16124 Championship Drive, Frisco, Texas 75033
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Chance Mulligan, PGA assistant professional at Odessa Country Club, secured his first-ever Section win at the Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship, after rounds of 73-72–145, 1-over-par at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco.
Following the first day of play, which was filled with consistent 25-mile-per-hour winds, Mulligan was tied for first at 1-over-par to begin the final round. A birdie on his third hole quickly built a two-shot lead over the field. Consistent play throughout the rest of his round led to a birdie putt on hole 18 that lipped out, leaving him a testy five-footer. Needing to save par to clinch the victory, Mulligan buried the putt perfectly in the center of the cup.
After two full days of whipping winds, Mulligan acknowledged the difficulty the 2027 PGA Championship course was playing, saying, “Nobody was going to avoid mistakes. I told myself that every time one popped up, it’s not about what previously happened. It was about how you respond and move forward. Anytime I had a small or large setback, I just got back on the bull, grabbed it by the horns and put my best foot forward.”
Mulligan is also a former Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour Member and NTPGA intern. “The support I’ve had from the time I started my journey in golf to right now has always been through the Northern Texas PGA. I was supported today in so many different ways. It’s just very gratifying, and I’m so thankful to represent so many different people, like my friends, family, and Odessa Country Club.”
This Championship event served as the section’s qualifier for the PGA Professional Championship, set for April 25-28, 2027, at Streamsong Golf Resort in Bowling Green, Florida. Seven other professionals earned an exemption into the PGA Professional Championship, including the reigning NTPGA Player of the Year, Matt Lohmeyer, PGA director of instruction at SLICGOLF, who earned the Section’s pick. Joining Lohmeyer and Mulligan at Streamsong are the following scoring qualifiers.
Qualifiers:
1. Corey Roberson, PGA director of golf at Lakewood Country Club (+2)
2. Gabe Reynolds, PGA director of instruction at Topgolf - Dallas (+2)
3. Greg Gregory, PGA head professional at Southern Oaks Golf Club (+3)
4. Tristan Cottrell, PGA director of instruction at Bent Tree Country Club (+3)
5. Jeff Barton, PGA director of instruction at Preston Trail Golf Club (+4)
6. Jarred Jeter, PGA assistant professional at Freestone Lake and Golf Club (+5)*
Alternates:
1. Chase Walts, PGA assistant professional at Trinity Forest Golf Club (+5)
2. JJ Killeen, PGA general manager at Sugar Tree Golf Club (+8)
3. Robert Bruns, PGA director of golf at Trinity Forest Golf Club (+9)
4. Spencer Dillard, PGA head professional at Preston Trail Golf Club (+9)
5. Clayton Friend, PGA head professional at Pinecrest Country Club (+9)
*Jeter defeated Walts in a one-hole playoff.
These eight professionals will be representing the NTPGA against a field of 312 PGA of America Golf Professionals in April of 2027. Their goal will be to earn one of 20 available slots on the Corebridge Financial Team and compete in the 2027 PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco.
The Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship was presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial and Rolex. Supporting partners included Gallagher, Golf Channel, PGA TOUR and Ship Sticks. The Championship was supported by Titleist/FootJoy, Callaway, Nike and TaylorMade. The presenting sponsors included Elijah Craig Bourbon, PGA Buying Summit and THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson.
This 36-hole Northern Texas PGA major championship was the second of four individual stroke play events that comprise the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf Player of the Year Points Challenge presented by Adventures In Golf and Good Good Golf. The field competed for a Championship purse of $52,000.
Colton Hilburn, associate at San Angelo Country Club, charged up the leaderboard to win the Golf Pro Payments Western Championship at Midland Country Club, after a playoff. Rounds of 70-65–135, 9-under-par, got Hilburn into a two-man playoff with Spencer Dillard, PGA head professional at Preston Trail Golf Club. A 35-footer buried right in the center of the cup on the first playoff hole led to his victory.
Hilburn started his day four strokes back of the leader, but got off to a hot start with a bogey-free 31, 5-under-par front nine.
“I knew it was out there, and got off to a pretty good start. I had to keep the gas pedal down and knew I had to go low,” said Hilburn.
Hilburn ended his second round as the leader in the clubhouse and had to wait a little over an hour as the remaining groups finished up.
“I was definitely nervous watching everybody around me coming in. I was pleased with how I played. I was on a heater, so I just wanted to keep it going.”
Hilburn did, in fact, keep it going and dropped a long birdie putt for the win. “It was flat on top and then straight downhill all the way to the hole. I knew I had to give it a chance, but thank goodness it hit the center because it had some pace on it.”
The Western Championship was Hilburn’s second NTPGA Major Championship victory and earned him $5,000.
Todd McCorkle, PGA Life Member, won the Senior Division for the third year in a row. He recorded rounds of 70-68–138, a 6-under-par stretch over two days, finishing with a three-stroke lead over the field. Following a steady first round, McCorkle started his second day in a four-way tie for first and stayed on the hunt for most of the round. Birdies on holes 14, 15, and 17 proved to be the difference.
“I hit the ball to 15 feet all day, and I couldn’t shake one in. Finally, I got a few in that five-foot range that I could make, and that kind of got me over the top,” McCorkle said. “I haven’t been playing well at all, and my confidence was probably at an all-time low. I think being on familiar ground was just what the doctor ordered because I felt comfortable and hit the ball really well this week.”
When asked about his three-peat, McCorkle said, “This course suits my game, definitely my favorite place to be, but every win feels like it’s your first. It’s always difficult.”
McCorkle earned $1,700 for his victory in the Senior Division.
The Western Championship trophy was once again presented as the Fore Brown Trophy, honoring the Midland Country Club golf course superintendent and 2021 NTPGA Superintendent of the Year who passed away in early 2025.
Brown dedicated more than 20 years to Midland Country Club and was a valued mentor, friend, and supporter of the game of golf. The trophy will carry his name for as long as the Western Championship is held at Midland Country Club, remembering his legacy and lasting impact on the Northern Texas PGA.
This 36-hole Northern Texas PGA major championship was the third of four individual stroke play events that comprise the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf Player of the Year Points Challenge presented by Adventures In Golf and Good Good Golf. The field competed for a Championship purse of $56,500.
The Golf Pro Payments Western Championship was presented by Midland Country Club, PGA TOUR, Swing Catalyst, THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, TITE Eyewear and Vivid Golf.
