Jared Jones Crowned 2024 STPGA Section Champion!
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.
