Ryba Outshines the Field in Longview to Win the Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship

Madison Koen • September 20, 2022

LONGVIEW, TX – Matt Ryba, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club, was victorious at the 2022 Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship. He shot rounds of 65-66–131, an impressive 9-under-par. Today’s win marks his first individual Section major championship in his six years in the Northern Texas Section. 


“It’s exciting! It still hasn’t set in yet I don’t think,” said Ryba on his victory. “My natural ball flight is a big slinging draw so a lot of those dogleg-lefts kinda fit my eye and the putter was hot this week so everything fell into place, it was fun.”


Ryba’s final round consisted of seven birdies and three bogeys, allowing him a comfortable finish 5 shots ahead of second place. He will head back to Dallas with a $3,000 check.


The field was competing for seven qualifying spots into the 56th PGA Professional Championship set to take place April 30 - May 3, 2023 in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. The seven qualifiers are listed below along with five alternates.

 

Qualifiers:

  1. Matt Ryba, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club
  2. Gabe Reynolds, PGA director of golf at Topgolf Dallas
  3. Spencer Dillard, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club
  4. Sam Randolph, PGA director of instruction at Mira Vista Country Club
  5. Matt Lohmeyer, PGA director of instruction at SLIC GOLF
  6. Shane Pearce, PGA head professional at Hurricane Creek Country Club
  7. Brian Norman, PGA instructor at Lakewood Country Club



Alternates:

  1. Jeff Barton, PGA director of instruction at Preston Trail Golf Club
  2. Adam Headley, PGA head professional at Green Tree Country Club
  3. Brad Simons, PGA head professional at Northwood Club
  4. Brian Coe, PGA instructor at The Highlands Performance Golf Center
  5. Jon Antunes, PGA director of instruction at Heart of Texas Golf Academy


Those seven will also be joined by three other NTPGA professionals who were previously exempt. JJ Killeen, director of golf at Red Feather Golf and Social Club and 2021 NTPGA Player of the Year, was already exempt for the Championship via the “Section’s pick” which is awarded annually to the reigning Northern Texas PGA Player of the Year. Brandon Bingaman, PGA assistant professional at Bent Tree Country Club and Nic Ishee, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club earned exemptions because they played in the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills. In total, the NTPGA will send 10 professionals to New Mexico in April.

 

The Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship featured a $25,000 purse. The Championship was presented by Cadillac, Club Car, and Rolex, and was supported by Titleist / FootJoy, Callaway, Nike, and TaylorMade. Supporting partners were the Golf Channel and PGA TOUR. 

 

This Championship was the last of four individual stroke play events that comprise the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf / Asics Player of the Year Points Challenge presented by Adventures In Golf and served as the final chance to earn points for the 2022 Texas Joe Black Cup and Levy Cup teams. These teams will be finalized and announced in the coming weeks.


Pinecrest Country Club

Par: 35-35–70

Yardage: 6,513 yards

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. 
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