Meet the Member: Wes Skaggs, PGA
Southern Texas PGA • July 24, 2025
Wes Skaggs, PGA – Finding Purpose in the Heart of the Game
Wes Skaggs, PGA Teaching Professional at Point Venture Golf Club, didn’t start playing golf for the trophies; he began because he was tired of getting kicked in the shins during soccer and being beamed by pitches in baseball. “I wanted a sport where the ball moved away from me,” he says with a laugh. Golf quickly became more than just a safe option; it became his passion.
Growing up in the Austin suburbs, Wes was introduced to the game by his dad and began lessons with Will Stephens, PGA, a coach so influential that Wes simply calls him “Uncle Will.” He became more than a swing coach. He was a mentor, a confidant, and eventually the voice of hard truth.
After years spent chasing the PGA TOUR dream on mini tours and state opens, Wes hit a crossroads. Despite having the talent, the emotional toll of competition wore him down. That’s when Uncle Will sat him down and said, “Wes, when are you going to stop pretending to be a golf professional?”
It stung. Despite the tough talk, Wes decided to take the Playing Ability Test, passing on his first try, and eventually earned his PGA Membership. “That’s when everything shifted,” he says. “Once I stopped chasing the tour, I started loving the game again.”
Today, Wes is a Teaching Professional, mentor, and competitor who believes in the power of relationships over results. Whether he's coaching junior golfers or playing in Section events, he brings a genuine passion for the game and the people in it.
“I want my students to see me as more than a coach. If they need help, on or off the course, I want them to know I’m there,” he says. “My goal isn’t just to teach golf. It’s to build trust, build character, and help them enjoy the life game.”
Wes still thrives on competition and credits longtime friend Omar Uresti, PGA, as one of his biggest influences. From refining his game to reshaping his mindset, Omar didn’t just help Wes swing better; he helped him think better.
“He’s taught me how to manage my emotions, stay focused, and win the battles that happen between the ears,” Wes says. “And sometimes, that’s the hardest part of the game.”
Ask Wes how he wants to be remembered, and the answer is simple: as a good teacher, a strong competitor, and a friend. “At the end of the day, it’s not about how well I played. It’s about whether I made a difference.”
And by the sound of it, he already has.
HOUSTON, TX (July 22, 2025) – Omar Uresti, PGA Life Member, claimed victory at the 2025 Southern Texas Senior PGA Professional Championship, firing rounds of 67-73–140 ( -4 ) at Bay Oaks Country Club to secure the title of Senior Section Champion. This is Uresti's Fourth Senior Championship, with his last win coming in 2023. This year’s championship served a dual purpose, determining not only the Southern Texas PGA Senior Champion but also acting as the Section’s qualifier for the 2025 Senior PGA Professional Championship, to be held at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, later this fall. "It feels good to come out and get a win against a strong field and a tough golf course. The first round I was hitting good shots and making good putts, but today wasn't the same, and I had to balance my mental game a little bit throughout the ups and downs," said Uresti. In the final round, Uresti needed to battle back after a slow start on the front nine with 3 bogeys, but took the lead with 1 eagle and 2 birdies on the back nine to secure the win. The leaderboard finished with Uresti winning by three over Billy Sitton, PGA Executive from Triumph Golf, and four over Darrell Fuston, PGA General Manager from Westwood Golf Club. Heading into the tournament, Uresti, Robert Thompson, PGA, and Eric Bogar, PGA, were already exempt. The five additional qualifiers are: Billy Sitton, PGA Golf Executive at Triumph Golf Darrell Fuston, PGA General Manager at Westwood Golf Club Darek Franklin, PGA Assistant Professional at Austin Golf Club Steve Jurgensen, PGA Teaching Professional at Westwood Golf Club David von Hoffman, PGA Director of Golf at Spanish Oaks Golf Club
Eric Bogar, PGA – Right Where He Is Meant To Be
Dear STPGA Members, I hope this message finds you well and enjoying a wonderful summer! Following our second board meeting on July 10th, I wanted to provide you with some important updates. We're incredibly enthusiastic about a few new initiatives we're rolling out, building upon the strong foundation of our existing successful programs. Below are three key areas we focused on during the meeting: Member Outreach Program: Your Voice Matters We have launched a new Member Outreach Program designed to ensure your voices are heard directly by our leadership. Before each quarterly board meeting, every board member will personally contact three STPGA professionals. These assignments will rotate, allowing us to connect with a diverse group of members over time. The goal of these calls is simply to have an informal, open conversation to understand what's on your mind. At the start of each board meeting, we summarize the key themes and feedback gathered. This direct input will be invaluable in shaping our decisions, enhancing our programs, and ultimately better serving all STPGA professionals. Please don't be surprised if a board member reaches out, and we truly encourage you to share your thoughts! New Associate Development and Mentoring Initiative The STPGA is thrilled to announce the launch of our new Associate Mentoring initiative, which the board thoroughly discussed and voted to approve. This program will focus on three key goals: Enhanced Onboarding Communication: We'll be sending updated and more in-depth communications to all new and transfer-in associates, providing comprehensive information about the Section and all available resources. Pro-Associate Events: We're introducing two new Pro-Associate events, with the first scheduled for October. These events aim to introduce Level 1 associates to the STPGA, featuring guest speakers, sharing best practices, and providing essential information about the PGA of America and the STPGA. Our goal is to keep their excitement for the golf industry high and maintain their motivation. Following this, Level 1 associates will have the unique opportunity to play golf with an existing PGA member, helping them expand their network and gain a valuable mentor. Associate Orientation Program: We will also implement a new, mandatory Associate Orientation program. This orientation will educate associates on the STPGA and the PGA of America, reinforcing their motivation within the industry. It's also a great way to introduce them to our dedicated STPGA staff, ensuring they know who to contact for support. Completing this orientation will be a prerequisite for associates to participate in any STPGA golf tournaments. Strategic Plan Refresh Underway The board of directors had a very robust and constructive conversation about our strategic plan. This plan has been an incredibly valuable tool for our staff and board, guiding our initiatives over the past several years. We've identified some exciting ideas to improve it further and will be sure to share these with you once they are finalized. Lastly, our thoughts and prayers remain with everyone affected by the flooding in the Hill Country. If you know of a facility or PGA Member or Associate that has been directly affected, please reach out to either me or Thomas Hutton, our Executive Director. The PGA of America remains committed to the PGA Medical and Disaster Relief Fund that provides assistance to members who are faced with temporary financial problems due to serious medical emergencies or the impact of natural disasters. Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement. Please know that I am always available and welcome any comments or concerns you may have. Sincerely,
HORSESHOE BAY, TEXAS (July 8, 2025) - The 2025 Texas Team Championship saw Darrell Fuston, PGA General Manager at Westwood Golf Club, and Steve Jurgensen, PGA Teaching Professional at Westwood Golf Club, take home the trophy with a two-day total of two-day low score of 59-64-123 (-20). This year's event featured 116 2-person teams made up of PGA Members and Associates from both the Southern Texas and Northern Texas PGA Sections. Fuston and Jurgensen came in on a hot streak after winning the STPGA 9/9/9 Championship last week. The team took the lead after day one and never looked back! They shot an impressive 59 (-12) on Monday when they played the Ram Rock course at Horseshoe Bay, giving them the lead by three strokes after playing the harder of the two golf courses. When asked about day one, Fuston said, "We just played really solid golf—almost like a scramble. We were in sync all day, hitting it together and keeping it stress-free. We know each other’s games well, and it just clicked out there". When day two started, they looked to continue their consistent play and were able to do just that with a bogey-free round and eight birdies on the Apple Rock course. They started out their final round with four birdies on the front nine. Following the final round, the pair said, "Today felt tough, but once we birdied 10 and 11, we were great. Checking the leaderboard helped us refocus — we weren’t chasing, so we just stuck to our game and kept the momentum going”. Thomas Devanna, PGA, and Keith Harris, PGA, made a remarkable climb up the leaderboard in Round Two, jumping 12 spots with an impressive bogey-free round on the Apple Rock Course that featured nine birdies. Their strong performance secured them a share of runner-up honors at 16-under-par, alongside the STPGA’s Wes Skaggs, PGA, and Omar Uresti, PGA. The Texas Team Championship is the one event a year outside of the Ryder Cup events where both STPGA and NTPGA Members and Associates compete together. While the competition remains the main priority, the networking, camaraderie, and meeting new professionals is also very important. The Southern Texas PGA extends a sincere thank you to all of our 2025 sponsors, including Adidas, YETI, BlueGolf/Clubessential/ForeUp, Fairways and Fundays, Elijah Craig, Kohler Wisconsin, Bad Birdie, E-Z-GO, Heritage Creations, Redvanly, and XXIO. Thanks to their generous support, the total purse for this year’s event reached $59,475, which included a $57,975 overall purse and $1,500 awarded through special contests. This year, we also had the fan-favorite Putting Contest at the Whitewater Putting Course at Horseshoe Bay Resort following Round One. For the 2025 edition of this storied contest, the duo of Patrick Buhrmann, PGA, and Jeff Hughes, PGA, claimed the title with an impressive 34-under finish, edging out the competition by three strokes. The laid-back setting provided a great opportunity for Elijah Craig as well as other event sponsors to connect with PGA Professionals while enjoying a fun and social evening on the unique course. The Texas Team Championship was played on the 6,858-yard Apple Rock and 6,702-yard Ram Rock Courses at Horseshoe Bay Resort. To view the final results, CLICK HERE . To view the photo gallery, CLICK HERE .
The Woodlands, TX (June 30, 2025) — The Southern Texas PGA proudly hosted the annual 9/9/9 Pro-Pro Championship today at The Woodlands Country Club – Palmer Course, over 50 teams competed in a unique 27-hole stroke play event that tested teamwork and versatility. The format featured three distinct styles of play: King Nine – Scramble General Nine – Four-Ball Deacon Nine – Modified Alternate Shot Emerging victorious at 16-under-par (-16) was the duo of Darrell Fuston, PGA, General Manager at Westwood Golf Club, and Steve Jurgensen, PGA, Teaching Professional at the Westwood Golf Club. “The Four-Ball is where we started to put together some birdies and start catching a groove,” said Fuston. Jurgensen added, “Going bogey-free was a big help as well. There were still some opportunities we didn’t capitalize on, like the Par 5, where we had a birdie look but walked away with a par. Those things happen, and we just played well all day.” The pair now looks to carry their momentum into next week’s Texas Team Championship at Horseshoe Bay Resort, where they’ll once again team up in pursuit of another title. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our partners who made this event possible: Golf Scorecards, Inc., E-Z-GO, Joseph Elliot, Winston Collection, L2 Brands, and Bag Caddie. Their support continues to elevate our tournaments and the experience for PGA Professionals across the Section.
Trent Peddy, PGA – Performance, Passion, and the Path to Professional
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (JUNE 17, 2025) – The 2025 Jets.com Tradition Championship brought 143 PGA of America Members and Associates to Briggs Ranch Golf Club for two days of premier competition. The event featured exciting action in both the Senior and Open Divisions. In the Senior Division, PGA Life Member Omar Uresti posted rounds of 69-71 for a tournament total of 140 ( -4 ), coming from two shots behind to claim the title. Uresti and first-round leader Chad Donegan, PGA General Manager at Landa Park Golf Course, kept the leaderboard tight throughout the final round, with the battle going all the way to the final hole before Uresti sealed the win. "It felt really good to secure a victory here. I haven't had complete trust in my swing recently, but I still hit a lot of good shots and had some great putts that just didn't fall. The course was a lot firmer this year than it was last year, so it put more weight on each decision. All around, it was a lot of ups and downs, but I am excited to be back and win another major." The Open Division delivered plenty of drama as well, with strong play across the field on Day 1 that saw the Top-17 players finish under par. Austin Wylie, Assistant Professional at Mac Wylie Golf Center, entered the final round with a two-stroke lead and was aiming for back-to-back Major victories. However, after a day of great golf, Jeremy Nevius, Assistant Professional at Austin Golf Club, and Steven Chervony, Assistant Professional at Austin Country Club, would play their way to the top of the leaderboard. Fittingly, after spending the entire final round paired together, the two had the opportunity to head back out together for a playoff to decide the Championship. “I was excited for the chance. When Steven and I finished our round, I checked the scoreboard and didn’t think we were even in the mix,” said Nevius. “It felt like a blessing just to play Hole 18 one more time.” As the pair drove to the 18th tee, they took in the sunset over Briggs Ranch before heading into the playoff. After finding the fairway bunker with his drive, Nevius attacked the flag and gave himself a chance to apply pressure. “The putt was sweet. I think I just willed it in,” Nevius said. “I’d been in that bunker earlier, and the hole location set up perfectly for the shot shape I’d been playing all day. Steven is so good — he doesn’t miss. Playing with him all day and knowing it was him in the playoff added some nerves. I’m just so pumped to get this win.” The Southern Texas PGA extends its sincere thanks to Derrick Dixon, PGA General Manager, Mike Frost, PGA Head Professional, and the entire team at Briggs Ranch Golf Club for another incredible year of championship golf and outstanding hospitality. A special thank you as well to our Title Partner, Jets.com, and to our Presenting Partners: Levelwear, PRG, nexbelt, Hole-in-One U.S.A. Insurance, TurfHound, Vortech Contracting, Strackaline, Tournament Solutions, Zedcor, Bluemoon, and ZOA, whose support helps make this Championship possible. To view the photo gallery, click here . To view the final results, click here .
Ben Lake, PGA – Biology, Boots, and Birdies
Discover. Connect. Shop Smart at the STPGA Merchandise Suite Show The Southern Texas PGA invites you to the 2025 STPGA Merchandise Suite Show, a free-to-attend, suite-style buying event tailored for vendors, buyers, and PGA of America Members in the Houston-Metro area. Dates: Monday, August 18 – Wednesday, August 20 Location: Embassy Suites The Woodlands 1855 Hughes Landing Blvd, The Woodlands, TX 77380 Join us in a relaxed, appointment-friendly environment to connect with over 40 vendors representing more than 100 brands! Meet one-on-one with top vendors Preview new product lines Take advantage of show specials Network with industry peers in the Houston-Metro area Whether you’re looking to place orders, make new connections, or explore fresh merchandise for your facility, this is the must-attend event of the season. For inquiries or to reserve your space, please contact: Andrew Gridley - agridley@pgahq.com Judy Gee - jgee@pgahq.com This event is free to attend for PGA Members & Associates, Golf Industry Professionals, and Golf Facility Buyers – click below for more information & to register: REGISTER HERE LEARN MORE & VIEW THE FULL LIST OF VENDORS We look forward to welcoming you to The Woodlands this August!
PEARLAND, TEXAS (June 2, 2025) - The 2025 Pro-Junior Championship brought together PGA of America Golf Professionals and junior golfers from across the Southern Texas Section for a memorable day of team golf, mentorship, and fun at Golfcrest Country Club. This year’s title went to the hometown team from Golfcrest Country Club, led by Rene Rangel, PGA, alongside juniors Clark Rangel, Charlie Hoyt, and Kingston Harper. The foursome delivered a strong performance, combining great chemistry and steady play to take home the championship. “It was a huge amount of fun, and we won this event in the past when these guys were a lot younger,” said Rene Rangel, PGA. “So, it was cool to see how much they have improved and just an all-around great team with a fun dynamic.” “I can’t appreciate Rene enough for getting me out here and involved in these tournaments,” said Charlie Hoyt. “It is always an incredible time, and I love playing with these guys.” “We were ham and egging it a lot today,” added Clark Rangel. “Our putts were falling, but my dad had the most playable balls off the tee. All around, we just played well.” “I ran through three gloves today,” laughed Kingston Harper. “Thankfully, I prepared to sweat—I almost brought a fourth—but it was a lot of fun out there.” The Southern Texas PGA extends its heartfelt thanks to Rene Rangel, PGA, General Manager, and Chase Smith, PGA, Director of Golf at Golfcrest Country Club, for their outstanding hospitality and commitment to growing the game. Their support made this year’s event especially meaningful.
