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.

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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