Ewing Charity Classic Sets Fundraising Record, Benefits NTPGA Foundation

Steven Clements • November 7, 2022

FORT WORTH, Texas – The 17th Annual Ewing Charity Classic, a fundraising golf tournament conducted by the Northern Texas PGA for the benefit of the Northern Texas PGA Foundation, was held today at Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth. This year’s event raised a record $303,500.


The Ewing Charity Classic, formerly the Westcott Pro-Am (from 1996-2005), is widely considered one of the most special and unique pro-am events in the country with $5,368,500 raised during the past 27 years for the benefit of the Northern Texas PGA Foundation's broad-based community outreach programs. The money raised helps to further the Foundation’s mission to positively impact lives and communities through golf.


The Ewing Charity Classic featured 21 teams consisting of three amateurs, a PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Korn Ferry Tour or LPGA Tour player and a PGA of America golf professional. Past and present tour players that participated in this year’s event included Chad Campbell, Sebastian Munoz, Ryan Palmer, Rich Beem, Todd Hamilton, Mark Brooks, Brad Faxon, Tom Hoge, Ally Ewing, Cheyenne Knight, Angela Stanford, Gerina Mendoza and others.


This year's event was shortened due to afternoon thunderstorms that stopped play. Teams were scored through their first 13 holes that all 21 teams competed playing in the following format: The tour player and club professional played a modified alternate stroke and the amateurs played their own ball with full handicaps (maximum of 28). The team score was the professional team score plus the low net score of the amateurs. 


Two teams ended the day tied at 14-under-par and in first place. The first team was composed of professionals Chad Campbell and Chad English and amateurs Wood Brookshire, Harrison Holmes, and Bryant Patton. The second team were professionals Ryan Palmer and Dow Finsterwald Jr., PGA and amateurs Jeff Bookout, James Edmondson, and Mike Biggs. For full event results, please click here.


As is tradition after play, the PGA Golf Professionals competed in a closest to the hole competition to win a car. Jake McCullough, PGA director of golf at Odessa Country Club and NTPGA Section President, took home a GMC Acadia after hitting a 50 degree wedge from 91 yards, to 2 feet, 9 inches from the hole. 


“Thank you to the Ewing family for their support of this event. It means a lot to the five pillars of our foundation and impacts thousands of lives,” said McCullough. “It’s special, we go around the country and other PGA professionals ask us about this event. The Ewing family is what makes it happen.”


The closest to the hole contest was Mr. Ewing’s idea as a way to not only help raise funds for the Northern Texas PGA Foundation but also to say a special thank you to the PGA golf professionals who participate in the event. In 2012, it was so well received that Mr. Ewing decided to keep the shootout going and has given away a car to a PGA golf professional each year since.


Ronny Glanton, PGA head professional at Sherrill Park Golf Course finished in second place after a shot of 6 feet, 9 inches to take home $3,000. The third place prize was awarded to Mike Wright, PGA director of golf at Shady Oaks Country Club, who took home $1,500 after a shot of 11 feet, 7 inches.


###


About the Ewing Automotive

Ewing Automotive Group, is a dealership group consisting of Mercedes-Benz of Plano, Ewing Buick GMC and Ewing Subaru of Plano, located north of the George Bush Turnpike and South of Highway 121, in one of the fastest developing business corridors in the country. A special thank you goes out to Mr. Ewing and all he has done for the Northern Texas PGA, our local PGA Professionals, junior golfers in North Texas and the game of golf. In 2019, Mr. Ewing was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame for all he has done for the game of golf.


About the NTPGA Foundation

Founded in 1983, the nationally acclaimed Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization, was rebranded in 2019 as the Northern Texas PGA Foundation. The Northern Texas PGA Foundation focuses on five pillars: junior golf, college scholarships, inclusion, fellowships and military and veterans. The Northern Texas PGA Foundation is governed by the Northern Texas PGA Board of Directors and is supported by the Northern Texas PGA Foundation Trustees. The mission of the Northern Texas PGA Foundation is positively impacting lives and communities through golf.

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. 
More Posts
Share by: