NEWS

By Steven Clements April 11, 2025
The 55th playing of the M&P Group Texas State Open is set to return to Cascades Country Club in Tyler, TX. The tournament will occur July 29 - August 1, 2025, and registration is now open. The 55th M&P Group Texas State Open is a 72-hole stroke play event, and the field will play 36 holes before a cut is made to the low 55 scores and ties. The projected purse is $200,000. The Championship is open to all professionals, competitive amateurs and junior golfers with advanced tournament experience. The Championship field will feature 156 players who will qualify or are exempt. Qualifying for the Championship will be conducted throughout June and July at 17 sites. The deadline to register for qualifying is Thursday, May 29. Exempt players, should they choose to participate, are determined from the following categories: (1) Past Champions, (2) Top 10 professionals and ties from the 2024 Texas State Open, (3) Top 2 amateurs and ties from the 2024 Texas State Open, (4) Low PGA Professional from the 2024 Texas State Open, (5) Top 15 and ties from the 2024 final Northern Texas PGA and Southern Texas PGA Player of the Year Point Standings, (9) Top 10 point earners on the 2025 Northern Texas PGA Players Tour, (10) Top money leader from the All Pro Tour 2024 Fall Series Money List. Sponsors and host facility exemptions will also be reserved for certain players. Congratulations to the players who received exemptions at the beginning of March upon the completion of the NTPGA Players Tour: Matthew Watkins - Rockwall, TX; Philip Barbaree Jr. - Shreveport, LA; Ryan Grider - Lewisville, TX; John Sand - Hoquiam, WA; Garrison Smith - Mansfield, TX; Toni Hakula - Round Rock, TX; Hunter Bott - Montgomery, TX; Michael Sanders - Frisco, TX; Sam Murphy - Ruston, LA; Brian Dwyer - Southlake, TX, have all earned a place in this year’s Championship. This is M&P Group’s third year as the title sponsor after signing a multi-year agreement with the Northern Texas PGA. “We are looking forward to hosting the M&P Group Texas State Open at Cascades Country Club for the 14th time,” said Myoung S. Choi, owner of M&P Group. “The last two years have been great, and we value our partnership with the Northern Texas PGA.” The Championship will be presented by Joyce Crane. Proceeds from the Championship will benefit the Northern Texas PGA Foundation’s scholarship program. The M&P Group Texas State Open scholarship is designated for a Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour Member high school senior from the Tyler area. This year alone, the Northern Texas PGA Foundation is projected to award more than $700,000 in scholarships to approximately 75 high school seniors from North Texas. Registration is now available at ntpga.com, and again, the entry deadline is Thursday, May 29. For all Championship and qualifying details, please visit https://www.ntpga.com/texas-state-open now. ### ABOUT MYOUNG S. CHOI AND THE M&P GROUP Myoung S. Choi has been in the entrepreneurship industry for over 30 years. In 1986, Mr. Choi came to the United States to pursue his master’s at Texas Christian University. Shortly after in 1998, he opened a Dojo in Dallas, TX, to make his impact in the community by teaching Taekwondo. One of his notable students was former Olympian James Villasana that competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. In 1999, Mr. Choi made his first mark on the creation of M&P Investment Group US. The creation of Q Building Maintenance Inc. specialized in janitorial services. After a successful 6 years, Mr. Choi merged Q Building with a new construction company Q Total Building Inc. With all his successes, Mr. Choi always strived for more with the creation of M&P Group US in 2017. Mr. Choi’s vision was always set to more than he could possibly imagine. His goal and dream of coming to the United States were to purchase and run golf courses. He made that dream come true in 2019 purchasing Shady Valley Country Club located in Arlington, TX. After the first Mr. Choi didn’t settle for less, purchasing Coyote Ridge Golf Club and Cascades Country Club in the same year of 2021. It is not a surprise that Mr. Choi has always had a passion for being successful as he has proved himself time and time again. His passion for the game of golf has always been with him playing professional golf from 1994-1996. His goal is to leave his mark on the surrounding community, and it is without saying that Mr. Choi has just begun doing just that. He strives for more and the only question is what is next? ABOUT CASCADES COUNTRY CLUB Cascades Country Club, a Master-Planned 5-Star community, is the most comprehensive community in East Texas. This luxury lakefront golf, tennis, fitness and residential community sits on 386 acres and is located just five miles from downtown Tyler, Texas. Cascades Country Club is also conveniently located midway between Dallas, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana. The golf course was re-designed by PGA Tour player Mark Hayes to challenge players at any skill level. Lush, tour-quality greens and broad fairways wind among tall oak and pine trees, with many holes set alongside scenic lakes on the golf course, and a stunning backdrop framed by Lake Bellwood greeting you on your first tee shot of the day. ABOUT THE NORTHERN TEXAS PGA The Northern Texas PGA is one of 41 Sections of the PGA of America. Over 1,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals employed at more than 300 facilities comprise this Section. Its geographic territory includes the State of Texas north of the 31st latitude, or just north of Austin. The Northern Texas PGA headquarters are located on the PGA Frisco campus and feature picturesque office space, a growth of the game pavilion and a golf park designed for junior golfers and families. The Northern Texas PGA staff’s mission is to serve PGA of America golf professionals and grow the game by managing the day-to-day affairs of the Section. The Northern Texas PGA also operates the Northern Texas PGA Foundation and The Ronny Golf Park.
By Steven Clements April 2, 2025
DALLAS, Texas (April 1) – Brian Norman, PGA instructor at Lakewood Country Club, and Bobby Massa (a) fought through a 3-hole playoff to win the 2025 Srixon and Nike Pro-Scratch title. It marks their third victory in four attempts. Starting the final round one-stroke behind the lead, they carded the second lowest round of the day at 8-under-par, 32-32–64. Their five birdies on the back-nine was enough to get them into a playoff. Joining them in the playoff was Peyton Coursey, Associate at Dallas Athletic Club, and David Schultz (a). The pair turned in the lowest round of the day and the Championship at 9-under-par, 31-32–63. Both teams played in the favorable morning conditions, which featured tame winds, compared to the gusty afternoon conditions. This also left them both with lengthy waits to see if their scores would hold up through the afternoon wave. They did. The playoff for the Open Division title began on the par-4, 18th hole. Both teams made par and they proceeded to the par-5, 3rd hole. Two birdies on the par-5, 3rd hole led both teams back to the 18th tee. All four players hit the fairway. Norman was the first to hit his approach and he hit the green. Then the pair from Dallas Athletic Club both missed the green. Finally, Massa (a) hit his approach to 15-feet, just off the green, long left of the hole. Massa (a) was the last to attempt his birdie opportunity and stepped up to the downhill left-to-right putt with a chance to win the Championship. Tracking the whole way, it dropped and the pair had won their third Pro-Scratch title. “We got off to a kind of slow start, but got on the back and got hot and made some birdies,” said Norman about their round this morning. “We were just ham and egging it,” added Massa (a). “We think very similarly about golf so it’s easy to bounce ideas back and forth,” said Massa (a) about the three-time winning duo. The team earned $2,000 ($1,000 each) for the victory today.
By Steven Clements April 1, 2025
Two Teams Tied for Senior Division
By Steven Clements March 25, 2025
Jewell and Ott Claim Their Second Senior Division Title
By Steven Clements March 24, 2025
SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (March 24) – Two teams in both the Open and Senior Divisions are tied for the lead after 18 holes of play at the Boxto Pro-Pro Championship taking place at Southern Trace Country Club. The lead is at 5-under-par 67 in both divisions. After receiving 1.5 inches of rain overnight, Southern Trace Country Club proved to be a lengthy test during round one for the 62 teams competing in the Four-Ball, 36-hole Stroke Play Championship. The field is vying for a piece of the $34,500 overall Championship purse. The Open Division is led by the team of Eric Dye, PGA assistant professional at Dallas Athletic Club, and Peyton Coursey, Associate at Dallas Athletic Club, and the team of John Sikes, PGA director of instruction at Hollytree Country Club, and Jake Smelser, Associate at John Sikes Golf Academy. “The golf course was great, [the] weather was great. I think we were both just so happy the wind wasn’t blowing like it has been,” said Sikes about the first round. Looking to the final round tomorrow he said that he and Smelser are going to, “Just have fun and enjoy it. That’s how you play good golf.” Five teams sit only one stroke behind the two leading teams and will be aiming to take the title tomorrow. The two teams that lead the Senior Division are Ronny Glanton, PGA head professional at Sherrill Park Golf Course, and Britt Patton, PGA Life Member, as well as Brad Ott, PGA director of instruction at TPC Craig Ranch, and Vince Jewell, PGA instructor at Woodbridge Golf Club. Both teams carded rounds of 67, with six birdies and one bogey. They hold a two-stroke lead over the third-place team of Robert Singletary, PGA director of golf at Grapevine Golf Course, and Stuart Hendley, PGA director of instruction at Dallas Athletic Club. The final round will begin at 9 a.m. tomorrow. The Boxto Pro-Pro Championship is presented by Adventures In Golf, CMC Design, Columbia Golf, E-Z-GO, Golf ScoreCards, Inc., Lorente Golf and THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson. Southern Trace Country Club Par: 36-36–72 Open Division Yarage: 7,038 yards Senior Division Yardage 6,572 yards View current results HERE .
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​​
By Steven Clements February 25, 2025
Duel in the Desert to Continue Through 2027
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 .
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