Willman wins the 2023 STPGA Section Championship!
HOUSTON, TEXAS (September 12, 2023) - Ben Willman, PGA Teaching Professional at Axis Golf Academy claimed the title at the 55th Southern Texas PGA Section Championship with a total score of 6-under par. With his victory, Ben will take home a check for $14,000 out of the total purse of $71,200.
Willman posted a quality first round consisting six birdies and going bogey free. He was leading the entire day until Clayton Meyers, PGA Assistant Professional at Escondido Golf & Lake Club, took the solo lead with an eagle on 18. Ben had this to say about his mindset after Round One:
“When I saw that Clayton shot 8-under it was a bit of a change in mentality, so that was actually probably a good thing because it meant that I had to go out and really play. It changed my mindset and made me attack it.
This year’s Section Championship was hosted at BraeBurn Country Club in Houston, Texas. “I can’t speak highly enough about the course conditions,” said Willman. “It is a tough course, it was firm and fast. The greens were just amazing, they were as good as I have ever played.”
Along with Ben Willman, six other PGA Professionals earned exemptions into the 2024 PGA Professional Championship at today’s tournament. Ronald Thatcher, PGA Director of Golf at The Woodlands Country Club, Derrick Dixon, PGA General Manager at Briggs Ranch Golf Club, Ryan Polzin, PGA Head Professional at Oak Hills Country Club, Jared Jones, PGA Director of Instruction at River Oaks Country Club, Clayton Meyers, PGA Assistant Professional at Escondido Golf & Lake Club, and Corey Roberson, PGA Director of Golf at The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch will head to the PGA Professional Championship presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial, and Rolex at Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco in Frisco, Texas on April 28 - May 2, 2024 . Also joining these Professionals will be Jesse Droemer, PGA Assistant Professional at Lakeside Country Club, who is already exempt into the event by finishing in the top-20 of the 2023 playing of the PGA Professional Championship.
The Southern Texas PGA Section Championship is a special event for our players each year, honoring the memory of 6-time champion Tommy Aycock, who won the Section Championship title in four different decades.
Presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial, and Rolex, supported by Titleist Footjoy, Callaway, Taylormade, Nike, Gallagher, Golf Channel and the PGA TOUR, and supported locally by Omega Transactions, the 55th STPGA Professional Championship was contested over 36-holes at BraeBurn Country Club in Houston, Texas.
This event is the final tournament of the year where players earn points toward the Rolex Player of the Year points lists as well as the 2023 Texas Joe Black Cup Matches and Levy Cup Matches teams.
To view the full results from today’s tournament, please click here.
To view photos from the event, please click here.
