McMillan Clinches National Car Rental Northern Texas Assistant PGA Professional Championship After Playoff

Steven Clements • August 20, 2024

Four Qualify for 48th National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship

LEWISVILLE, Texas (August 19) – Stetson McMillan, associate at John Sikes Golf Academy, bested Matt Ryba, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club, after a one hole playoff. McMillan made a par on the par-4, 10th hole to claim the Championship title. Both players finished at 8-under-par.


In the day’s 36-hole marathon at The Lakes at Castle Hills, McMillan carded rounds of 69-67–136. His final round included a closing birdie on the 18th to force the playoff. “I’m a leaderboard watcher. I knew Ryba was up there and I was up there, we were kind of battling it out, but it turned out I birdied the last hole to get into the playoff,” said McMillan.


McMillan’s drive found the fairway, with Ryba’s finding the right rough. Both players missed the green, with Ryba just off the front right and McMillan missing the green short left, leaving him a testy pitch shot over the bunker to a back left hole location. He hit a towering flop shot to inside of 3-feet and made the putt for the win after Ryba’s par putt narrowly missed.


Talking about his first individual NTPGA win McMillan said, “It’s just awesome! I was really excited at the start of the year whenI found out we were playing at Castle Hills. I’ve played here quite a bit over the years and was excited to come back. Course was in great shape.”


This Championship served as a qualifier into the 48th National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship, set to be held November 14-17, 2024 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. As a B-6 PGA associate and instructor, McMillan was not eligible to qualify for the Championship. Only A-8 PGA Members and B-8 associates are eligible. The qualifiers and alternates are listed below.


Qualifiers:

  1. Matt Ryba, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club
  2. Tristan Cottrell, PGA assistant professional at Bent Tree Country Club
  3. Spencer Dillard, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club
  4. Ben Swaffield, associate at Preston Trail Golf Club


Alternates:

  1. Jarred Jeter, PGA assistant professional at Midland Country Club
  2. Corbin Renner, PGA assistant professional at Shady Oaks Country Club
  3. Todd Rossetti, PGA assistant professional at Luna Vista Golf Course

The field was competing for a record overall Championship purse of $13,500. McMillan took home $1,300 for his victory today.


The National Car Rental Northern Texas Assistant PGA Professional Championship was supported by Srixon / Cleveland Golf / Asics and PGA TOUR. The Championship was presented by Veritex Community Bank.


The Lakes at Castle Hills

Par: 36-36–72

Yardage: 7,034 yards


View the Final Championship Results
HERE.

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.” 
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!
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 .
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. 
More Posts
Share by: