Northern Texas PGA Celebrates Award Winners, Elects Two At-Large Directors, Announces Two Honorary Members

The Northern Texas PGA held their annual Awards Banquet, Professional Development Seminar and 55th Annual Business Meeting on Sunday, February 5 and Monday, February 6 at Northwood Club and Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco, respectively. 

On Sunday night, the Northern Texas PGA celebrated the 2022 NTPGA award winners which included Northern Texas PGA Golf Professional of the Year, the Section's highest award, won by Dean Larsson, PGA head professional at Royal Oaks Country Club. A tribute to Larsson for this honor can be found HERE.

Monday’s Professional Development Seminar featured keynote speaker Dave Ridley, a retired Senior Vice President at Southwest Airlines and then three, interactive breakout sessions led by Dawes Marlatt, PGA, Senior Director of Education; Kelly Gilley, PGA, Regional Director, Member and Section Operations; and Cameron Doan, PGA, Director of Golf at Preston Trail Golf Club.

During the afternoon’s 55th Annual Meeting, the Northern Texas PGA presented an honorary membership to Kathy Whitworth’s family and friends. On December 14, 2022, the Northern Texas PGA Board of Directors discussed and unanimously approved Kathy Whitworth, longtime North Texas resident and the winningest golfer in history, to become an honorary member of the Northern Texas PGA. Ms. Whitworth is the third ever honorary member of the Northern Texas PGA. Sadly, Ms. Whitworth passed away just ten days after the Board approved her honorary membership. Ms. Whitworth’s family and friends were in the audience today to honor and celebrate this special recognition. 

The Board of Directors officers also recognized Northern Texas PGA Executive Director / CEO Mark Harrison with an honorary Northern Texas PGA membership. With over 25 years of service to the Northern Texas PGA, its professionals and the North Texas community, the officers wanted to surprise Harrison today with this honor for his impact on the Section. Harrison’s legacy contribution will no doubt be the vision that inspired the PGA Frisco project. The Northern Texas PGA opened its new home in December 2022 featuring a state-of-the-art office space, a growth of the game pavilion and a 2-acre lighted synthetic turf golf park designed for junior golfers.

Finally, during the meeting, the Membership elected two new At-Large Directors to join the Board of Directors - Jon Drago, PGA executive director of the AT&T Byron Nelson, and Jeremy Langdale, PGA director of golf at Ranchland Hills Golf Club, won the election.

The 2023 Northern Texas PGA Board of Directors is as follows: 

• President – Jake McCullough, PGA director of golf at Odessa Country Club
• Vice President – Cameron Doan, PGA director of golf at Preston Trail Golf Club
• Secretary – Ira Molayo, PGA director of golf at Cedar Crest Golf Course
• Honorary President - Courtney Connell, PGA head professional at Mira Vista Country Club
• East Texas Chapter President – Chris Hudson, PGA head professional at Willow Brook Country Club
• West Texas Chapter President – Evan Dunkerson, PGA director of golf at Midland Country Club
• Metro Chapter President – Eric Hunt, PGA head professional at Grapevine Golf Course
• At-Large Director – Stephen Aumock, PGA director of instruction at Gleneagles Country Club
• At-Large Director – Julie Roberts, PGA director of golf at Indian Creek Golf Course
• At-Large Director – Jon Drago, PGA executive director of the AT&T Byron Nelson
• At-Large Director –  Jeremy Langdale, PGA director of golf at Richland Hills Golf Club
• District 12 Director – Derek Gutierrez, PGA general manager at Santa Ana Golf Club (Sun Country Section)
• An At-Large Director to fill Eric Hunt’s recently vacated one year term will be approved by the Board in the coming weeks.

The current Northern Texas PGA Board of Directors can be found HERE.