Sainz Jr. Claims Win at 2020 Memorial Championship; Celebrates Fifth STPGA Win in a Row

Southern Texas PGA • August 18, 2020

Both Sainz Jr. & Uresti claim their fifth Section tournament wins.

HOCKLEY, TEXAS (August 18, 2020) — Carlos Sainz Jr., Teaching Professional at GolfTEC – Upper Kirby has claimed his fifth consecutive STPGA tournament win at the Memorial Championship with a final score of 130 (-12).

“The guys I played with today played well, it was really close,” said Sainz Jr. “Eric was playing really good today and Pablo is a great player. We had a group where we were able to feed off each other throughout the day.”

Heading into today’s final round, Sainz Jr. was tied for first with Erik Knudsen, PGA Member at Caddiemaster LLC and Pablo del Olmo, Teaching Professional at The Woodlands Country Club (Palmer Course). Today, Sainz. Jr. fired a bogey-free round with 6 birdies to secure the win. Knudsen and del Olmo finished in second and third at 133 (-9) and 134 (-8) respectively.

“Every tournament our pros are shooting lower scores and playing better,” said Sainz Jr. “It was nice to come out today and know it would be tough to win. There was a turning point for me on hole #11, when Eric did not birdie and that gave me a little bit of breathing room.”

Today’s win marks the fourth Section Major and fifth Southern Texas PGA tournament win in a row this year for Sainz Jr. who previously won the Open Division at the TPx Communications Championship and the National Car Rental Southern Texas Assistant PGA Professional Championship in May, as well as the Open Division of the Spring Classic in June and the Tradition Championship in July.

“Winning these five Section events was a goal of mine coming into this year,” said Sainz Jr. “It is nice to see it come to fruition. I’m fortunate to have an employer like GolfTEC where I’m allowed to come out and play these events because my passion is playing competitively."

The Memorial Championship also featured a Senior Division for PGA Professionals ages 50 and older. PGA Life Member, Omar Uresti made a comeback from his 3rd place position yesterday to claim the division with rounds of 71-68 for a final score of 139 (-3). Finishing behind Uresti in second place with a score of 141 (-1) was Steve Parker, PGA Life Member.

“I figured out something this morning on the range to help me hit it a little bit better than I did yesterday,” said Uresti. “[Steve] was playing so well all morning, so going into #17 I knew I needed to buckle down and finish strong.”

Uresti, carded a birdie on #17 where Parker bogeyed, securing him the win after both players made par on #18.

Along with Sainz Jr., today’s win marks the fourth Section Major and fifth Southern Texas PGA win this year for Uresti as well. Uresti has swept all Section Senior Tournaments with wins in the Senior Division at the TPx Communications Championship and the Southern Texas Senior PGA Professional Championship in May, as well as the Senior Divisions of the Spring Classic in June and Tradition Championship in July.

“It feels pretty darn good to be able to win all the majors, plus the [Southern Texas Senior PGA Professional Championship],” said Uresti. “I’m just happy to be able to do that.”

The Memorial Championship, presented by AHEAD, Club Car, GT Golf Supplies, L.A.B. Golf, Levelwear, Hole-In-One USA, NexBelt, and PGA TOUR was contested at The Clubs at Houston Oaks, a private, 7,007-yard, par 71 course located in Hockley, Texas. This championship is the fourth and final Major Championship for the Section before the Southern Texas PGA Professional Championship next month.

Along with their tournament winnings, both Sainz Jr. and Uresti left today’s event with a crystal trophy and a PGA branded belt courtesy of presenting sponsor, NexBelt.

Several of the tournament sponsors also hosted special contests at the event during Round One. GT Golf Supplies sponsored a Longest Putt contest on hole #9; Ross Prachar, PGA Teaching Professional at Golf Club of Houston won with an 85-foot putt.

Nexbelt hosted Closest to the Hole contests on #5 and #13; the winners were Dylan Jackson, Assistant Professional at Austin Country Club at 5 feet from the hole, and Ryan Brandt, PGA Head Professional at Riverbend Country Club at 4 feet from the hole.

Finally, NFP Hole-In-One USA sponsored Closest to the Hole contests on #7 and #15; the winners were Ricky Lyons, PGA General Manager at Westwood Golf Club at 6 feet 10 inches from the hole, and Bryan Minnick, PGA Head Professional at Shadow Hawk Golf Club at 9 feet 7 inches from the hole.

The Southern Texas PGA would like to thank our host facility and all of our presenting sponsors for a successful tournament.

To view the full results from today’s tournament, please click here.

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Sainz Jr. and Uresti Capture Omega Transactions Memorial Championship Titles

By Southern Texas PGA • May 20, 2026

COLUMBUS, TEXAS (May 20, 2026) — The Southern Texas PGA returned to Big Easy Ranch on May 18-19 for the 2026 Omega Transactions Memorial Championship, where shifting weather, difficult scoring conditions, and two strong closing performances defined the championship in Columbus. Round One brought heavy winds across Big Easy Ranch, forcing players to manage ball flight, stay patient, and grind through difficult conditions. Round Two began with light morning rain that delayed tee times, but the weather eventually gave way to a beautiful afternoon as the wind settled and scoring opportunities opened across the course.

Texas Golf Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2026

By Southern Texas PGA • May 19, 2026

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Jesse Droemer Captures One-Shot Victory at 2026 PGA Professional Championship

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.

Droemer and Jurgensen Capture Titles at 2026 Huntington Bank Spring Classic

By Southern Texas PGA • April 15, 2026

PEARLAND, TX (April 15, 2026) — The Southern Texas PGA Major season opened with drama and momentum at Golfcrest Country Club, where Jesse Droemer, PGA, and Steve Jurgensen, PGA, captured their respective division titles at the 2026 Huntington Bank Spring Classic, held over the last two days. The Open Division delivered a thrilling finish as Jesse Droemer, PGA Teaching Professional at Riverbend Country Club, secured the championship at 6-under-par following a playoff against David von Hoffmann, PGA Director of Golf at Spanish Oaks Golf Club. The two competitors replayed the iconic 18th hole to determine the champion after a tightly contested final round, where Droemer carded a steady two-putt par to decide the title. David von Hoffmann began Round Two tied for third before quickly surging into the lead after birdieing three of his first four holes. His early charge applied pressure throughout the round and set the tone for a dramatic finish. Meanwhile, Droemer, who began the day tied for fifth, battled through adversity after an early setback with a double bogey on Hole #7 before mounting a late push when it mattered most. A stretch of birdies on Holes 15, 16, and 17 ignited Droemer’s charge and ultimately forced the playoff showdown on the finishing hole.

Meet Your 2026 Team STPGA Captains

By Southern Texas PGA • April 8, 2026

Three Leaders. Three Cups. One Mission. Trevino, Kilian-Smith, and MacCurrach will lead Team STPGA into the 2026 season across the Joe Black Cup, Levy Cup, and Texas Junior Cup Matches.

Presidential Points: STPGA 2026 Q2 Update

By Dr. Rich Ballinger, PGA • March 25, 2026

STPGA 2026 Q2 UPDATE A Message from the President: Building the Future of the STPGA Dear STPGA Members and Associates, Fresh off our March Board of Directors meeting at the STPGA home office, I am energized by the momentum we are building together. Every conversation we had centered on one thing: you . Our goal is to ensure that our PGA Members and Associates remain the focal point of every initiative we launch. We’ve had a productive start to the year, but we are just getting started. Here are a few highlights from our meeting: Refining Our Flagship Event: We conducted a deep dive into the 2026 Education Summit and Annual Meeting. While it was a success, we are already laying the groundwork to make 2027 even more impactful. Celebrating Excellence: We discussed enhancements to our awards process and brainstormed fresh ways to showcase the incredible talent within our Section. I’ll give you a quick "teaser"—the Board is working on a very exciting project to highlight our members, and I can’t wait to share more details with you soon! Education & Growth: From the recent ADM Education Summit to the upcoming Coaching & Teaching Summit and Specialized Workshop, we are committed to providing world-class professional development. Legacy & Competition: We received an update from Alli Jarrett, Executive Director of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame. As one of the six permanent organizations of the TGHOF, we remain proud of our ties to the history of the game in Texas. We also discussed exciting enhancements to our Championship schedule, including the Golden Nugget events and upcoming captaincy announcements for the Joe Black, Levy Cup, and Texas Junior Cup. Fiscal Stewardship: We reviewed our investment strategies to ensure we remain good stewards of our Association’s resources, securing a strong financial future for the STPGA. Your Turn to Lead: Get Involved! As we solidified our election process for the upcoming cycle, I had a personal realization: my term as President is already halfway through. This journey has been one of the absolute highlights of my career. Serving as an Officer and leading this Section has been immensely rewarding, and I want that same experience for you. Our Association is only as strong as the leaders who step up to guide it. If you are passionate about the Southern Texas PGA and want to help shape the future of our profession, I strongly encourage you to consider running for a board position. Whether you have a specific vision or simply a desire to give back to the game, we need your voice and your leadership. I promise that the professional and personal growth you experience in these roles is well worth the investment. As always, my door is open. If you have questions about the election process, our recent board initiatives, or how you can get more involved, please don't hesitate to reach out.

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By Southern Texas PGA • March 20, 2026

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Introducing your 2026 First Community STPGA Team!

By Southern Texas PGA • March 19, 2026

SPRING, TEXAS (March 19, 2026) – The Southern Texas PGA is proud to announce the Second Annual First Community STPGA Team , recognizing ten of the Section’s top-performing PGA Professionals who have earned the opportunity to represent the STPGA on a national stage. The team is comprised of accomplished professionals who exemplify excellence in playing ability, leadership, and dedication to the game, with each member earning their position through standout performances at the 2025 STPGA Section Championship. This year’s roster features a blend of seasoned veterans, rising competitors, and accomplished instructors who will showcase the strength of the Section at the 2026 PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, April 26-29.