Northern Texas PGA’s 2023 Texas Women’s Open to Feature New Legends of the LPGA Division Thanks to Partnership with Ewing Automotive Group

Margaret Miller • May 3, 2023

The Northern Texas PGA is excited to announce a newly formed Legends of the LPGA division at the 2023 Texas Women’s Open thanks to an enhanced partnership with Ewing Automotive Group.


The 2023 Texas Women’s Open, scheduled for Wednesday, May 31 through Friday, June 2 at The Bridges Golf Club in Gunter, Texas, will feature approximately 24 Legends of the LPGA who will compete in their own division of the championship for a separate $75,000 purse that is supported by Ewing Automotive Group. 


“I have become very good friends with Sandra Haynie,” said Fin Ewing III who is the owner of Ewing Automotive Group. “I was having lunch with her not too long ago when she said it would be really cool if somehow we could have a bunch of the senior LPGA players play in an event. I also agreed that it would be really cool, so I told her that I was going to call Mark Harrison because he’s the guy who can make something like this happen, and sure enough Mark and his team are making it happen.”


“We are excited to enhance this championship and our partnership with Ewing Automotive Group,” said Harrison, Executive Director / CEO of the Northern Texas PGA. “It will be a fantastic opportunity for the future of women’s golf to play alongside true legends of the game. Thank you not only to the LPGA professionals who will play in the championship, but also to Mr. Ewing and Ewing Automotive Group for providing this opportunity to the Legends of the LPGA.”


Haynie, a World Golf Hall of Fame member, is already committed to playing in the Ewing Automotive Legends of the LPGA Division along with Fort Worth resident and LPGA major champion Angela Stanford, LPGA Tour winner and 2010 Texas Women’s Open Champion Cindy Figg-Currier of Austin and 2022 U.S. Senior Women’s Open Champion Jill McGill of Dallas. View the current field for this division here.


The 2023 Texas Women’s Open is a 54-hole stroke play event that will consist of an additional 120 professionals and amateurs competing for a $30,000 projected purse. The field will play 36-holes before being cut to the low 50 scores and ties. Online registration for both divisions is available at www.ntpga.com. Contestants do not have to be residents of Texas to play. The entry deadline for all contestants is Thursday, May 25 at 5:00 p.m. CT.


The open division field will include the following exempt players should they choose to participate: (1) Past champions; (2) Top 10 professionals and ties from the 2022 Texas Women’s Open; (3) Top 5 amateurs and ties from the 2022 Texas Women’s Open; (4) LPGA Tour Members; (5) Symetra Tour Members with Priority A or Priority C status; (6) 11 exemptions from Junior Tour qualifying; (7) Two Women’s All Pro Tour exemptions.


Unless otherwise exempt, amateurs who are 17 years of age or younger (as of Wednesday, May 31, 2023) shall gain access to the Texas Women’s Open via qualifying tournaments conducted by the following organizations: Northern Texas PGA Junior Tour (All American Tour), Southern Texas PGA Junior Tour (Prestige Tour) and Legends Junior Tour. Additional information on specific qualifying tournaments can be found on each respective organization’s website.

 

For further information about the Texas Women’s Open, please visit the Northern Texas PGA website at www.ntpga.com or contact the Northern Texas PGA office at (214) 420-7421.

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: