Nine to Represent Southern Texas PGA at 2019 PGA Professional Championship
Southern Texas PGA • April 26, 2019
SPRING, TEXAS – The Southern Texas PGA will be well represented at the 52nd PGA Professional Championship presented by Cadillac, Club Car, and OMEGA on April 28-May 1 at Belfair (East & West Courses) in Bluffton, South Carolina.
Representing the STPGA in this four-day event will be Chad Donegan, PGA Director of Golf at Landa Park Golf Course, Jared Jones, PGA Director of Instruction at River Oaks Country Club, Ben Kern, PGA Head Professional at Georgetown Country Club, Joe Mitchell, PGA Director of Golf at Victoria Country Club, Roman O’Rourke, PGA Assistant Professional at The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch, Casey Russell, PGA Head Professional at Golfcrest Country Club, 2017 PGA Professional Championship Champion Omar Uresti, PGA Life Member, Ben Willman, PGA Teaching Professional at Axis Golf Academy, and JJ Wood, PGA Director of Instruction at Golf Performance Group. These Professionals earned a spot into the Championship at the 50th Southern Texas PGA Professional Championship in August at Victoria Country Club.
The 2019 PGA Professional Championship presented by Cadillac, Club Car, and OMEGA features a $550,000 purse. The 2019 Champion will have their name inscribed on the base of the Walter Hagen Cup, and receive exemptions into the 2019 PGA Championship, the 2019 PGA Cup, and six PGA TOUR events over a 12-month period.
The low 20 scorers in the PGA Professional Championship will earn a berth in the 2019 PGA Championship on May 16-19 at Bethpage Black in New York.
Tee Times can be found here.
For the leaderboard, please click here.
ABOUT 52nd PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The PGA Professional Championship began in 1968 to provide additional playing opportunities for PGA Professionals. In more than three decades, it has become a showcase event for PGA Professionals, featuring some of the finest players in the Association.
GOLF CHANNEL SCHEDULED BROADCAST TIMES
Sunday, April 28 9:00 – 11:00 p.m. CST
Monday, April 29 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. CST
Tuesday, April 30 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. CST
Wednesday, May 1 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. CST
STPGA Q4 UPDATE Year-End Review and 2026 Strategic Focus Dear STPGA Members and Associates, With the close of 2025, your Board of Directors convened its final meeting of the year yesterday at the STPGA office. I am pleased to provide an update on the key discussions and our forward-looking agenda. Year in Review: Celebrating Our Achievements I want to acknowledge the outstanding work completed this past year. I feel very positive about the success of our efforts in several critical areas, including: Board Orientation: We implemented a comprehensive board orientation that clarified roles, responsibilities, and the STPGA operational structure. Associate Development and Mentoring: We strengthened our support through the new onboarding program, Pro-Associate events, and the Associate Orientation program. Chapter Engagement: Our focus on connectivity will launch two new Chapter events in 2026. Member Communication: The Member Outreach Program successfully enabled board members to connect with our membership before each meeting. Defining Our Future: Strategic Plan Refresh We completed a comprehensive review of our Strategic Plan, which has been a valuable tool for guiding our initiatives. The review culminated in the development of our Strategic Pillars . These pillars now serve as the foundation, defining the core areas of focus that will drive all annual planning and goal setting for the STPGA. Going forward, the board will collaborate with the staff to establish specific, measurable annual objectives aligned with these pillars. The new Strategic Pillars will be formally shared with you at the upcoming 2026 Education Summit and Annual Meeting. Event Reminder: Education Summit and Annual Meeting We have prepared an exceptional agenda for the 2026 Education Summit and Annual Meeting. Please ensure you save the dates: February 9-10, 2026, at the Westin San Antonio North. Registration will open on Tuesday, January 6th, 2026, at 9:00 AM. We also look forward to celebrating professional excellence at our Annual Awards Banquet. Please click here to reserve your room at the exclusive discounted rate for our STPGA Members. I am deeply honored to serve as your President. Please feel free to reach out to me with any thoughts or suggestions—I am always available. Wishing you and yours a safe and happy holiday season and a prosperous 2026.
The Southern Texas PGA is built on the stories that shape our year: the victories, the breakthroughs, the friendships, and the unforgettable snapshots that remind us why we love this game. Moments that Matter is our look back at the highlights that defined 2025, celebrating the people who lifted our Section, inspired our juniors, and moved our community forward one swing at a time. Click below to read the full stories. Chad Donegan Receives President's Award Casey Russell 2x Section Champ Reliving the History at the 45th Uresti Defends at Eagle Pointe Texas Golf Day at the Capitol Team STPGA Wins 9th Levy Cup First Community Team STPGA Debut 2nd Annual STPGA Hope Cup New Leaders, New Energy STPGA Represents at the PGA Champ Nick Madden, PGA, Runs for REACH Our Partners Make it Possible Fuston & Jurgensen Ends 5-Year Drought for STPGA 5th Year of Charlie Epps Scholarship
HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 18, 2025) – The historic 45th Joe Black Cup has concluded, and we proudly congratulate Team NTPGA on securing the victory at BraeBurn Country Club with a final score of 15.5–8.5 over Team STPGA. Team NTPGA established early momentum during Day One, delivering an impressive performance in the Four-Ball and Foursomes matches, where they earned 9.5 points to build a commanding lead. Their strong play continued into the Singles matches, where they successfully held off a determined rally from Team STPGA. Throughout Tuesday’s competition, spectators were treated to a dynamic and engaging battle, with the leaderboard frequently shifting between red and blue as both teams exchanged critical points to tie the session 6-6. This year’s event was elevated by a truly memorable “Evening of Honor,” during which we welcomed and celebrated 29 Past Captains. Their presence underscored the tradition, legacy, and camaraderie that define the Texas Joe Black Cup Matches. The evening served as a powerful reminder of the event’s rich history and the influential leaders who have helped shape its enduring significance. We extend heartfelt congratulations to Team NTPGA for their outstanding performance and to both teams for exemplifying sportsmanship, competitive spirit, and pride in their respective sections. The 45th Joe Black Cup will long be remembered as a fitting tribute to the heritage of golf in Texas, Mr. Joe Black, and the individuals who continue to elevate the game. After 45 years of competition, the Northern Texas PGA now holds a 22–21–2 lead over the Southern Texas PGA in the storied history of the Joe Black Cup Matches. The 46th playing will return to Midland Country Club on November 16–17, 2026, where Team STPGA will look to reclaim the cup and bring it back to Southern Texas. A special thank you to Club Car, Srixon, Cleveland Golf, Peter Millar, and Winston Collection for their outstanding partnership and support in creating a world-class atmosphere befitting this historic 45th edition of the Matches. To view the photos of the past captains, click here . To view the dinner and practice round, click here . To view the day one matches, click here . To view the final day matches, click here . To view the final results, click here .
Guiding Team STPGA: Bryan Minnick, PGA
SPRING, TX (November 5, 2025) – After falling heartbreakingly short one year ago, Team Southern Texas PGA returned to the Levy Cup Matches with one mission: to bring the Cup home. And in one of the most dramatic finishes in event history, they did just that, defeating Team Northern Texas PGA by a single point at Gleneagles Country Club in Plano, Texas. The 9th playing of the Levy Cup Matches, held November 3–4, featured twelve PGA Professionals from each Section competing across Four-Ball, Foursomes, and Singles Matches in a spirited Ryder Cup–style format.
Lonny Alexander, PGA – Faith, Family, and Fairways
Special message from your Executive Director around exciting times ahead as your dedicated staff continues to develop! SPRING, TX (October 15, 2025) – As the Southern Texas PGA looks to finish out 2025 in style and kickstart 2026 on the right foot, I have some important announcements to share regarding your hard-working STPGA Staff. As announced in September, Tuesday, November 4 th will be Scott Archer’s last day at the Southern Texas PGA. He has accepted a job with the PGA of America in Frisco, TX, and we wish him nothing but the best. Since Scott’s announcement, I have spent a lot of time on our team, planning moving forward, and overall organizational structure to ensure we uphold all aspects of our business. When making decisions on staffing moving forward, three items were at the center of my decisions. Growth opportunities for current staff members Ensuring institutional knowledge within the team stays connected Overall efficiency within our operation
Scott Olsen, PGA – Hospitality Beyond the Game
SPRING, TX (October 14, 2025) – The Southern Texas PGA is proud to announce that Jim Nittoli, PGA Director of Golf at San Antonio Country Club, has been named the 2025 STPGA Golf Professional of the Year. This prestigious honor recognizes Nittoli’s exceptional leadership, dedication to growing the game, and his impactful contributions to both his facility and the broader golf community. He leads a distinguished group of award winners honored at both the Section and Chapter levels, each exemplifying the values, professionalism, and service that define the Southern Texas PGA. Elected to PGA Membership in 1993, Nittoli has dedicated more than three decades to elevating the private club experience and shaping the next generation of golf professionals. For the past 16 years at San Antonio Country Club, he has led the club as they have seen record growth in rounds played, tournament participation, and golf association membership, while also building a golf culture that members and staff alike are proud to call their own.
MONT BELVIEU, TX (October 10) – What a week, what a playoff, and what a Champion! Congratulations to PGA Life Member Omar Uresti for winning back-to-back Energy Transfer Texas Senior Opens presented by the City of Mont Belvieu, OPD, Vortech Contracting and Riceland. With this win, Uresti becomes the first ever back-to-back winner of this prestige Championship. Known as the largest State Senior Open in the country, this year’s event once again drew some of the nation’s best senior professionals and amateurs to Eagle Pointe Golf Club in Mont Belvieu, Texas. With competitors representing 21 different states and traveling a combined 62,000 miles to be here, this year’s field showcased depth, high quality golf, and a remarkable Champion. The 54-hole Championship was not enough to crown a Champion as the event needed to go into a three-way playoff between Uresti, Guy Boros from Plantation, FL (2022 Champion), and Wes Short from Buda, TX. The playoff hole was the par-5 18 th hole and Uresti was first to play. “My mindset was to attack,” said Uresti, who is now heading to the Senior PGA Professional Championship in Florida as his next event. “I wanted to apply as much pressure as possible to the other two players with hitting high quality shots and I am happy I was able to do that.” Uresti had 51 yards to the flag for his third shot and hit an unbelievable shot to 10 inches to make birdie to win the Energy Transfer Texas Senior Open. “It feels great to win as this is the highlight of my year. I have not played that well this year and it was great to get off to a fast start on Wednesday and then deliver in the playoff for the victory.” Uresti was leading the event from the beginning of the week when he shot a low tournament round of 7-under 64. While the leaderboard saw lots of people trying to catch Uresti, Boros and Short were the only two but fell just a little short in the playoff. Eagle Pointe Golf Club and the City of Mont Belvieu have served as home to the championship since 2014, and their continued partnership with the Southern Texas PGA has helped elevate the event to new heights. This year also marked the continued growth of a strong alliance between Energy Transfer, the City of Mont Belvieu, Eagle Pointe, and the Southern Texas PGA, which recently extended its collaboration for another three years, ensuring the Energy Transfer Texas Senior Open will remain in Mont Belvieu through 2028. Earlier in the week, the Energy Transfer Texas Senior Open Pro-Am officially kicked off the festivities, featuring 23 teams in support of PGA REACH Southern Texas and the Energy Transfer Scholarship Fund. The Pro-Am exemplifies the community spirit that drives the event, uniting players, partners, and supporters to make a lasting impact through the game of golf. The Southern Texas PGA extends its sincere gratitude to Energy Transfer, the City of Mont Belvieu, Riceland, Vortech Contracting, OPD, and Scott Olsen, PGA Head Professional, alongside his entire team at Eagle Pointe Golf Club for their continued hospitality year after year. This year’s event featured a purse of $100,000 with $20,000 going to the winner. This purse along with the Pro-Am and its partners showcases why this is the largest State Senior Open in the country. The 30th Energy Transfer Texas Senior Open will take place October 7-9, 2026 with the Pro-Am taking place October 6. Thank you again to Energy Transfer and congratulations to Omar Uresti. We will see everyone again next year. Click here for the final results.
