First Community Expands Partnership With Southern Texas PGA

Creation of the First Community STPGA Team to be showcased in 2025 and 2026

February 19th, 2025 (Spring, TX) - This week at the STPGA Annual Meeting, a special announcement was made around an expanded partnership between First Community and the Southern Texas PGA. The elevated partnership includes showcasing First Community and unique story telling opportunities as we create a new team of STPGA Members. Known now as the First Community STPGA Team, this group of STPGA Members are the PGA Professionals that have qualified for the PGA Professional Championship to be played on April 27-30 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, FL.

This year’s First Community STPGA Team currently features 9 PGA Members from Southern Texas that hope to qualify for the PGA Championship and earn a spot on the Corebridge PGA Team of 20. Prior to the event in April, the STPGA will showcase these players in unique spotlights and then follow them along at the PGA Professional Championship. All 9 of these players earned this spot at the 2024 STPGA Section Championship.

Our First Community STPGA Team will be led by Jared Jones, PGA Director of Instruction at River Oaks Country Club in Houston, TX who came in a tie for second at last year’s PGA Professional Championship and won the 2024 STPGA Section Championship. These 9 First Community STPGA Team members will not only represent the STPGA but their facilities as well. PGA Members continue to be the backbone of the industry and the First Community STPGA Team will showcase the playing ability of the STPGA membership. 

“We could not be more thrilled to try something new and have a current partner that believes in the value this Team will showcase,” said Thomas Hutton, Executive Director of the STPGA. “This idea started on a white board and to see a company like First Community jump on board and then our members get excited about it, makes this something special.”

In addition to this announcement, First Community is also excited to announce special perks and exclusive offers for STPGA Members and Employees to elevate their banking needs with products and services from First Community.

“Last year was our first year expanding our outreach within the golf community through the STPGA and it was a big success,” said TJ Tijerina, CEO of First Community. “We saw tremendous exposure through the STPGA Junior Golf Program and are excited for this additional opportunity to support the community and showcase stories that will resonate with our potential members.”

The STPGA would like to extend a massive thank you to First Community for their support of the STPGA and all of our initiatives. First Community will continue to be a Patron Partner of the STPGA Junior Golf Program and will also commence a new scholarship that will be awarded through the STPGA Scholarship Program in 2025.

While we look forward to seeing if someone from the First Community STPGA Team will qualify for the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in May, we also look forward to this year’s STPGA Section Championship September 15-16 at The Covey at Big Easy Ranch where the 2026 First Community STPGA Team will be determined.

The PGA Professional Championship will be aired on Golf Channel throughout the 4 days and make sure to follow all STPGA Social Media Accounts for behind the scenes items and player updates.

About First Community

First Community was founded in 1954 with Spring Branch ISD as their founders. Their corporate office is in Houston, TX. First Community has over 455 employees serving over 170,000 members with 18 locations in Texas and over $2.5 billion in assets. First Community is a full-service, federally insured financial institution serving Texas counties from Houston to the DFW area. To find a First Community location near you, please visit FCCU.org.

First Community membership is open to anyone that lives, works, attends school or worships in one of the Texas counties we serve, FCCU.org/counties, any person employed by a Select Employee Group, FCCU.org/seg-list, or any relative or family member of an FCCU member or employee.

About the Southern Texas PGA

The Southern Texas PGA is a member-based organization with a mission to serve its 900 PGA of America Members and Associates, grow the game through STPGA programs, and elevate the Association. We are part of the PGA of America and one of 41 Sections across the country.

Our PGA of America Members and Associates are world class professionals that are experts in the game and business of golf. PGA Members are the backbone of the golf industry and are located at over 250 facilities throughout Southern Texas. Our Members are proud to wear the PGA badge and work in all aspects of the industry including golf operations, teaching and coaching, and executive management. PGA Members pride themselves on working daily to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

The STPGA Headquarters are in Spring, TX and employs 14 full-time employees and over 100 part-time employees. Our Section is made up of 7 metropolitan areas that include Austin, Beaumont, Bryan/College Station, Corpus Christi, Houston, Rio Grande Valley, and San Antonio. The organization focuses on areas that serve our PGA Members through educational opportunities, tournaments, employment and recruiting, and overall promotion of our Members.

The STPGA also focuses its time and resources on managing a 501(c)3 organization called PGA of America REACH Foundation Southern Texas, best known as PGA REACH Southern Texas. This Foundation has a mission to positively impact lives through the game of golf.