Northern Texas PGA Captures 40th Texas Joe Black Cup Matches
DALLAS, Texas – The Northern Texas PGA captured the 40th Texas Joe Black Cup Matches by an overall points total of 13 to 11. They took a two-point lead heading into the Singles Matches, needing five and a half additional points to capture the Matches.
Team STPGA started strong, quickly securing the first two matches of the morning, but the next three matches ended in Team NTPGA wins, including a victory from NTPGA Section President, Courtney Connell, who won the 17th and 18th holes to secure a 1 UP victory. In the third match, Adam Headley, PGA head professional at Green Tree Country Club, notched an ace on the 115 yard, par 3, 8th hole, taking a 4 UP lead that ultimately ended in a 5&3 victory.
The remaining Matches were back and forth, and eight of the last ten matches today came down to hole #18. But, the final half point that Team NTPGA needed was secured in the 12th and final match when John Sikes, PGA director of golf at Hollytree Country Club, won hole #16. He went on to win his match over Jason Alexander, PGA head professional at The Club at Carlton Woods, 2&1.
Making his 20th appearance in the Matches, Cameron Doan, PGA head professional at Preston Trail Golf Club, was responsible for 2.5 points over the course of two days. With those points won, he is now the all-time Northern Texas PGA points leader with 36 points, passing Lindy Miller at 33.5.
Heading into the 40th playing, the overall team records were 19-18-2 in favor of the Southern Texas PGA. Now, the overall record sits level at 19-19-2.
The teams from each Section were represented by their Section President, the top playing PGA Directors of Golf, PGA Head Professionals and PGA General Managers and a Captain’s Pick. Perry Arthur, PGA Life Member, was captain of the Northern Texas PGA team, and David Pilsner, PGA director of instruction at Timber Creek Golf Club, served as the Southern Texas PGA captain.
The Texas Joe Black Cup Matches is an annual competition between the Northern Texas PGA and the Southern Texas PGA Sections. The Ryder Cup-style format featured 12 golf professionals from each Section competing in Four-Ball and Foursome Matches the first day followed by Singles Matches the final day. The event started in 1981 to honor Joe Black, a Snyder, Texas, native who was completing his first year as President of The PGA of America.
One point is awarded to a winning match and a half point is awarded to any match that is tied after eighteen holes. The Matches were contested at Trinity Forest Golf Club, a 7,069-yards, par-72 layout in Dallas, Texas, and was presented by Club Car, STITCH and Sun Mountain.
