The Southern Texas PGA is proud to announce our 2023 Section Award Winners

Southern Texas PGA • November 1, 2023

SPRING, TX (November 1, 2023) – The Southern Texas PGA is thrilled to announce that PGA Professional Brent Blackburn has been named the STPGA Golf Professional of the Year, the highest honor within the Section, and will lead a host of deserving PGA Professional award winners in 2023.


Blackburn, who was elected to PGA Membership in 1996, is best known for ‘bringing golf to life’ to those around him through his passion to engage not only with his staff, but with the membership at Corpus Christi Country Club where he serves as the Head PGA Golf Professional.


Blackburn prides himself on his ability to make people feel engaged and welcome, whether it be through service, social events, or instructional programming, Blackburn is a true example of helping people fall in love with the game of golf and grow their passion.


Blackburn, who has worked across Texas, has great mentors in PGA Professionals Gary Ray, Mike Hoffmann, and Steve Shields. He has worked at every level of a golf operation and holds true to his ideals of being extremely friendly and giving back. He served on the STPGA Board of Directors at a Chapter level from 2003-2006 and currently volunteers as a Mentor in the STPGA Mentoring Program. Through this program, Blackburn collaborates with younger professionals on ways to not only enhance their respective facilities and careers, but on how to elevate the Association as a whole.


“Brent is an unbelievable promoter of his facility, his programs, and his passion for the game in a way that is approachable and creates an environment you want to be a part of,” said Thomas Hutton, STPGA Executive Director. “Corpus Christi Country Club just went through a major renovation and the club is thriving under his leadership.”


Congratulations to Brent, his family, and the entire Corpus Christi Country Club Membership!

Another notable Section Award winner is Tony Allen, PGA Teaching Professional at Meadowbrook Farms Golf Club, as the 2023 Southern Texas PGA Harvey Penick Teacher of the Year. Named after the legendary PGA Professional and teacher Harvey Penick, this award is given to an individual for overall excellence in golf instruction.


Allen has been a teacher of the game for 26 years, with his longest tenure being at his current facility of Meadowbrook Farms Golf Club. In his time teaching, Allen has maintained a simple philosophy towards teaching, allowing him to adapt to the needs of each student.


One priority for Allen is to bring golf to everyone and make it something special in their lives. Tony’s emphasis on how successfully developing a player will preserve and promote the integrity of the game makes the STPGA honored to call him the 2023 Harvey Penick Teacher of the Year award recipient.

“Tony loves teaching, and his passion comes through with what he has accomplished at Meadowbrook Farms,” said STPGA President Bryan Minnick. “This award recognizes a PGA Member who works day in and day out to make people better both on and off the course.”

The STPGA is also excited to honor PGA Professional Jeff Strong with the Dick Forester Quarter Century Award in 2023. This award is given in odd numbered years to a PGA Professional who is acknowledged as an individual of outstanding leadership and strong moral character.


Strong is an excellent example of what it is to bleed PGA blue and gold. Strong is a Past President of the Southern Texas PGA and has been a long-standing supporter of the STPGA. Not only has Strong held a leadership role within the Section, but he has also greatly contributed to the Section financially through Junior Golf, scholarships, and sponsorships.


“Jeff Strong is the Southern Texas PGA,” said Minnick. “All of us in leadership roles today owe a lot to Jeff and presenting this award to him is an honor.”


In addition to these awards, the STPGA is also announcing 12 other Section Awards and numerous Chapter Awards. We would like to thank our Awards Committee led by PGA Professional Ricky Lyons for their time and energy in selecting these winners.


Section Award winners will be formally presented with their honors during the STPGA’s 56th Annual Awards Banquet on Monday, February 5, 2024, at Lakeway Resort & Spa while Chapter Awards will be presented at their respective Chapter Meetings later this Fall. 


Congratulations to all award winners!



2023 Southern Texas PGA Section Awards

Golf Professional of the Year: Brent Blackburn (Corpus Christi Country Club)
Harvey Penick Teacher of the Year: Tony Allen (Meadowbrook Farms Golf Club)
Bill Strausbaugh Award: Derrick Dixon (Briggs Ranch Golf Club)
Assistant Professional of the Year: Alayne Lee (Austin Country Club)
Professional Development Award: Alan Hodde (Axis Golf Academy)
Player Development Award: Morgan DeSive (Westwood Golf Club)
Youth Player Development Award: Marci Bozarth (Pine Forest Country Club)
Patriot Award: Jonathan Shoffner (Clubs of Kingwood)
Dick Forester Quarter Century Award: Jeff Strong (PGA Life Member)
Golf Sales Representative of the Year: Justin Phillips (Levelwear)
Merchandiser of the Year (Public): Wildcat Golf Club (Houston, TX)
Merchandiser of the Year (Private): BraeBurn Country Club (Houston, TX)
Merchandiser of the Year (Resort): Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort (Boerne,TX)
Junior Golfer of the Year - Boy: John Solis (Laredo, TX)
Junior Golfer of the Year - Girl: Danica Lundgren (Austin, TX)


2023 STPGA Chapter Awards


Eastern Chapter
Golf Professional of the Year:
Mark Duranski (BraeBurn Country Club)
Harvey Penick Teacher of the Year: Matt Schewe (Pearland Golf Club)
Youth Player Development Award: Shaun McEwen (Axis Golf Academy)
Merchandiser of the Year: The Woodlands Country Club (The Woodlands, TX)


Western Chapter
Golf Professional of the Year:
Ryan Polzin (Oak Hills Country Club)
Harvey Penick Teacher of the Year: Greg Hiller (TPC San Antonio)
Youth Player Development Award: Lonny Alexander (Onion Creek Club)
Merchandiser of the Year:
Briggs Ranch Golf Club (San Antonio, TX)


By Southern Texas PGA May 1, 2025
Jesse Droemer, PGA and Bobby Gates, PGA Qualify for the 2025 PGA Championship First Community STPGA Team Shines at PGA Professional Championship SPRING, TEXAS (May 1, 2025) – At the 2025 Southern Texas PGA (STPGA) Annual Meeting, the Section announced an exciting expansion of its partnership with First Community, unveiling the First Community STPGA Team. This group of nine PGA Members earned their spots through outstanding play at the 2024 STPGA Section Championship and went on to represent the Section at the PGA Professional Championship held this past week at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The First Community STPGA Team made a strong showing, with Jared Jones, Jesse Droemer, JJ Wood, and Bobby Gates all making both cuts during the event that featured 312 PGA Professionals from across the country. Notably, Droemer and Gates secured spots in the prestigious 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow after placing in the Top 20 of the event. Droemer, who came in second place overall, was solid all week long, even with battling some back issues. He started off really strong with a 4-under 68 on Day 1 when he played the Wanamaker Course and backed it up with a 3-under 68 on the Ryder Course on Day 2. He played in the final pairing both days on Tuesday and Wednesday to finish in solo second at 5-under par 282. Droemer will be making his second appearance at the PGA Championship in two weeks in Charlotte. Gates finished in a tie for 15th and secured his spot in the Top 20 with a 2-under 70 on the last day. When he finished he thought he might be in a playoff for the final spot to make the Top 20, but after waiting for 2 hours, he was safely in! This was Gates' first PGA Professional Championship and will be his first PGA Championship. Gates is currently the Director of Instruction at Summit Golf Schools in Spring, TX and “We couldn’t be more thrilled with how this initiative came to life,” said STPGA Executive Director Thomas Hutton. “What started as an idea on a whiteboard became a reality thanks to the support of First Community and the enthusiasm of our members. The performances from Jesse, Bobby, and the rest of the team truly made this special.”
By Southern Texas PGA May 1, 2025
Roland Thatcher, PGA – Leading Through Experience, Driven by Passion
By Susie Redman, PGA April 22, 2025
Golf Done Right Isn’t Just A Game - It’s A Game Changer . It Matters. Teenage girls are quitting sports - 45% abandon athletics by age 14, crushed by body image doubts, insecurities, and lack of access. Teenage girls need the physical, mental, and social benefits that participation in sports has been shown to give. Coaches are the heartbeat of keeping girls in the game. It begins with building trusting relationships and coaching with empathy. It takes a whole-person approach where all young people feel safe, seen, heard, and valued.
By Dr. Rich Ballinger, PGA April 15, 2025
STPGA Q1 UPDATE Strategic Plan, Mentoring, and More
By 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 70 o F 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 2, 2025
SPRING, TEXAS (April 2, 2025) – The Southern Texas PGA (STPGA) is proud to announce the captains for the 2025 Cup Matches, a prestigious series of competitions celebrating the best of professional and junior golf in the region. Leading this year’s teams are three distinguished PGA of America Members: 
By Southern Texas PGA April 1, 2025
SPRING, TEXAS (April 1, 2025) – The Southern Texas PGA (STPGA) is proud to announce the nine PGA of America Members who have earned their place on the inaugural First Community STPGA Team . Based on their outstanding performances in the 2024 STPGA Section Championship, these elite professionals will represent the Section at the 2025 PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, from April 27-30, 2025. We will showcase this team throughout April, with the support of First Community Credit Union.
By Southern Texas PGA March 18, 2025
Rob Charter, PGA – Family in the Fairways
By Southern Texas PGA March 11, 2025
Steven Chervony (Left) and Tayler Termeer (Right) AUSTIN, TEXAS (March 11, 2025) – The 2025 Pro-Pro Championship brought 94 players to The Hills Country Club (Signature Course) in Austin, Texas, for two days of premier competition. Participants battled it out, showcasing their talent on one of the region’s top courses. A colder start to our typical Southern Texas tee time didn't slow down the field as only four strokes separated the Top-5 after round one. Robert Scott, PGA Teaching Professional at Royal Oaks Country Club, alongside Ryan Polzin, PGA Head Professional at Oak Hills Country Club, would post an incredible -15 for the first day's scramble. The great round solidified them as the solo leaders for Day Two, but they would need to keep their foot on the pedal to maintain it. At the beginning of Round 2, it would be Troy Schleicher, PGA Life Member, and Billy Sitton, PGA Golf Executive at Triumph Golf, only trailing behind the leaders by one stroke, leading the charge. A windier day would prove an already challenging course that much more, but Schleicher and Sitton would remain steady and climb up to the top spot late in the final round. Tayler Termeer, Teaching Professional at the University of Texas Golf Club, and Steven Chervony, Assistant Professional at Austin Country Club, would keep the competition interesting. They would rise four spots and put pressure on Schleicher and Sitton heading to the final hole. "We thought we would perform better in the Four-Ball format versus the Scramble format. We knew 6-under or 7-under would make it competitive and give us a good chance at winning," said Chervony. Termeer and Chervony would have done enough to seal the victory in their favor. They would head to the scoring table with an official score of 62 - 65 – 127 ( -17 ) and walk away crowned the 2025 Pro-Pro Champions by two strokes. "I was hitting my driver well, and that freed us up a lot. We had a fairly relaxed round because of that, along with the eagle we carded on Hole 9 that took some pressure off us as well," stated Termeer. The Southern Texas PGA extends its sincere appreciation to The Hills Country Club and its dedicated staff for their exceptional hospitality. Additionally, we are grateful for the support of our valued partners—Callaway, E-Z-GO, Evolve Golf, Texoma Golf, Tagmarshal, Scales, Sap’s, NextRound, and OMNI Hotels & Resorts—whose contributions made this event possible.
By Southern Texas PGA March 6, 2025
Hello STPGA Members and Associates , We are excited to announce a new partnership with the Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM) to bring education and networking opportunities to the STPGA. Below, you will find online education seminars related to merchandising that might benefit you and/or your team. I highly recommend signing up for all or specific topics that interest you. AGM has graciously waived registration fees; all you need to do is click the buttons below to register your name. Feel free to invite anyone on your team to this as well. PDR credits will be awarded to those who register and attend each session. Quarterly Blueprint for Golf Shop Success - Justine Gray Wednesday March 26, 2025 3:00 P.M. CST REGISTER HERE Join Justine for a seminar on optimizing golf retail operations. Learn proactive inventory management, customer service strategies, and staff training tips while enhancing cross-department collaboration. Leave with a personalized quarterly action plan to drive long-term success in your golf shop! Increasing the Average Units Per Transaction: What You Need to Know - Nicole Leinbach Hoffman Thursday April 9, 2025 3:00 P.M. CST REGISTER HERE Join retail expert Nicole Leinbach Hoffman of Retail Minded to discover proven strategies for increasing average units per transaction. Learn how merchandising, staff engagement, and strategic product pairings can boost sales and enhance the customer experience. The REAL Impact™ of One - Rita Goodroe Wednesday May 28, 2025 3:00 P.M. CST REGISTER HERE The REAL Impact™ of One shows how YOU make the difference between business as usual and business that wins. In an industry where timing and relationships drive results, every action ripples across the organization. With humor, storytelling, and practical tools, award-winning connection expert Rita Goodroe lights up the room—leaving you thinking about your impact in ways you never have before.
Show More