OUR CHAMPIONS ARE AS SECURED AS VERITEX BANK!

Southern Texas PGA • April 8, 2025

Garry Rippy, PGA(Left) and Tayler Termeer (Right)


SUGARLAND, TEXAS (APRIL 8, 2025) – The Veritex Bank Spring Classic, our first Major of the year, was hosted at Riverbend Country Club in Sugarland, Texas. Unlike a typical Southern Texas event, we had a beautiful high temperature of 70oF for the much anticipated 36-hole championship.


With our morning players bundled up and our afternoon wave fighting the wind for the majority of Round One, Riverbend Country Club served up a challenge early in the event. In our Senior Division, Garry Rippy, PGA Teaching Professional at Jimmy Clay Golf Course, would lead after Round One, sitting at -2 (70).


Our Open Division boasted a three-way tie after Round One between Jared Jones, PGA Director of Instruction at River Oaks Country Club, Roland Thatcher, PGA Director of Golf at Lakeside Country Club, and Tayler Termeer, Teaching Professional at University of Texas Golf Club, all shooting -2( 70) as well.


Outside of 126 PGA of America Members and Associates playing together, the highlight of the day was when Susie Redman, PGA Teaching Professional at The Woodlands Country Club, made a Hole-In-One on Hole #4, one surefire way to win the closest-to-the-hole challenge presented by Maui Jim!


After a fierce 18-Holes, our players were able to unwind with a player dinner presented by Blue Moon filled with networking and camaraderie at Riverbend Country Club. The STPGA would like to thank Riverbend Country Club, its membership, and PGA Director of Golf Ryan Brandt for allowing the STPGA to host the Veritex Bank Spring Classic at their facility.


For Round Two, the conditions were perfect for all players. The Senior Division played in the morning with Round One leader Garry Rippy taking home first place with a total score of -6 (138), which included a Round Two score of -4 (68). Rippy and Robert Thompson, PGA Teaching Professional at Whispering Pines Golf Club, went back and forth all day with the turning point being Holes #13 and #14 that Rippy birdied.


"I wasn’t anticipating one way or the other. I was lucky I had a pretty quiet mind both days, and it was probably the most relaxed I’ve been playing tournament golf" said Rippy.


With our Senior Champion being crowned, the Open Division would steal the show for the remainder of the event with our Top-15 all within two strokes of the lead heading into the final round. 


Austin Wylie, Teaching Professional at Mac Wylie Golf Center, shot a 7-under 65 to vault up the leaderboard with a two-day total of -3 (141). He was the solo leader in the clubhouse until Ben Willman, PGA Teaching Professional at Axis Golf Academy, tied him with a birdie on the par-5 18th. 


However, it was not enough to catch Round One leader Tayler Termeer, Teaching Professional at the University of Texas Golf Club. Tayler played consistently all day with a 3-under round of 69 to post a tournament total of -5 (139) and win by two. He played the back nine bogey-free with birdies on Hole #10 and Hole #18 to solidify his victory!


"I just had a lot of trust in what I was doing. I was driving the ball well all tournament. I was just focusing on one shot at a time and got my putter going. I had no idea how close it was going into the final hole but just kept trusting myself" stated Termeer.


Congratulations to Tayler Termeer for an unbelievable tournament and earning the title of Champion of the 2025 Veritex Bank Spring Classic.


The 2025 Veritex Bank Spring Classic would not be possible without the support of our Partners. A huge thank you to Title Partner Veritex Bank and Presenting Partners 1st and 10th Tee Bars, Club Car, Donald Ross Sportswear, Maui Jim, and ZOA Energy Drinks.


The STPGA's next Major is the Omega Transaction Memorial Championship at Westwood Golf Club in Houston, TX on May 19-20.


To view the photo gallery, click here.
To view the final results, click here.

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.
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