Volunteers of America Classic Partners with the Texas Junior Golf Alliance in Competition for Exemption into the LPGA Tournament

Molly Rawlins • October 2, 2019

The Colony, TX (October 2, 2019) - The Volunteers of America Classic – the only LPGA event in Texas – is partnering with Texas Junior Golf Alliance in a series of competitions where youth female golfers can earn an exemption spot into the LPGA event at Old American Golf Club.

The existing relationship between the Volunteers of America Classic and the Northern Texas PGA was key in this partnership with the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. Together, the group is excited to embark on this journey to promote the sport of golf and to encourage golf engagement with youth overall in the state of Texas.

Formed in 2012, the goal of the Alliance – consisting of Northern Texas PGA, Southern Texas PGA, Houston Golf Association and Texas Golf Association – was to allow junior golfers a clear path to compete in the best tournaments the state of Texas has to offer. Each regional organization conducts tournaments that serve as qualifiers into the statewide Legends Tour events – operated by the Texas Golf Association Foundation.

“We are extremely excited to partner with The Volunteers of America Classic on this initiative to promote and grow the game in Texas” said Stacy Dennis, Executive Director of the Texas Golf Association. “Each Texas Junior Golf Alliance partner will have young ladies represented in the Match Play Championship. This is yet another example of our collective partnership working extremely well for the betterment of junior golf in Texas.”

Starting in 2020, the Volunteers of America Classic Match Play Championship will give junior female golfers from the state of Texas the opportunity to play their way into the LPGA Tour’s Volunteers of America Classic. The Match Play Championship will be conducted at Old American Golf Club in The Colony, Texas in the late summer of 2020. The Match Play Championship will feature 16 female junior golfers; 7 from the Legends Tour, 4 from NTPGA All American Tour, 4 from STPGA Prestige, and 1 from Houston Golf Association Performance Series. Details for the qualifying events and guidelines will be announced in February of 2020.

“Most of these participants will have an opportunity to play collegiate golf and play amateur golf at an elite level. Most of them have aspirations of playing professionally. To get a firsthand shoulder-to-shoulder look at that and to be able to do it through their local tours, they don't have to travel all the way across the country every other weekend,” said Stacy Dennis, the executive director of the Texas Golf Association and the Legends Junior Tour. “They have the opportunity right in their own backyard to earn this chance. I can't imagine a young girl with those aspirations not wanting to sign up for everything they can and do whatever they can do to make it into this field.”

For the team at the Volunteers of America Classic, the opportunity to help inspire the next generation of LPGA Tour players was something that fit right into the tournament’s mission.

“Mike King, CEO of Volunteers of America, he is very passionate about growing the game for young women,” said Tournament Director Brooke Lee. “This partnership, when we brought it to him and talked to him about it, he's super excited and super thrilled to have this. We're excited to see the young women get the experience and get out here and do well.”

Numerous LPGA Tour players competed in these Texas Junior Golf Alliance organizations during their junior careers, including Kristen Gillman, Cheyenne Knight and Angela Stanford. For more information, visit https://www.txga.org/tljt-texas-junior-golf-alliance.html and www.VOAClassic.com

About the Volunteers of America Classic
The 2019 Volunteers of America Classic, formerly the Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic, will return to Old American Golf Club in The Colony, TX for the second consecutive year. The official LPGA Tournament will feature 144 of the world’s best female golfers in a four-day stroke-play event vying for a $1.3 million purse. In 2019, the tournament will embrace a new week, taking place September 30 through October 6, allowing for a stronger playing field and the opportunity to create new and unique programming for fans and the surrounding community. Be sure to follow along online, and on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for the latest Tournament news.

About the Texas Junior Golf Alliance
Formed in 2012, the goal of the Alliance was to allow junior golfers a clear path to compete in the best tournaments the state of Texas has to offer. Each regional organization conducts tournaments (NTPGA's All American Tour, STPGA's Prestige Tour and HGA's Performance Series) that serve as qualifiers into the statewide Legends Tour events - operated by the Texas Golf Association

About the LPGA
The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950 and headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla., the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 2,300 members representing more than 30 countries. With a vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women’s golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while the Symetra Tour, the official development and qualifying tour of the LPGA, consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. Additionally, LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management.

The LPGA demonstrates its dedication to the development of the game through The LPGA Foundation. Since 1991, this charitable organization has been committed to empowering and supporting girls and women through developmental and humanitarian golf initiatives, such as LPGA*USGA Girls Golf.

Follow the LPGA on its television home, Golf Channel, and on the web. Join the social conversation on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and on Instagram and Snapchat at @lpga_tour.

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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.”