Viva Las Vegas! | Southern Texas PGA Announces Annual Las Vegas Pro-Am

Southern Texas PGA • August 13, 2023

Good Afternoon PGA Members & Associates,


It is with great excitement that the Southern Texas PGA announces the creation of an annual Las Vegas Pro-Am beginning in January of 2024. The first annual Las Vegas Pro-Am will be held on January 15th & 16th, 2024 and will feature rounds of golf at TPC Las Vegas and Las Vegas Country Club! The Southern Texas PGA Staff, Championships Committee, and Board of Directors wanted to create a new playing opportunity in the month of January, and we can’t think of a better way to kick off our 2024 season than with a Pro-Am in Las Vegas! Please note, the annual Lake Charles Pro-Pro Am-Am events will still be happening! Dates will be announced in due course.


Golf Courses: Round 1 (Monday, January 15th ) will be contested at Las Vegas Country Club. Round 2 (Tuesday, January 16th) will be contested at TPC Las Vegas


Entry Fee: The entry fee will be $6,000 per team. Teams will consist of one (1) Professional and four (4) Amateurs. The Professional entry fee will be comped, and each Professional will receive a $1,000 appearance fee. Facilities may bring multiple teams; however, each team must have a different Professional.


Minimum Number of Teams: The event will be confirmed once 15 teams have paid in full. Should we not receive 15 teams paid in full by November 1st, the event will be cancelled and an all registrations will be given a full refund. Once the event is confirmed, cancellations will be taken on a case-by-case basis and may be subject to a cancellation fee if no replacement team is found.


Registration: Registration will open on August 7th, 2023. Entries will be limited to the first 20 teams to pay the non-refundable (unless the event is cancelled due to non-participation) $1,500 deposit (25% of the team total). The remaining balance will be processed on October 1st , 2023 to the card used for Registration. Registration will take place through the Tournament Information Page.


Click Here to view the Tournament Information Page


Lodging & Transportation: Players will be responsible for securing their own lodging and transportation to and from each facility each day.


Format: Teams will consist of one (1) Professional and four (4) Amateurs. Amateurs will receive 75% of their course handicaps. The Pro-Am Competition will be two best balls of the four team members (one gross and one net). The two counting scores for each hole must come from two separate players, but either score can come from any player.


Prizes: Amateurs will receive a combination of tee gifts and/or a gift card to each facility to spend in the golf shop prior to each Round. Professionals will compete in a cash entry skins game during each Round. The Pro-Am competition will be contested for a $8,000 purse (based on a full field) as well as daily cash Closest to the Hole contests! All Amateur purse winnings will be paid out via golf shop credit at the facility of the host Professional.


Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Manager of Tournament Operations, Nick Drew with any questions regarding the event. We look forward to seeing everyone in Las Vegas!

Presidential Points: STPGA Q3 Update

By Dr. Rich Ballinger, PGA • September 23, 2025
STPGA Q3 UPDATE Mentoring, Chapter Growth, and More Dear STPGA Members and Associates, I wanted to provide an update following our September board meeting at The Big Easy Ranch. As your President, my goal is to keep you informed about our progress and the key initiatives we're working on. Associate Mentoring Program One of my top priorities has been to launch an Associate Mentoring Program to align with national PGA initiatives. I'm excited to announce our first Pro-Associate Event on October 6 at The Big Easy Ranch. This event is open to all Level 1 Associates and is a great opportunity for them to learn about industry best practices, the benefits of PGA membership, and the resources available to them. After the educational session, Associates will be paired with a select PGA member for a round of golf to help them build their network and form valuable relationships. Associates can learn more and register for this event below.

HOMETOWN GLORY AT THE 2025 STPGA SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP

By Southern Texas PGA • September 16, 2025
COLUMBUS, TX (September 16) – Over the last two days, the Southern Texas PGA proudly hosted its premier event, the 58th STPGA Section Championship, at The Covey at Big Easy Ranch in Columbus, Texas. 112 PGA of America Members from across the Section competed in a two-day championship not only to crown the 2025 STPGA Section Champion but also served as the pathway to the national PGA Professional Championship, Player of the Year Honors, and the last opportunity to climb our points list and earn a spot on #TeamSTPGA for the Joe Black Cup Matches and Levy Cup Matches. Congratulations to Casey Russell, PGA Director of Golf at Big Easy Ranch, for winning this year’s Section Championship at Big Easy Ranch. The home-field advantage would serve Casey well as he would finish with a tournament total of 70-71–141 (-3) After round one, the leaderboard was extremely tight with a three-way tie for first at 2-under (70) between Alan Hodde, PGA Director of Instruction at Axis Golf Academy & Fitting Center, Greg Hiller, PGA Director of Instruction at TPC San Antonio, and Casey Russell, PGA, and another 16 people within three strokes of the lead. With the added pressure of a tie, Casey would be put at ease with his course knowledge and the perfect pairing to go to battle with.

Meet the Member: Ricky Lyons, PGA

By Southern Texas PGA • September 11, 2025
Ricky Lyons, PGA – Building Community, On and Off the Course

STPGA Past President, Charlie Eskridge Passes Away

By Southern Texas PGA • September 9, 2025
A proud PGA Member that impacted so many people!

Meet the Member: Lisa Fleming Edgmon, PGA

By Southern Texas PGA • September 5, 2025
Lisa Fleming Edgmon, PGA – Built on Mentorship, Driven by Heart

WIRE-TO-WIRE FOR KEENER & JURGENSEN

By Southern Texas PGA • August 27, 2025
AUSTIN, TEXAS (August 26) — The 2025 TPx Player’s Cup concluded today at Austin Country Club, where the Section’s top professionals battled across two competitive divisions — Senior and Open — for one of the Southern Texas PGA’s most prestigious titles. In the Senior Division, Steve Jurgensen, PGA Teaching Professional at Westwood Golf Club, delivered a wire-to-wire victory, finishing at 3-under-par for the championship after rounds of 69-72. Jurgensen sealed the win in dramatic fashion, rolling in a birdie on the par-5 18th to close out his championship run. Reflecting on the victory, Jurgensen said,

Jake Sitterle Claims 2025 Southern Texas Assistant PGA Professional Championship!

By Southern Texas PGA • August 18, 2025
HOUSTON, TEXAS (August 18, 2025) – Mother Nature had different plans at Champions Golf Club, where drawn-out lightning delays ultimately forced the cancellation of Round Two and shortened the 2025 Southern Texas Assistant PGA Professional Championship to 18 holes. Taking advantage of his strong opening round, Jake Sitterle, Assistant Professional at Lakecliff Country Club, earned the victory with a score of 70 (-1) on the par-71 layout, securing his place at this year’s champion. “This wasn’t the way anyone wanted this championship to end. Gilbert was playing great in the second round, but I am happy I could get the win,” Sitterle reflected. “With how the last major ended, I was always confident in my game and that I could be up at the top, but this field is strong, and I just wish all the guys who qualified the best of luck.” The tournament, hosted at Champions Golf Club, featured over 50 Assistant Professionals from across the Section, competing for qualifying spots into the Assistant PGA Professional Championship, set to be played at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, November 13-16, 2025.

Meet the Member: Alden Wallace, PGA

By Southern Texas PGA • August 6, 2025
Alden Wallace, PGA – Rookie Member with a Veteran Mentality

Help Support the Hill Country at Riverhill Country Club

By Southern Texas PGA • July 30, 2025
Sunday, August 17, 2025 Come join us for a Great Event. An exciting Day of Golf, Live Music, Auctions, and Special Appearances. 100% of all funds received will go directly to benefit the Hill Country Arts Foundation in Ingram, Texas, to help them rebuild from devastating flood damage. Golf Tournament at Riverhill Country Club - the home of legendary Byron Nelson 8:00 am Registration 10:00 am Shotgun Start $500 per player (limited to 120 players) Golf at the Historic Riverhill Country Club Two Concert Tickets at Arcadia Live All-inclusive Food and Drink on the Course Player Gift Bags Live Concert at the Beautiful Arcadia Live Theater Featuring; 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm $100 per ticket (only 600 tickets available) Acts to be Announced coming soon due to security concerns and limited seating To Enter and for More Information , go to the website (working on) or Contact Jeff Hunter, PGA at (830)-896-1400 ext. 2260 or jhunter@riverhillcc.com John Junker at (830-896-1400) ext. 2260 or jjunker@riverhillcc.com Checks and donations can also be sent to Riverhill Country Club, made out to: Guitars and Greens for the Guadalupe

Meet the Member: John Gibson, PGA

By Southern Texas PGA • July 29, 2025
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