Upsets Were in the Air at the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf / Asics Match Play Championship

Steven Clements • October 2, 2023

FORT WORTH, TX – 40 professionals started the day and 10 are left standing after day one of the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf / Asics Match Play Championship at River Crest Country Club. Two remain in the Senior Division and eight remain in the Open Division. 


The Senior Division will be settled tomorrow morning and will feature No.1 seed Stuart Hendley, PGA director of instruction at Dallas Athletic Club and No.3 seed Rick Woodson, PGA instructor at Sherrill Park Golf Course. 


Hendley had a comfortable day on the course, winning his two matches 5&4 and 3&2. On the other side of the bracket Woodson took his morning match to the 18th hole before winning 2up and then made quick work of his afternoon match winning 7&6, the largest margin of the day.


The champion of the Senior Division will receive $4,000 for their victory. Hendley is seeking his fourth match play title, while Woodson is still searching for his first.

The eight remaining Open Division professionals are vying for two spots into the Duel in the Desert, which will serve as the championship match for the second year in a row. The Duel in the Desert will feature the final two competitors going head-to-head competing in a 36-hole, finals showdown on December 11-12, at Lajitas Golf Resort’s Black Jack’s Crossing. The event will feature a $10,000 prize for the champion and $5,000 for the runner-up.


Six of the top 10 seeded professionals fell during the rounds of 32 and 16, including the one and three seeds. The below professionals from the top 10 remain.


  • No. 2 JJ Killeen, PGA director of Golf at Red Feather Golf and Social Club
  • No. 4 Brian Norman, PGA instructor at Lakewood Country Club
  • No. 6 Spencer Dillard, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club
  • No. 7 Nic Ishee, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail GOlf Club


The biggest upset of the day came in the round of 32 when No.30 seed David Studebaker, PGA assistant professional at Cross Timbers Golf Course took down the No.3 seed Jarred Jeter, PGA assistant professional at Midland Country Club. Studebaker then proceeded to win his afternoon match 6&5 to advance to tomorrow’s quarterfinals.


The Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf / Asics Match Play Championship is presented by Adventures In Golf, THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, Lajitas Golf Resort, PGA TOUR, TPX Communications and XXIO. 


River Crest Country Club

Par: 35-35–70

Open Division Yardage: 6,512 yards

Senior Division Yardage: 6,054 yards


View the Open Division Bracket HERE

View the Senior Division Bracket HERE


Tomorrow morning’s matches are listed below:


TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2023
Open Division Quarterfinal Matches

8:30 a.m.

No. 17 Greg Gregory vs. No. 24 John Sikes


8:40 a.m. 

No. 4 Brian Norman vs. No. 21 Chad Moscovic


8:50 a.m.

No. 6 Spencer Dillard vs. No. 30 David Studebaker


9:00 a.m.

No. 2 JJ Killeen vs. No. 7 Nic Ishee


Senior Division Championship Match

9:10 a.m.

No. 1 Stuart Hendley vs. No. 3 Rick Woodson

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: