Zach James Holds Steady to Win 53rd M&P Group Texas State Open

Steven Clements • July 28, 2023

TYLER, TX – Zach James of Sherman, TX wins the 53rd M&P Group Texas State Open at the Cascades Country Club. James fired a final round 33-33–66, 4-under-par to secure his victory by two strokes.


James carded rounds of 64-69-63-66–262, to finish the championship at 18-under-par and earn himself a $40,000 winners check. “It’s such a prestigious event. It’s pretty much the best state open that you can have. To know that I can come in here and play some really really good golf and end up actually winning it is mind blowing to me… It’s incredible,” said James about his victory. 


James played collegiate golf at Southeastern Oklahoma State University (2015-2019), where he was named to the Great American Conference (GAC) Men's Golf All-Decade Team. In 2021 he won the Oklahoma Open. “This is way bigger than the Oklahoma Open,” said James.


Matthew Watkins (a) of Heath, TX once again earned Low-Amateur honors. He ended his week with back-to-back rounds of 67 to finish the championship at 14-under-par. This is the second time in three years that he has been named the Low-Amateur, the first coming in 2021. “It feels good, I kept it steady. Didn’t do anything crazy and kept myself in it,” said Watkins (a) about his performance. “I’ll be back next year to try and get the win.”


Both James and Watkins (a), grew up playing golf on the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour. James admittedly said that he wasn't very good when he was a kid. He’s very good now! 


For the second year in a row JJ Killeen, PGA director of golf at Red Feather Golf and Social Club, captured the Low-PGA Professional Division. He finished the championship at 6-under-par. “I enjoy coming here. It’s a fun course. To win Low-PGA professional is cool,” said Killeen. By winning the division he has earned an exemption into the 54th M&P Group Texas State Open next year.


The 53rd M&P Group Texas State Open was a 72-hole stroke play event and consisted of 156 professionals and amateurs who were competing for a $200,000 purse. 


This was M&P Group’s first year as the title sponsor after signing a multi-year agreement with the Northern Texas PGA. The Championship was presented by Joyce Crane and supported by Austin Bank, Christus Trinity Mother Frances, Energy Weldfab, Jucys Hamburgers and Patterson Tyler.


The Cascades Country Club

Par: 35-35–70

Yardage: 6,882 yards


View the Final Round Results HERE

Sanders and Couture (a) Defend Home Turf at the TPC Danzante Bay Pro-Scratch Championship

By Erik Anderson • September 23, 2026
Woodson and Schaefer (a) Capture Senior Division

Walts Crowned Champion at Joyce Crane | Huntington Bank Section Championship

By Erik Anderson • September 16, 2026
Little Secures Senior Division

Friend Wins Club Car | XXIO Northern Texas Senior PGA Professional Championship

By Erik Anderson • August 25, 2026
Six qualify for Senior PGA Professional Championship

Paez Prevails at Lajitas Golf Resort Women’s Section Championship

By Erik Anderson • August 25, 2026
Irving, Texas (August 25) – The Nelson Golf and Sports Club hosted two Northern Texas PGA Major Championships this week, the Club Car | XXIO Northern Texas Senior PGA Professional Championship and the Lajitas Golf Resort Women’s Section Championship. Clayton Friend claimed the Senior title, and Kim Paez claimed the Women’s title. Kim Paez, PGA Member at Ping Inc., claimed the Lajitas Golf Resort Women’s Section Championship title, carding rounds of 70-72–142. Paez finished the Championship at 2-over-par, winning by four strokes. She began the final round one stroke back of Katie Flinn, director of instruction at Topgolf - Fort Worth, and her 2-over-par final round was enough to come from behind and secure the win. This is Paez’s first victory with the Northern Texas PGA since joining the section in 2025. “I stuck to my game plan this week, which was fairways and greens,” Paez said. “I think I missed only one or two fairways yesterday. I played pretty conservatively, but it paid off in the end.” Reflecting on her final round performance, Paez said, "It was a little bit windier today. It made me calculate a lot more on the tee shots.” It was an up-and-down round for Paez, but she hit her approach on hole 18 to two feet and tapped in for birdie. “The last three holes are pretty gettable, so I just had to remind myself that no matter how the round was going, I was going to have opportunities to close it out at the end.” Next week, September 3-5, Paez joins four other PGA female PGA Teaching, Coaching and Club Professionals from across the country to represent the United States in the fourth Women’s PGA Cup. They will take on Australia, Canada, Great Britain & Ireland, South Africa and Sweden in a 54-hole stroke play format at Carden Park Golf Resort in Chester, Cheshire, United Kingdom. “It is the biggest honor. When I first got my PGA Membership, and I found out about the PGA Cup, it became one of my biggest goals,” said Paez about making the team. “I was constantly checking the rankings, and coming into the KPMG [Women’s PGA Championship] and the LPGA Professionals Championship, I knew I had to lock in and give myself the best chance.” “I am so excited and so proud to represent the Northern Texas PGA as well, so hopefully I make everyone proud,” added Paez. This 36-hole Northern Texas PGA major championship is the fourth of five individual stroke play events that comprise the Woman Player of the Year points standings. The 22-player field competed for a purse of $7,500, and Kim Paez took home $1,050. The Lajitas Golf Resort Women’s Section Championship was presented by A.PUTNAM and XXIO. The Nelson Golf and Sports Club Par: 35-35–70 Women’s Championship Yardage: 5,878 yards