Northern Texas PGA Captures 36th Texas Joe Black Cup Matches

NTPGA • October 26, 2016

Lajitas, Texas – The Northern Texas PGA captured the 36th Texas Joe Black Cup Matches by an overall point total of 16 to 8. The NTPGA team had a commanding 7.5 point lead heading into the Singles Matches on day two. Needing only three points to capture the Matches, the NTPGA team was able win key matches for the victory.

Despite losing the first match out this morning, the NTPGA team was able to earn two of the three points needed from the third and fourth matches with victories from Danny Coughlan, PGA head professional at Abilene Country Club, who won 3 & 1 over Jason Alexander, PGA head professional at The Club at Carlton Woods, and Tony Martinez, Northern Texas PGA President and director of golf at Keeton Park Golf Course, who bested Doug DeSive, STPGA Vice President and PGA head professional at Corpus Christi Country Club. DeSive played in place of STPGA President Jeff Strong who was injured.

However, it was Kevin Golding, PGA head professional at Four Seasons Resort and Club, making his fourth appearance in the Matches, who clinched the cup for the NTPGA team by making a birdie on hole 16 to win the hole, and earn full point and clinch his match 3 & 2. Golding’s victory gave the NTPGA team the 12.5 points needed to claim the cup.

This decisive victory ties a Texas Joe Black Cup Matches record for the most points won. The Northern Texas PGA team also won the cup in 2012 at Brook Hollow Golf Club by a 16 to 8 point margin.

“It is extremely fulfilling to win the cup,” said Playing Captain Paul Earnest. “It was something that I felt I left on the table as my time as President of the Section came to an end, so it feels great to bring the cup home. I am proud of my team. We were tenacious and were able to win some great matches.”

The two days of matches were highly competitive as 14 matches of the 24 matches came down to play on hole 18. The NTPGA team won or halved 11 of the 14 matches to seize momentum. Thanks in part to the NTPGA’s play on hole 18, they were able to win or halve 20 of the 24 matches played.

Even with the Northern Texas PGA’s victory, the STPGA still leads the overall team records at 18-17-1.

The teams from each Section were represented by their Section President, the top playing PGA Directors of Golf, PGA Head Professionals and PGA General Managers, a Senior Representative, and a Captain’s Pick. Paul Earnest, PGA director of golf at Four Seasons Resort and Club, was captain of the Northern Texas PGA team, and Randy Jones, PGA director of instruction at The Golf Club of Texas, served as the Southern Texas PGA captain.

The Texas Joe Black Cup Matches is an annual competition between the Northern Texas PGA and the Southern Texas PGA Sections. The Ryder Cup-style format features 12 golf professionals from each Section competing in Four-Ball and Foursome Matches the first day followed by Singles Matches the final day. The event was started in 1981 to honor Joe Black, a Snyder, Texas native who was completing his first year as President of The PGA of America.

One point is awarded to a winning match and a half point is awarded to any match that is tied after eighteen holes. The Northern Texas PGA needed 12.5 points to capture the cup while the Southern Texas PGA needed 12 points to retain the cup. The Matches were contested at Black Jack’s Crossing Golf Course at Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa, a 7,296-yards, par 72 layout in Lajitas, Texas.

Singles Matches and Overall Results.

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: