Jared Jones Crowned 2024 STPGA Section Champion!

Southern Texas PGA • September 11, 2024

Houston, TX (September 10, 2024) – The historic Champions Golf Club added another page to its history books this week with Jared Jones, PGA Director of Instruction at River Oaks Country Club winning the 57th edition of the STPGA Section Championship with a score of 136 (-6). Jones defeated a field of over 100 PGA of America Members from across Southern Texas to win the Tommy Aycock Trophy.


“It feels great to win another Section Championship,” said Jones. “Champions Golf Club has such a rich history, and it was an honor to play our biggest event on one of the best courses in our Section!”


Jones was leading the event by one stroke after Round 1 on Monday with a 3-under-par round of 68, but it was a tight leaderboard with 9 players within 3 strokes of the lead. Outside of trying to win another Section Championship, Jones was also pressed for time as later this week he will be representing the USA on the PGA Cup team!


Right after winning the event, he had to hurry to the airport to catch a flight. He is one of 10 PGA of America Members who qualified to represent the PGA of America when they battle it out against the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland Golf Professionals later this week on September 13-15 at Sunriver Resort in Oregon.

The turning point to the final round came when Jones refocused for the last five holes.


“I three-putted 10 and missed a good birdie chance on the reachable par-5 13th,” said Jones. “I refocused on the 14th tee, and really just stuck with my process and remained confident in myself and my game.”


Jones proceeded to birdie the next three holes and separate himself from the field, shooting another 3-under 68 for a tournament total of 6-under par, 136.

“I knew I was playing well, and I knew we had birdie holes ahead of us, and it felt good to execute coming down the stretch.”


This year’s event featured a record purse of $77,200 with Jones taking home a $15,000 first place prize. These purses would not be possible without the support of our partners that see the value in supporting PGA of America Members, the Southern Texas PGA, and the overall game of golf.


This year’s event was presented by Billiard Factory, Omega Transactions, Lexus, Forecaddie, Strackaline, Club Car, Corebridge Financial, Omega Transactions, & Rolex and then supported by Gallagher Insurance, Golf Channel, Titleist/FJ, Callaway, Nike, Taylormade, and the PGA TOUR. Thank you for your continued support!

(Left to Right) Jesse Droemer, PGA - Ben Willman, PGA - JJ Wood, PGA - Steve Jurgensen, PGA - Robert Scott, PGA - Bobby Gates, PGA - Darrell Fuston, PGA - Greg Hiller, PGA

This event also starts the journey to the PGA Championship and trying to earn a spot on the PGA Team of 20. Joining Jones in 2025 at the PGA Professional Championship are the following PGA Members: Jesse Droemer, PGA Teaching Professional at Riverbend Country Club, Ben Willman, PGA Teaching Professional at Axis Golf Academy, JJ Wood, PGA Director of Instruction at Golf Performance Group, Steve Jurgensen, PGA Teaching Professional at Wildcat Golf Club, Bobby Gates, PGA Director of Instruction at Summit Golf Schools, Robert Scott, PGA Teaching Professional at Royal Oaks Country Club, Darrell Fuston, PGA Head Professional at Bay Oaks Country Club, and Greg Hiller, PGA Director of Instruction at TPC San Antonio. The 2025 PGA Professional Championship will be played at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie in April of next year!


The Champions Golf Club, Cypress Course, played to a Par-71 with the Male Professionals playing at 7,069 yards and the Female Professionals playing at 6,023 yards. The golf course played extremely hard, but the conditions were first class! The STPGA would like to thank PGA General Manager Russell Roten and his entire team for hosting the event and allowing the STPGA to play at Champions Golf Club.


With this victory, Jones earns an exemption into a PGA TOUR event in 2025 in Southern Texas. This Championship is also used as our final Player of the Year Points event, and our 2024 STPGA Player of the Year is Teaching Professional at The Clubs at Houston Oaks Carlos Sainz Jr., who will also earn an exemption into the PGA TOUR event in 2025 in Southern Texas.


Click Here to view the leaderboard.


Click Here to view pictures from the event.


Click Here to view our Lexus showcase video.


Click Here to view our Pre-event Champions Golf Club video. 

Jesse Droemer Captures One-Shot Victory at 2026 PGA Professional Championship

By Southern Texas PGA • April 29, 2026
BANDON, Oregon (April 29, 2026) ー Jesse Droemer embraced the elements. With the Walter Hagen Cup and a berth into the PGA Championship within reach, Droemer expected Wednesday’s final round of the 2026 PGA Professional Championship to be a test of patience and control. Strong, brisk winds made Bandon Dunes an even greater challenge, but the Southern Texas PGA standout rose to the occasion. Droemer (Houston, Texas) fired a final-round 2-under-par 70 to finish at 4-under-par 283, securing victory by one stroke and earning his place among the game’s elite. “I knew it was going to be windy,” said Droemer, the fifth champion from the Southern Texas PGA Section and the first since 2021. “I knew the conditions were going to be tough, and I just really was trying to embrace the elements. I'm glad it was windy. I'm glad it was playing hard.” A PGA Teaching Professional at Riverbend Country Club, Droemer began his round with five consecutive pars before recording his lone front-nine bogey at the par-3 sixth. He quickly rebounded with his first of four birdies at the par-4 seventh and added another at the par-5 ninth to make the turn at 1-under-par 35. Carrying momentum into the back nine, Droemer birdied the par-4 10th and par-5 13th to strengthen his position atop the leaderboard. A bogey at the par-3 15th briefly tightened the margin, but three steady pars to close sealed the championship victory.

Droemer and Jurgensen Capture Titles at 2026 Huntington Bank Spring Classic

By Southern Texas PGA • April 15, 2026
PEARLAND, TX (April 15, 2026) — The Southern Texas PGA Major season opened with drama and momentum at Golfcrest Country Club, where Jesse Droemer, PGA, and Steve Jurgensen, PGA, captured their respective division titles at the 2026 Huntington Bank Spring Classic, held over the last two days. The Open Division delivered a thrilling finish as Jesse Droemer, PGA Teaching Professional at Riverbend Country Club, secured the championship at 6-under-par following a playoff against David von Hoffmann, PGA Director of Golf at Spanish Oaks Golf Club. The two competitors replayed the iconic 18th hole to determine the champion after a tightly contested final round, where Droemer carded a steady two-putt par to decide the title. David von Hoffmann began Round Two tied for third before quickly surging into the lead after birdieing three of his first four holes. His early charge applied pressure throughout the round and set the tone for a dramatic finish. Meanwhile, Droemer, who began the day tied for fifth, battled through adversity after an early setback with a double bogey on Hole #7 before mounting a late push when it mattered most. A stretch of birdies on Holes 15, 16, and 17 ignited Droemer’s charge and ultimately forced the playoff showdown on the finishing hole.

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By Dr. Rich Ballinger, PGA • March 25, 2026
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