Dillard Gets Redemption in Lajitas, Woodson Notches Senior Division Victory

Steven Clements • December 11, 2024

LAJITAS, Texas (December 10) – Spencer Dillard, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club, won the Duel in the Desert to claim the 2024 Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Match Play Championship Open Division title. Rick Woodson, PGA instructor at Sherrill Park Golf Course, claimed the Senior Division title.


The No. 1 seeded Dillard battled No. 3 Gabe Reynolds, PGA director of instruction at Topgolf - Dallas, in a 36-hole final match for the title and $10,000. Both players began their run to the championship match back in October at White Bluff Resort where they worked their way through the 32-player match play bracket. 


“It’s tough to get here. You have to go through a lot of great players, so I feel really satisfied after the long year of hard work,” said Dillard. “He’s [Reynolds] really good. He can make a birdie or an eagle at any point. Playing with Gabe you know you have to bring your best.”


After playing 18 holes on Monday, their match stood at 2UP in favor of Dillard. The 2UP lead for Dillard held through 28 holes. Dillard then began to charge on the back nine when he hit his approach shot on the par-4 11th hole to 10 inches for a conceded birdie. He followed that up on the 12th with another birdie after a 20-foot putt. An errant tee shot on the 14th saw his lead cut to only 3UP with four holes to play. After winning the 14th hole, Reynolds hit his tee shot into the rocks on the right side of the 15th hole. After an unsuccessful attempt to play the shot, Reynolds conceded the hole, and the match ended with a 4&3 victory for Dillard.


This is the second year that Dillard has made it to the final match. Last year he fell to Chad Moscovic 7&6 in 36 holes. The redemption victory in Lajitas marks Dillard’s first individual Section major championship victory. It caps off a stellar year, one in which he also earned the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Player of the Year Award presented by Adventures In Golf and the Ben Hogan | NTPGA Stroke Play Scoring Average Award.


“Finally! I’m usually just a team champion! It feels great to finally do it on my own,” said Dillard.

In the Senior Division, Billy Harris, PGA Life Member, started the day with a 3UP lead over Rick Woodson. Harris birdied the 1st hole to go 4UP, but by the 8th tee he was only 1UP. 


“I was lucky my wife was with me. She was keeping me really positive,” said Woodson.


Moving into the back nine, Woodson birdied the 11th and 13th holes to tie the match for the first time since Monday morning. He then notched a par on the 14th hole to gain his first lead of the match. Putts then began to fall for Woodson. He made a long birdie putt on the 15th and saved par with a 30-footer on the 17th to keep his lead heading into the 36th hole.


Both professionals hit their drives into the fairway and layed up about 50 yards short on the par-5. They both then left their third shots about 20 feet below the hole. Harris putted first and blew the putt by, followed by Woodson who cozied it up to 12 inches. Harris conceded the putt giving Woodson the 1UP win.


“It feels great,” said Woodson. “This one had eluded me for a while. This is my fourth time in the final match and my first time to win it. It was a great match with Billy. He is an incredibly tough competitor and he’s a grinder. I was fortunate to make some big putts at the right time.”


Woodson claimed $5,000 with his victory today and his first match play title.


This year was the third year that the Open Division championship match was conducted in Lajitas and the first year that the Senior Division joined them.


“Incredible! For all the people back home, if you have the opportunity to come down here you need to do it. It’s amazing. I just can’t get over it. I’ve played a lot of picturesque golf courses and this is absolutely at the top of that list,” said Woodson about Lajitas Golf Resort.


The Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Match Play Championship was presented by Adventures In Golf, Lajitas Golf Resort, PGA TOUR, THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, TPx Communications and XXIO.


Lajitas Golf Resort’s Black Jack’s Crossing

Par: 36-36–72

Open Division Yardage: 7,300 yards

Senior Division Yardage: 6,500 yards


View the final results HERE.

Hendley and Sudinsky Claim the 2025 KBS TOUR Shafts Pro-Assistant Championship

By Steven Clements • March 4, 2025
THE COLONY, Texas (March 3) – The team of Stuart Hendley, PGA director of instruction and PGA Associate Zach Sudinsky from Dallas Athletic Club won the 2025 KBS TOUR Shafts Pro-Assistant Championship by two strokes. The two carded a bogey free, 11-under-par, final score after shooting 64 on Old American Golf Club and a 32 on the back nine of Tribute Golf Links. They bested the team of Robby Bruns and Katrina Prendergast from Trinity Forest Golf Club and the team of Cameron Doan and Spencer Dillard from Preston Trail Golf Club, who finished at 9-under-par. The 27-hole, Four-Ball Stroke Play, championship was hosted at Golf Clubs at The Tribute for the fifth straight year. Teams played Old American Golf Club and the back nine of Tribute Golf Links. Dallas Athletic Club brought nine professionals to play in the championship this year so Hendley and Sudinsky were not paired together. “It was a blast! I was checking on his scores every other hole,” said Sudinsky. “It felt like playing your own ball and grinding out every hole.” Hendley said “It was fun, a nice way to start the year. It’s a tough format. A lot of holes early in the year.” This win was Sudinsky’s second in the last eight months. Last July he won the Golf Pro Payments Western Championship. “Winning is great, but you can’t take it for granted,” he said after today’s team victory. The pair earned $3,000 ($1,500 each) out of the record $30,000 total championship purse. The KBS TOUR Shafts Pro-Assistant Championship was presented by ahead, Club Car, Evolve Golf, Landmark Golf Course Products, Tagmarshal, THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, Winston Collection. View the final results HERE . Old American Golf Club Par: 35-36–71 Yardage: 6,784 Tribute Golf Links (Back nine) Par: 36 Yardage: 3,420​​

Northern Texas PGA and Lajitas Golf Resort Expand Partnership to include NTPGA Women’s Section Championship

By Steven Clements • February 25, 2025
Duel in the Desert to Continue Through 2027

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!
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