Deane Cruises to Victory at the Joyce Crane / Veritex Bank Section Championship, Earns Exemption Into 2019 AT&T Byron Nelson

NTPGA • September 11, 2018

THE COLONY, TX – Stuart Deane, PGA director of golf at The University of Texas at Arlington, carded an impressive 5-under during the final round of the Joyce Crane / Veritex Bank Section Championship to claim his third Section Championship title and 14th overall individual major championship. After firing a 6-under 65 in the opening round, he followed up yesterday’s work with eight birdies for rounds of 65-66—131, a score of 11-under par, to finish eight strokes ahead of the field. Deane also won this event back in 2013 and 2016.

"I played really nice for two days. I made five bogeys, but other than that I played great, so I couldn’t wish for anything different,” said Deane post round. “I didn’t play last year because we had our first [UTA] women’s golf event. I was leading the points list last year, but didn’t get to play, so this year I had some motivation. The big motivation was yesterday playing with Greg [Gregory] and Brian [Norman]. Greg and I were only maybe 10 points apart, so my motivation was to get my spot and get my points.”

Deane took home a check for $4,500 for his victory, but even more important is the exemption he earned into the 2019 AT&T Byron Nelson.

“This will be my fifth time to compete in the Byron Nelson. It is always a privilege to play out there. Another massive motivating factor this week was when Casey Devoll mentioned that it would be really cool to play the Byron Nelson and the PGA Championship in back to back weeks. So, now my next goal is to make sure I am prepared for Nationals next year to try to make that happen,” said Deane.

The Championship also included a Senior Division that was comprised of 28 professionals aged 50 and older who elected to compete for a separate $13,595 purse and played from a modified yardage. Stuart Hendley, PGA director of instruction at Dallas Athletic Club, repeated as the Section Championship Senior Division champion. He finished the tournament at 1-under par with rounds of 71-70—141 to capture his second Senior Division title of the season and took home a check for $2,100.

The Joyce Crane / Veritex Bank Section Championship, presented by AT&T Byron Nelson, Cru Golf, Ewing Automotive Group, PGA TOUR and Surf & Turf Golf, was conducted at Old American Golf Club, a 6,928-yard, par 71 course located in The Colony, Texas. The Open Division field consisted of 76 PGA professionals from the Northern Texas Section of The PGA of America competing for a $36,905 purse.

The Section Championship was the fourth and final individual stroke play championship of the 2018 season to earn points towards the Yamaha Golf-Car Company & Srixon / Cleveland Golf / XXIO Player of the Year Points Challenge presented by Adventures In Golf. The Eastern, Western, NTPGA Professional and Section Championships all served as qualifiers for the year-end Yamaha Golf-Car Company & Srixon / Cleveland Golf / XXIO Match Play Championship. The top 32 from the points list and the top eight from the Senior points challenge list will be invited to play in the Championship. With the win, Deane is also the 2018 Yamaha Golf-Car Company & Srixon / Cleveland Golf / XXIO Player of the Year. The Player of the Year Points Challenge also serves as a qualifier for the 2018 NTPGA Texas Joe Black Cup and Levy Cup teams.

Final Results.

Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour to PGA Professional: Spencer Dillard’s Journey to Success

By Sarah Jordan • February 11, 2025
Spencer Dillard’s rise from a young golfer to a devoted PGA of America Golf Professional is a story of passion and purpose. His love for the game began when he was gifted a Tiger Wood’s golf video game as a kid. Spencer, who is now an Assistant Golf Professional at Preston Trail Golf Club, reflects on a journey shaped by the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour. Spencer’s golfing journey began at the age of seven when his parents enrolled him in a small golf camp in McKinney, Texas. A year later, he discovered the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour and started competing in tournaments. These early experiences helped him develop both his skills and excitement for the game. Spencer’s first experience on the junior tour was memorable. “I think I shot 72 for my very first [Prep Tour] event,” Dillard shares. “By the end of that year, I shot a 46. I was so happy to go from shooting a 72 for nine holes to [shooting] in the 40s.” 

Northern Texas PGA Celebrates Award Winners, Conducts 57th Annual Meeting

By Molly Rawlins • February 3, 2025
FORT WORTH, TX – The Northern Texas PGA held their annual Awards Banquet on Sunday, February 2, at River Crest Country Club. The banquet celebrated the 2024 NTPGA award winners, which included Northern Texas PGA Golf Professional of the Year, the Section's highest award, won by Neil Lockie, PGA director of golf at Dallas National Golf Club. This is the highest honor given annually to a Northern Texas PGA Member, and is awarded for qualities of leadership, strong moral character and a substantial record of service to the NTPGA as well as the game of golf. The complete list of award winners can be found HERE . Congratulations to all!

Northern Texas PGA Receives 2025 Herb Graffis Award

By Sarah Jordan • January 22, 2025
Today, our Section was selected as the 2025 Herb Graffis Award recipient! The award is given annually to one of the 41 PGA of America Sections for tireless dedication to growing the game of golf and furthering player-development programming in the community. Thank you to all of our PGA of America Golf Professionals who are involved in so many of our Foundation programs, helping us to impact lives in the communities we serve in North Texas!  Led by President Cameron Doan, PGA, and Executive Director Kelly Gilley, PGA, the Section is backed by a membership of more than 1,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who are employed at more than 300 facilities. The Section’s mission is to promote the enjoyment and involvement in the game of golf and to contribute to its growth by providing services to golf professionals and the golf industry. The NTPGA’s success is fueled by the Northern Texas PGA Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to promoting and growing the game of golf among diverse groups of kids in North Texas, and instilling in them the positive, character-developing traits for which the game is known. Annually, approximately 10,000 children and their families are impacted through the Foundation’s full circle of programs and services. Today, based on the three key pillars of the PGA of America REACH Foundation—Youth, Military, Diverse populations—as well as pillars for college scholarships, internships and inclusion, the Foundation reaches a greater audience to promote and grow the game. The centerpiece of the Foundation’s golf programming is the Ronny Golf Park, a first-of-its-kind facility that features a two-acre, lighted golf park made entirely of fully synthetic turf. It can be enjoyed rain or shine, day or night. It is designed with junior golfers in mind, and led by the Section’s PGA-led staff, who offer a variety of programs for children ages 3-14. The Section will be formally recognized again later this year when the PGA of America hosts its Annual Meeting at PGA Frisco in November. Congratulations to all of the 2025 PGA of America award recipients! A full list can be found HERE .

PGA Jr. League #GameChanger Award Winners Honored at 2025 PGA Show

By Sarah Jordan • January 21, 2025
At this year's PGA Show, eight Northern Texas PGA Members and Associates were recognized as #GameChanger Award recipients! The #GameChanger Awards celebrate PGA Jr. League Coaches who go above and beyond to grow the game. The awards honor the 25 largest PGA Jr. League programs in the country as well as the largest programs in each of the 41 PGA of America Sections. The ceremony at the PGA SHOW highlighted the efforts of PGA and LPGA Professionals who are leading the way for youth to enjoy and learn the game of golf. 
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