Watkins Goes Wire-to-Wire, Defends Title at the 56th M&P Group Texas State Open
Doggett (a) and McIlwain (a) Share Low Amateur Honors
Walts Finishes as Top PGA Professional
Matthew Watkins
TYLER, Texas (July 31) – Matthew Watkins of Rockwall, TX, successfully defended his title at the 56th M&P Group Texas State Open at Cascades Country Club. Rounds of 61-61-70-67–259, 21-under-par, earned him a two-stroke win and $40,000.
Watkins began his final round with four consecutive pars before making birdie on the fifth hole. A pair of pars on the sixth and seventh holes steadied him before two birdies on holes eight and nine. Despite a 32, 3-under-par, front nine, Watkins' lead shrank to three after Cameron Sisk shot a 31 on the front.
Two bogeys to start his back nine, Watkins' lead was cut to one standing on the 12th tee. Watkins made birdie on the par 5, 14th hole, and after a couple of bogeys from his competitors, the lead was back to three.
A birdie on 18 was the icing on the cake for Watkins as he became the first player to go back-to-back at the M&P Group Texas State Open in 20 years and just the fifth all-time. He joins an elite list of names that have completed the feat, including Kelly Grunewald (2005-06), Brad Lardon (1995-96), Ben Crenshaw (1979-80) and Lee Trevino (1965-66), each of whom also went on to compete on the PGA TOUR.
After a pair of 61s to start the week, Watkins led by six after 36 holes. A lead he managed to protect, but said it wasn’t easy. “It was brutal,” said Watkins. He continued, “It would have been so easy to fall apart, but I hung in there nicely.”
Watkins added that there was a lot of “self-pressure” this week to go back-to-back. Last year, he said there were general nerves as he looked to earn his second professional win, but this year it was expectations he put on himself.
In addition to his title last year, Watkins was the 2021 and 2023 Low Amateur. A course that Watkins clearly plays well, he said earlier in the week, “You have to hit driver straight and that fits my game. I like this course a lot.”
From left to right: Grant Doggett (a), Anniston McIlwain(a) Matthew Watkins and Chase Walts, PGA
Grant Doggett (a) of Beach City, TX, and Anniston McIlwain (a) of Bulverde, TX, shared Low Amateur honors. Doggett (a) carded rounds of 68-67-69-69–273, 7-under-par. McIlwain (a) had rounds of 68-68-71-66–273, 7-under-par.
This is the second consecutive year that Doggett (a) has earned this recognition.
“It’s super exciting to earn that [Low Amateur title], I definitely felt like I had a lot of good golf, but definitely had some bad golf this week that held me back from being close to capturing the main title, but I’m definitely super happy to earn Low Amateur again,” said Doggett.
Doggett (a) will take on the 2026 U.S. Amateur Golf Championship starting on August 10 before heading back to the University of Houston for his senior year.
McIlwain (a) started the day three back of Doggett (a) and said, “The plan was just to come out and get hot early. I was 1-under through 4, I was striking it good, the putter felt great. I just let it roll from there.”
McIlwain will look to keep the momentum going into his college season at Midwestern State University.
The PGA Professional Division was claimed by Chase Walts, PGA assistant professional at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, TX. He carded rounds of 68-65-65-68–266, 14-under-par.
This is Walts’ second time playing in the M&P Group Texas State Open, but his first as a professional. “It means a lot to win Low PGA Member honors,” Walts said. “There’s a ton of really, really good playing professionals in the Northern Texas Section and in the Southern Texas Section. You've got to go play well to compete with those guys, let alone win.”
This is the 6th straight year that a Northern Texas PGA Professional has claimed this division.
One college scholarship was also awarded today after play to Samuel Fate of Tyler, TX. He was awarded the $5,000 M&P Group Texas State Open Scholarship.
The 56th M&P Group Texas State Open was a 72-hole stroke play event with a field of 156 professionals and amateurs. The 36-hole cut was made to the low 55 players and ties. 66 players (59 professionals and 7 amateurs) made the cut at 2-under-par and competed for a $203,850 Championship purse.
This is the M&P Group’s fourth year as the title sponsor, and the Championship was presented by Joyce Crane and Higginbotham and supported by CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances, Holiday Inn - Tyler Conference Center and Patterson Tyler. The championship was played at Cascades Country Club for a record 15th time.
Cascades Country Club
Par: 35-35–70
Yardage: 6,882 yards
