Local Military Veterans Representing PGA HOPE Northern Texas Team to Compete in PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup during 2022 PGA Championship Week

Hayden Lewis • April 20, 2022
PGA HOPE Northern Texas will compete against Veterans from other PGA Sections in a
nine-hole golf match as part of the 2022 PGA Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (April 20, 2022) – PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the

PGA of America, today announced that 12 teams consisting of four military Veterans and one

PGA Professional will compete in the 2022 PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup on Monday, May 16 at

The Club at Indian Springs in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The Secretary’s Cup is a spirited nine-

hole golf competition that kicks off PGA Championship week and features military Veterans

who have participated in the PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) program hosted by

their local PGA Section.


PGA HOPE, the flagship military program of PGA REACH, introduces golf to Veterans to enhance

their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being.


Members of PGA HOPE Northern Texas:

● Randy Shack, Army – E-4 Corporal (3 ½ years); Northern Texas PGA HOPE Ambassador

● Derrick King, Army – MSG (27 years)

● Dominick Antonino, Army – SGT/E-5 (7 years)

● Jeremy Balmonte, Army – SGT/E-5 (9 years)


The Northern Texas Team will be led by Ira Molayo, PGA director of golf at Cedar Crest Golf

Course. Molayo has been instrumental in PGA HOPE’s expansion across North Texas for more

than five years. “I am extremely proud to be a part of a team with PGA HOPE veterans that I

have taught throughout the years,” says Molayo. “Golf is a powerful tool that can be used to

impact the lives of people in many different ways. PGA HOPE has allowed me the opportunity to introduce golf to a group of special people that have made the ultimate sacrifice. Their

sacrifice and true American spirit is something that has always inspired me."


All teams arrive in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 14. They will participate in practice rounds on May

15 and will have an opportunity to attend a PGA Championship practice round at Southern Hills

Country Club on May 17.


“PGA HOPE is enhancing, changing and saving lives, and when you hear that message directly

from the family members of participating Veterans, it’s very powerful,” said Jim Richerson,

President, PGA of America. “Veterans have sacrificed so much, and the work that our PGA

Professionals are doing is truly making a difference. I’m so proud to be part of this program, and

of the PGA’s commitment to grow PGA HOPE.”


Led by PGA Professionals, PGA HOPE has helped thousands of Veterans. Programs are currently

being offered at more than 210 locations in the U.S. today, across 47 States and 40 PGA

Sections, to serve 7,500 Veterans in 2022. It is the only adaptive golf program that has an MOU

with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which enables VA Facilities to refer Veterans to the

PGA HOPE program as a form of therapy.


About PGA REACH

PGA Foundation, Inc. d/b/a PGA REACH is the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of

America. The mission of PGA REACH is to Impact Lives Through Golf. For more information, visit

PGAREACH.org and follow @PGAREACH on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. 


About the Northern Texas PGA Section

The Northern Texas PGA is one of 41 Sections of the PGA of America, and its geographic

territory includes the State of Texas of the 31st latitude, or just north of Austin. The Northern

Texas PGA is comprised of approximately 850 PGA Members and Associates employed at more

than 300 facilities.


The Northern Texas PGA has 17 full-time staff members and is currently headquartered in

Dallas. The Northern Texas PGA will be joining the PGA of America national office relocation to

Frisco in the summer of 2022 with its own state of the art headquarters on the PGA Frisco

Campus.


In addition to managing the day-to-day affairs of the Section, the Northern Texas PGA also

operates a non-profit and charitable foundation that focuses on five pillars: junior golf, college

scholarships, inclusion, internships and military & veterans.

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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