STPGA Closes out the Year With an E9

Southern Texas PGA • December 6, 2024

STPGA continues to serve its Members, grow the game through STPGA Programs, and elevate the Association!


2024 was another record year for the STPGA and as we head into the Holiday Season, we thought it would be fun to recap some of our best moments and highlights. By the end of the day, 18-holes just cannot be finished, so let's go play an emergency 9-holes!


[Hole #1] Number of Players


The STPGA saw an incredible 2,130 participants tee it up across all events this year, demonstrating the growing enthusiasm for golf in the region. Of those, an impressive 457 unique players brought their talent and passion to our tournaments, making each event a showcase of skill and sportsmanship.


[Hole #2] Purse Numbers


2024 shattered financial records with an overall purse total of $476,750, rewarding the dedication and hard work of our players. Leading the way was the Section Championship, offering a historic purse of $77,200, the largest in STPGA history.

[Hole #3] Member Recognition


The STPGA celebrated milestones and welcomed new talent:


  • 12 Quarter-Century Members and 3 Half-Century Members were honored for their decades of dedication to growing the game.


  • 21 New Members joined the STPGA family, bringing fresh energy and perspectives.


  • An impressive 119 New Associates began their journey, ensuring the future of golf remains in skilled and passionate hands.


[Hole #4] New Experiences


One-Day Events: This year, we added seven new one-day tournaments, creating even more opportunities for the 187 players who came out and competed.


Social Gatherings: Approximately 320 attendees brought the community spirit to life at our dinners and celebrations, sharing laughs, stories, and memorable moments off the course. Thank you to our facilities that had dinners or social functions during our events making our Championships more than just golf!

[Hole #5] Total Number of Sponsors


The support of 87 Section Partners was instrumental in making 2024 a success. These partnerships enabled us to deliver bigger purses, more events, and richer experiences for players and fans alike.


To view our entire contact list of partners, please click here!


[Hole #6] Hardest and Easiest Hole Locations


The ninth holes at two iconic courses highlighted the season’s challenge and excitement. At Omni Barton Creek’s Fazio Canyons, the Par 4 #9 tested players during the Boxto Memorial Championship with a 4.9 scoring average.


Meanwhile, Par 5 #9 at Champions Golf Club shone at the Section Championship, playing slightly under par at a 4.92 average. These stats showcase the skill and resilience of players across diverse challenges.

[Hole #7] Records in Participation


This year was a testament to growth and engagement:


  • The GolfStatus Tradition Championship drew an incredible 130 players, making it the largest stroke play event in Section history.


  • Our Coaching & Teaching Summit reached new heights with 63 attendees, who gathered to share knowledge, innovate, and build connections like never before.


[Hole #8] PGA Member Accolades


Our PGA Members made waves on the big stage:


  • Jared Jones and Team USA would be victorious in the 31st PGA Cup against Great Britain and Ireland.


  • Omar Uresti captured the Energy Transfer Texas Senior Open title, becoming only the fourth PGA Member to win in the tournament’s 27-year history.



  • PGA TOUR Exemptions were earned by three outstanding players:
  • Jesse Droemer (Houston Open)
  • Ben Willman (Valero Texas Open)
  • Austin Wylie (Mexico Open)


  • National Representation: A total of 16 Members showcased their skills in PGA of America National Championships, proudly carrying the STPGA banner to prestigious events.


[Hole #9] Milligrams of Caffeine


It’s no secret that a year like this takes energy—LOTS of energy! With at least 75,000 milligrams of caffeine consumed, the STPGA staff, volunteers, and competitors kept the buzz alive, fueling a year of record-breaking success and unforgettable moments.


Looking Ahead


From historic participation and record purses to memorable gatherings and inspiring victories, 2024 was a year to celebrate. The Southern Texas PGA is ready to build on this momentum in 2025, continuing to grow, innovate, and create opportunities for everyone to enjoy the game we love. Here's to another outstanding year ahead!

By Southern Texas PGA • October 16, 2026
The Wait Is Over: Your 2027 Southern Texas PGA Schedule Is Here!
By Sarah Lummus • October 14, 2026
SPRING, TX (October 14, 2026) – The Southern Texas PGA is proud to announce that Steve Termeer, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of the University of Texas Golf Club, has been named the 2026 STPGA Golf Professional of the Year.  This prestigious honor recognizes Termeer’s more than 35 years of leadership in the golf industry, his commitment to developing the next generation of golf professionals, and his lasting impact on the game through his work at UT Golf Club, the Southern Texas PGA, and numerous charitable organizations. He leads a distinguished group of Section and Chapter award recipients who exemplify the leadership, service, and professionalism that define the Southern Texas PGA. Elected to PGA Membership in 1994, Termeer has built a career around the belief that golf provides an opportunity to positively impact people’s lives. Since the inception of the University of Texas Golf Club, he has served as the club’s General Manager and COO, playing an integral role in building and developing the operation from the ground up.
By Southern Texas PGA • October 9, 2026
MONT BELVIEU, TX (October 9, 2026) – Jay Jurecic of Crystal Falls, Michigan, delivered three days of consistent play at Eagle Pointe Golf Club, capturing the 30th Energy Transfer Texas Senior Open with rounds of 69-68-68 for a tournament total of 8-under-par 205. Entering Friday's final round tied atop the leaderboard with Jerod Turner of Aledo, Texas, Jurecic wasted little time separating himself from the field. Birdies on three of his first four holes gave him an early advantage, but a bogey on the par-4 sixth briefly slowed his momentum. Jurecic quickly settled back into his rhythm, adding another birdie on the ninth to make the turn at 3-under-par for the day, building a three-stroke advantage as the Championship headed into its closing stretch.
By Southern Texas PGA • October 7, 2026
Thirtieth annual event commences with Pro-Am raising $30,000 for college scholarships and junior golf MONT BELVIEU, TX (October 6, 2026) – The Southern Texas PGA is excited to start off the 30th Energy Transfer Texas Senior Open by announcing the winners of the Pro-Am that featured 25 teams representing companies from all over south Texas!
By Southern Texas PGA • September 30, 2026
Gray will lead 8 additional PGA Members to the 2027 PGA Professional Championship in April BEE CAVE, Texas (September 30, 2026) – Bret Gray, PGA Assistant Coach at Sam Houston State University, made history Tuesday evening at Spanish Oaks Golf Club, defeating Derrick Dixon, PGA General Manager at Briggs Ranch in a dramatic one-hole playoff to capture the 58th Southern Texas PGA Section Championship. At 23 years old, Gray became the youngest Section Champion in Southern Texas PGA history, adding his name to the Tommy Aycock Trophy after a championship finish that stretched into the sunset. For Gray, the victory also marked another chapter in a journey that has been closely connected to the Southern Texas PGA from the beginning. A product of STPGA Junior Golf program, Gray took every step within the STPGA’s journey from Little Linkster tournaments to Prestige Tour to attending Sam Houston State University and graduating from the PGA Golf Management Program to now being a Class A PGA Member. Gray entered Tuesday's final round one stroke off the lead after opening the Championship with a 1-under-par 70, sitting tied for second behind round one leader Dixon. He wasted little time making his move, recording birdies on Nos. 2, 3 and 7 to build a two-stroke lead early in the final round. Dixon responded as the round progressed, finding birdies on Nos. 8 and 10 before eventually reclaiming the lead on the back nine. A bogey at No. 9 proved costly for Gray, who steadied himself with pars the rest of the way. Dixon carried the lead to the 18th green with an opportunity to close out the Championship, but his final putt caught the edge and stayed out, sending the two back to No. 18 for a playoff as the sun began to set over Spanish Oaks. Both players found the middle of the fairway with their playoff tee shots before producing two strong approaches, each leaving a birdie opportunity from inside 15 feet on opposite sides of the hole. Dixon again saw his birdie attempt catch the edge and stay out, leaving Gray with an opportunity to end the Championship. Gray converted, rolling in the birdie putt to become the 58th Southern Texas PGA Section Champion. The Championship also determined eight qualifiers for the 2027 PGA Professional Championship. Gray will be joined by Derrick Dixon, PGA; Roman O'Rourke, PGA; Ben Willman, PGA; Gilbert Mendez, PGA; Robert Scott, PGA; Wilfredo Sanchez, PGA; and Bobby Gates, PGA.
By Southern Texas PGA • September 22, 2026
David von Hoffmann, PGA – The Journey Makes the Professional
By Southern Texas PGA • September 16, 2026
HOUSTON, Texas – September 16, 2026 – Jimmy Keener, PGA Associate at Briggs Ranch Golf Club, and Troy Schleicher, PGA Life Member, claimed victories at the 2026 Jet Access Tradition Championship following two days of competition at Lakeside Country Club in Houston. The championship featured 130 Southern Texas PGA Members and Associates and marked the fourth and final Major Championship of the season before the Southern Texas PGA Section Championship at Spanish Oaks Golf Club in Bee Cave, Texas. Keener entered the final round as part of a four-way tie for the lead at 4-under alongside Alden Wallace, PGA, Erik Knudsen, PGA, and Michael Milstead. He wasted little time making a move in the final round, recording an eagle on the par-5 third hole to jump-start his championship run. With the leaderboard remaining tight throughout the day, Keener delivered his biggest stretch when it mattered most, closing his round with three consecutive birdies on Holes 16, 17 and 18. The late charge gave Keener a two-stroke cushion coming down the stretch, but Alden Wallace, PGA Teaching Professional at ProMotion Golf Academy, kept the pressure on until the final hole. Needing an eagle on the par-4 18th to force a playoff, Wallace nearly delivered, with her second shot from the fairway skimming the hole before settling close. She would convert the birdie to finish one stroke back and cap a strong runner-up performance.
By Southern Texas PGA • September 11, 2026
Aaron Green, PGA – From Opportunity to Leadership
By Southern Texas PGA • August 26, 2026
CORPUS CHRISTI (August 25, 2026) – Bret Gray, PGA Assistant Coach at Sam Houston State University and Omar Uresti, PGA Life Member emerged victorious at the 2026 Player's Cup at Corpus Christi Country Club. Gray claimed the Open Division title at 9-under par, while Uresti won the Senior Division at 8-under after defeating Carl Baker, PGA Life Member, in a playoff. Gray and Uresti both opened the championship with bogey-free rounds to take control of their respective divisions. Gray finished Round 1 at 6-under to lead the Open Division, while Uresti put himself in a strong position atop the Senior Division leaderboard at 7-under to lead by three.  Conditions became more difficult during the second round as the wind picked up across Corpus Christi Country Club. Gray entered the final day knowing bogeys could happen in the tougher conditions, but remained committed to his game plan and focused on bouncing back whenever mistakes occurred. That approach helped him maintain his lead and complete a wire-to-wire victory at 9-under par. “Leading after the first round, I didn’t want to change my approach,” Gray said. “I knew that if I played my game, that would allow me to play my best. At the same time, I knew the winds were going to pick up and that bogeys could happen, so I was more focused on bouncing back and recovering when they did.” During the final round, Grey got off to a fast start with 4 birdies in the first seven holes but as he was expecting made a couple of bogeys on the back nine. His birdie on the reachable par-5 15 was critical to winning the title. In the Senior Division, Uresti carded four bogeys on the front nine of Round 2 and briefly surrendered the lead as Baker closed the gap. Baker birdied five out of six holes starting on hole seven to take the lead, but Uresti responded with four birdies on the back nine to eventually tie Baker. While both players had birdie putts on 18, extra holes were needed with Uresti making a birdie on the first playoff hole to secure the Senior Division title. “I had a rough start to the day, and Carl played great, so I knew I was going to have to play extremely well on the back nine to keep it within reach,” Uresti said. “Carl’s putting was lights out, and thankfully I started getting birdies to drop. It was a lot of fun out there today with some great competition.” The Southern Texas PGA extends its appreciation to Joe Mitchell, PGA Head Professional, and the entire staff at Corpus Christi Country Club for hosting the championship. The Section also thanks Vortex, Prize Possessions, Clubessential/ForeUP/BlueGolf, GT Golf Supply, Club Car, HUB, PRG, Hole-in-One USA, and AndersonOrd for their support of the Player's Cup. The STPGA would also like to thank the Port of Corpus Christi, Kleberg Bank, Buick GMC North, andAnderson Alexander Law for their support of our Pro-Am prior to the event and the overall championship.
By Julia Doucet • August 5, 2026
The Southern Texas PGA is proud to announce the launch of the STPGA Hall of Fame , established to honor PGA Professionals whose leadership, service, mentorship, competitive excellence, and instructional impact have helped shape the legacy of golf across Southern Texas. Candidates will be evaluated through five core pillars: Leadership Recognizing those who have inspired their peers, strengthened the profession, and maintained a distinguished professional reputation. Service Honoring PGA Professionals with a sustained record of service to the Association, their communities, and the growth of the game. Mentorship Celebrating those who have dedicated their careers to educating, supporting, and advancing fellow PGA Professionals. Competitive Record Recognizing individuals with a proven and sustained record of excellence in competitive play. Instructional Leadership Honoring those who have made a meaningful impact on player development and elevated performance at any level of the game.
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