of America Golf Professional Category, Tour Player Professional Category and PGA of America Ambassador Category. Congratulations to Ronny on this momentous occasion!