Ten Northern Texas PGA Members to Represent the Section at the PGA Professional Championship

Lexie Lenderman • April 17, 2024

Ten Northern Texas PGA Members will compete in next week’s PGA Professional Championship. The Championship field is comprised of 312 of the top-playing PGA of America Golf Professionals from across the country. They will be teeing it up right here in our backyard at Fields Ranch to compete for the opportunity to play in the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Learn more about the golfers representing our Section and their journey to the Championship below.

Brian Norman

Playing in the PGA Professional Championship isn’t anything new to Brian Norman. The PGA Instructor at Lakewood Country Club has qualified for 10 PGA Professional Championships since receiving his Class A Membership in 2013. Norman was introduced to the game of golf through the men on the golf course he grew up on in western Kentucky. From there, he was able to shadow golf instructors from across the country, ultimately leading him to become a teaching professional. “The greatest thing that teaching golf has done for me is it has given me an avenue to do something that I really love and to pass along my passion to someone else who is very passionate about golf.” Norman is preparing for the PGA Professional Championship by starting early and heading out to the course as often as he can. After qualifying for the PGA Championship back in 2014, Norman’s goal is to get back to the PGA Championship this year to be able to play in a major in his home state of Kentucky. 

Gabe Reynolds

Gabe Reynolds, PGA regional director of instruction at Topgolf Dallas, is excited to be back at this year’s PGA Professional Championship. Last year, Reynolds qualified for the Corebridge Financial PGA Team through the PGA Professional Championship at Twin Warriors and Santa Ana Golf Club and played in the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club. “The reward of getting to show up to that tee time on Thursday, getting to hear your name announced and hit that tee shot and play in front of the giant crowds on a great golf course, there's just nothing like it.” Reynolds' most memorable moment from the Championship was hitting the longest drive of the day on the range that Wednesday and having his name put up on the leaderboard. When he isn’t practicing his drives out on the course, he is helping his students with their drives at Topgolf. He expresses that it is a “gratifying experience” to help a beginner understand how the game works and to give them the ability to make golf a part of their life. Reynolds states, “It’s a very fortunate thing to get to help others improve, and something I love so much.” 

J.J. Killeen

Alongside Reynolds at the PGA Championship last year was JJ Killeen, PGA director of golf at Red Feather Golf and Social Club. This will be his third time competing in the PGA Professional Championship. He is preparing by making the drive from Lubbock to Frisco and getting a couple of extra practice rounds in on Fields Ranch. Killeen shares that the course at PGA Frisco is “a great course, very fair, very challenging.” When Killeen isn’t preparing for the tournament, you can still find him out at the course, sometimes with some special guest stars. “Guys like Parker McCollum, Wade Bowen, Pat Green and some other country guys, it’s been cool [playing with them]!” He believes that it isn’t always about the “skill,” but about the fun you have while out on the course. “I just want to play with guys who want to have a fun time out there. They’re cool and they love golf, it’s a fun experience for everybody.”

Robert Bruns

Being a golf professional runs in the Bruns family. PGA head professional at Trinity Forest Golf Club, Robert Bruns, has been around the game his entire life. He, his father and his brother are all Class A Members. The Bruns family will be traveling to Frisco to watch Robert take on the Championship. His brother James will be his caddie. This will be the fourth PGA Professional Championship that Bruns will play in. “When you qualify in your first couple [PGA Professional Championships], you get excited because you have this opportunity to represent everybody that's watching you,” said Bruns. “I would say now it’s like playing a regular round.” He is not only preparing his game physically by practicing, but also through the golf lessons he teaches. “It keeps me fresh. It keeps me challenged. It continues to push me to get better.”

Kent Graham

Kent Graham, PGA director of golf at Gleneagles Country Club, is looking forward to getting another chance at playing in the PGA Professional Championship. After moving to the Northern Texas Section from Illinois, Graham is ready for another shot to try to advance to the PGA Championship. He is spending his practice time around the green preparing for the fast greens and driving accuracy at Fields Ranch sharing, “you can get yourself in some pretty interesting spots out there.” If Kent is not out on the course, he is spending time with his wife and kids. His wife, Mary, will be caddying for him at the Championship. “She is the best caddie that I’ve ever had and the best greens reader I know.” While golf has taken him and his family all across the country, he says that his mentor since he began in the industry has been Greg Scott, PGA head professional at Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia. Kent shares that he has taught him so much about being a golf professional. “He has been someone strong to lean on and show me what a professional is supposed to be and how to connect with members…he’s been a huge asset.”

Brandon Bingaman

When asked what he is most excited about for the PGA Professional Championship, Brandon Bingaman, PGA assistant professional at Gleneagles Country Club, says the competition. “I love the competition. I love the nerves and then going out there and seeing where everyone stacks up.” After moving to Texas in 2018, Brandon expressed that the friendships he has made here have been his favorite part of being in the Northern Texas Section. “I’ve always called each club I’ve been at my home,” said Bingaman. “There's always a hand willing to help and they foster great competition as well.” After winning last year’s Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship at Fields Ranch, Bingaman feels prepared to be back stating, “I just need to go in with the experience to commit to each shot, never quit, just trust the process and trust my ability will get me to where I want to be.” Bingman competed in the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club.

Robert Shields

Making his first appearance at the PGA Professional Championship is Robert Shields, PGA Member at The Winsford Group. Rob has been in the golf industry for the last 30 years. He shares that his favorite part of working in golf is watching people get better and the connections that you build with the people that you play with. Recently, his son has taken up the game and is Shield's new practice partner. Shields says that his typical practice day starts after his son gets out of school and they will go practice and hit balls together. Continuing to play the game is something that Rob cherishes. The advice he would give to a young professional getting started in the industry is to “take some time for yourself to enjoy the game of golf.” 

Out of our 10 qualifiers, three are coming from Preston Trail Golf Club. Matt Ryba, Nic Ishee and Spencer Dillard will be taking on the PGA Professional Championship together.

Matt Ryba

Matt Ryba will be competing in the tournament for the second year in a row. After playing in the Championship last year, he expresses that it is “nerve-racking” but he is excited to get back at it and give it another shot. Ryba has been practicing for the tournament by playing practice rounds out at Fields Ranch with his fellow co-workers. He shares that the course is difficult but doable. “Par is a hell of a score out there,” said Ryba. “It’s all about bogey avoidance.” Matt will be joined at the tournament by the members at Preston Trail and his family. His dad will even be caddying for him. 

Spencer Dillard

Also making his second appearance in the PGA Professional Championship is Spencer Dillard. Between practicing out on Fields Ranch, short game work and journaling each round, Dillard believes that he has a solid game plan to prepare for the tournament. His goal to get to the PGA Championship goes all the way back to his first year of college. “I was doing an internship at a club in Bedford Hills, New York, and my director of golf had qualified for the PGA Championship. I didn’t know much about the PGA Championship or the team of 20, but I thought ‘wow this is really special.’” Outside of Section events, Dillard recently had the opportunity to play in the TaylorMade National Championship where he placed second. While playing in extra tournaments is motivation to play well in the PGA Professional Championship, so is the support from his club and his fellow Preston Trail teammates. Dillard shares, “You want to play well, but you all want to play well, so it holds us each accountable. Me, Nic and Matt all have something we can achieve, and we can achieve it together. That would be cool.” 

Nic Ishee

Nic Ishee will be competing in his third PGA Professional Championship and will be playing for a chance to get back to the PGA Championship. Ishee competed in the PGA Championship back in 2022 at Southern Hills Country Club. Since then, Ishee has been working to catch that feeling again. “It’s the most fun thing I’ve ever done and the most nervous I’ve ever been.” In preparation for the tournament, Nic is making sure to get out to the course as often as possible to “do some homework” and mentally prepare by making sure to have a good game plan and a good attitude. His key to a good attitude - having a great caddie. Ishee shares that his friend and co-worker Jeff Stroube will be caddying for him again at the tournament. “Most caddies take the headcover off and hand the player the putter, he takes the headcover off and hands me the headcover just messing with me.” Nic believes that the staff and members at Preston Trail have helped him develop significantly. “They want to see us succeed not only in golf but in life.”

We encourage all of our professionals to come out and support their fellow Members. The PGA Professional Championship will take place from Sunday, April 28 to Wednesday, May 1 at Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco. To follow along with the PGA Professional Championship, please go to www.go.pga.com/scoring. We look forward to watching all 10 of our Northern Texas Section qualifiers compete, and we wish them all the best of luck!

Round 1 Start Times:

Brandon Bingaman - 7:00 a.m. Fields Ranch East 1

Nic Ishee - 7:00 a.m. Fields Ranch West 9

J.J. Killeen - 7:33 a.m. Fields Ranch West 9

Robert Shields - 7:55 a.m. Fields Ranch East 10

Gabe Reynolds - 7:55 a.m. Fields Ranch West 9

Spencer Dillard - 7:59 a.m.  Fields Ranch West 1

Robert Bruns - 8:43 a.m. Fields Ranch West 1

Kent Graham - 1:15 p.m. Fields Ranch West 9

Brian Norman - 2:36 p.m. Fields Ranch West 1

Matt Ryba - 2:42 p.m. Fields Ranch East 10


Round 2 Start Times:

Kent Graham -  7:55 a.m. Fields Ranch East 1

Brian Norman - 9:01 a.m. Fields Ranch East 10

Matt Ryba - 9:27 a.m. Fields Ranch West 1

Brandon Bingaman - 12:20 p.m. Fields Ranch West 9

Nic Ishee - 12:30 p.m. Fields Ranch East 1

J.J. Killeen - 1:03 p.m. Fields Ranch East 1

Spencer Dillard - 1:14 p.m. Fields Ranch East 10

Robert Shields - 1:30 p.m. Fields Ranch West 1

Gabe Reynolds - 1:25 p.m. Fields Ranch East 1

Robert Bruns - 1:58 p.m. Fields Ranch East 10

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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.