By Steven Clements
•
July 1, 2025
FRISCO, Texas (June 30) – Matt Lohmeyer, PGA director of instruction at SLICGOLF, leads the Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship at Fields Ranch West at PGA Frisco after round one. Lohmeyer posted an opening round 3-under-par, 37-32–69 and holds a one-stroke lead. His round featured five birdies, including birdies on the final two holes. Lohmeyer is a past champion of this event, winning in 2019. He will look to capture his second Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship title tomorrow. In order to do so, he will have to hold off a pack of others looking to capture the title as well. Brian Norman, PGA instructor at Lakewood Country Club, Chris Brown, PGA, and Matt Tashenberg, PGA director of golf at Timarron Country Club, all finished at 2-under-par. Two-strokes behind the lead are five professionals at 1-under-par, including Kent Graham, PGA director of golf at Gleneagles Country Club. Graham, playing on short rest after the birth of his third child on Saturday, carded a 35-36–71. This included an eagle on the par-5, 17th hole, one of only four eagles made today. “I was actually going to text and pull myself out of the qualifier Saturday afternoon right after the kid came, but my wife looked at me and said ‘The heck you’re not,’ so it was a godsend to come out here and play. It was a godsend to have the kid. That puts everything into perspective,” Graham said. “The double bogey I made out there today really didn’t matter as much, and I used it as motivation to make eagle.” More than a Section Major Championship title is at stake this week for the field. Seven qualifying spots into the PGA Professional Championship are on the line this week. The Championship is set to be held April 26-29, 2026, at Bandon Dunes in Bandon, Oregon. In addition to the seven qualifiers determined tomorrow, the Section will also send two other professionals to the PGA Professional Championship. Reigning Player of the Year Spencer Dillard, PGA head professional at Preston Trail Golf Club, has earned the Section’s Pick, and Brandon Bingaman, PGA assistant professional at Gleneagles Country Club, is exempt since he qualified for the 2025 PGA Championship. Dillard finished round one at even-par, and Bingaman finished at 1-under-par. The PGA Professional Championship serves as a qualifier for 312 PGA of America golf professionals from across the country to compete for 20 spots into the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club. Seven NTPGA professionals in the field this week have played their way to the PGA Championship in the past. Lee Rhind, 2013 Oak Hill Country Club Brian Norman, 2014 Valhalla Golf Club Greg Gregory, 2017 Quail Hollow Club Brandon Bingaman, 2022 Southern Hills Club & 2025 Quail Hollow Club JJ Killeen, 2023 Oak Hill Country Club Gabe Reynolds, 2023 Oak Hill Country Club *Kenny Pigman, 2017 Quail Hollow Club & 2023 Oak Hill Country Club *Pigman qualified via the Southern California PGA. This 36-hole Northern Texas PGA major championship is the second of four individual stroke play events that comprise the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Player of the Year Points Challenge presented by Adventures In Golf. The field is competing for a purse of $46,000 and a $5,100 champion check. The Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship is presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial and Rolex. Supporting partners include Gallagher, Golf Channel and the PGA TOUR. The Championship is supported by Titleist/FootJoy, Callaway, Nike, Ship Sticks and TaylorMade, and presenting sponsors include Elijah Craig Bourbon and THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson. Fields Ranch West at PGA Frisco Par: 37-35–72 Yardage: 7,132 yards View current results HERE .
