The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America Continues Event Partnership with Northern Texas PGA Foundation

Madison Koen • March 8, 2023

FRISCO, TX – The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America – the longest running LPGA Tour event in the state of Texas – is continuing its partnership with the Northern Texas PGA Foundation. Youth female golfers can compete for the opportunity to play with the pros this October by qualifying and participating in The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America Girls Championship.

 

The Northern Texas PGA Foundation will conduct the Girls Championship Wednesday, July 5 through Friday, July 7, 2023, at Golf Clubs at The Tribute. Tribute Golf Links will play host for rounds one and two, and Friday’s final round will take place at Old American Golf Club. The champion of this event will earn an exemption into the LPGA Tour’s The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America on October 5-8 at Golf Clubs at The Tribute.

 

Qualifying opportunities into The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America Girls Championship will be available at select All American Tour events hosted by the Northern Texas PGA, select Prestige Tour events hosted by the Southern Texas PGA and select championships hosted by the Legends Junior Tour.

 

Last year’s Girls Championship resulted in Yunxuan (Michelle) Zhang, now a freshman on the Southern Methodist University’s women’s golf team, winning the exemption and fulfilling a lifelong dream by playing in an LPGA Tour tournament.

 

“We are extremely proud to be going into the fourth year of our partnership with The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America,” said Mark Harrison, Executive Director / CEO of the Northern Texas PGA. “To be able to continue providing a junior golfer a chance to compete at the highest level in professional golf creates excitement and helps grow the game. We look forward to providing our players with these tremendous experiences for countless years to come.”

 

In addition to awarding an LPGA Tour exemption, the partnership between The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America and the Northern Texas PGA Foundation will further impact the community by providing a junior golf clinic, a High School Girls Golf Clinic, and a Veterans Clinic during championship week. Also, the Northern Texas PGA Foundation will award a $5,000 The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America College Scholarship to a deserving female junior golfer.

 

For the team at The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America the opportunity to help inspire the next generation of LPGA Tour players and expand its community outreach is something that fits right into the tournament’s mission.

 

“A focus of our Championship is to grow the game and inspire the next generation of golfers in Texas,” said Vice President of Outlyr, James Clark. “The partnership with the Northern Texas PGA Foundation allows us to positively impact lives in our community and create future champions right here in our backyard.”

 

For more information, visit ntpgajuniorgolf.com and ascendantlpga.com.

Northern Texas PGA Announces 2026 Chapter Award Winners

By Erik Anderson • October 26, 2026
On behalf of each NTPGA Chapter Awards Committee, East Texas, Metro Texas and West Texas, we are pleased to announce the 2026 Northern Texas PGA Chapter Award Winners below. 2026 East Chapter Award Winners Golf Professional of the Year Tim Lawson, The Pinnacle Golf Club Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Justin Benson, Eagle's Bluff Country Club Teacher & Coach of the Year Cory Ryan, Crown Colony Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Private Kendall Earp Motes, Sulphur Springs Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Public Doug Myer, Tyler Golf Professional Development Award John Sikes, Eagle's Bluff Country Club Bill Strausbaugh Award Doug Myer, Tyler Golf Player Development Award John Sikes, Eagle's Bluff Country Club Patriot Award Dick Goetz, PGA Life Member Youth Player Development Award Mike Williams, Alpine Target Golf Center 2026 Metro Chapter Award Winners Golf Professional of the Year Abe Hernandez, Royal Oaks Country Club Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Shelly Davis, Dallas Athletic Club Teacher & Coach of the Year Gabe Reynolds, Topgolf - Dallas Merchandiser of the Year - Private Brian Schorsten, Colonial Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Public Chad Williams, Tierra Verde Golf Club Professional Development Award Deborah Foley, PGA of America Bill Strausbaugh Award Trish Holt, Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco Player Development Award Michelle Edgar, The Clubs of Prestonwood - The Hills Patriot Award Bob Nied, The Courses at Watters Creek Youth Player Development Award Garrett Anderson, Golf Clubs at The Tribute 2026 West Chapter Award Winners  Golf Professional of the Year Jimmy Tidwell, Abilene Country Club Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Dru Hein, Midland Country Club Teacher & Coach of the Year Brandon Veld, Red Feather Golf & Social Club Merchandiser of the Year - Private Matt Lawson, Lubbock Country Club Merchandiser of the Year - Public Casey Renner, Palo Duro Creek Golf Course Professional Development Award Brian Nagy, Abilene Country Club Bill Strausbaugh Award Jake McCullough, Odessa Country Club Player Development Award Thomas Martin, Green Tree Country Club Patriot Award George Priolo, Ross Rogers Golf Complex Youth Player Development Award Ryan Osgood, Odessa Country Club Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients.

A Full Circle Summer

By Erik Anderson • October 21, 2026
NTPGA Junior Tour Alumni Sweep the 2026 NTPGA Section Individual Majors

Walts, Reynolds Earn Finalist Spots for Duel in the Desert Finale

By Erik Anderson • October 7, 2026
Friend and McCorkle Headed to Lajitas Golf Resort for Duel in the Desert

Dillard Wins $25,000 at Jerry J. Ransom Northern Texas PGA Shootout at The Oaks in Back-to-Back Years

By Erik Anderson • September 29, 2026
GREENVILLE, Texas (September 28) – For the second year in a row, Spencer Dillard, PGA director of golf at Golf Clubs at The Tribute, claimed the Jerry J. Ransom Northern Texas PGA Shootout at The Oaks, taking home $25,000 for the win. Just like last year, it took Dillard two playoff holes to best runner-up Nick Paez, instructor at The Ronny Golf Park. Both players found the 440-yard, par 4, 9th green in two, but a costly three-putt from Paez from 35 feet led to Dillard finishing off a nervy three-foot putt for the win. Dillard also won with a par in last year’s event and has now taken home the victory in two out of three years in the event’s short history. “It’s pretty special, just the opportunity to play in the event. I just can’t thank Dr. Ransom enough for putting this on and all he does for us,” said Dillard. “Just being able to play is a huge deal and then lasting through the shootout is so tough, so it feels great to be here.” The players in the shootout were battling in what seemed to be a competition of who could continue to make birdies. “Nathan was 9-under through a 12-hole stretch today and still went out. There is so much talent in our Section, so you got to go win it,” said Dillard. Longtime Northern Texas PGA Foundation supporter Jerry J. Ransom welcomed 98 Northern Texas PGA Members and Associates to The Oaks Country Club for the third annual Shootout. The event was created to recognize the PGA Professionals across the Section who dedicate their time and energy to growing the game through the NTPGA Foundation’s initiatives. The event was developed by Ransom as a way to thank PGA Professionals across the Northern Texas Section while also providing exposure to The Oaks Country Club. The Oaks is a top-five nine-hole course in Texas according to the Dallas Morning News golf course rankings. The format for the event featured a 9-hole qualifier, with the top three finishers and one randomly selected participant moving on to the evening shootout. Nathan Park, instructor at Stonebriar Country Club, qualified first after finishing with an impressive 6-under-par, 30. Dillard was the next to advance, carding a 4-under-par, 32, and finally Paez at 3-under-par, 33, who won a six-for-one spot playoff with a birdie on the first extra hole in the playoff. Zack Vinson, PGA head professional at Athens Country Club, was the random drawing winner. The nine-hole Shootout portion of the event was played in three stages of three holes each, with one professional eliminated after every stage. After the first three holes, Vinson was eliminated and landed a prize of $2,500. The scores were then reset to even par, and the second three holes saw Nathan Park bow out, despite being 9-under-par through 15 holes. He played his final three holes in the shootout at even par. Still, he earned $7,500 for his efforts. The scores again reset to even par for the final three-hole segment, where Dillard and Paez battled it out for three holes, followed by two extra holes in the playoff.