16124 Championship Drive, Frisco, Texas 75033
Email: lwhitfield@ntpga.com Website: Northern Texas Office: (214) 420-7421
Click here to view Northern Texas PGA Section's Staff Listing
Click here to view Northern Texas PGA Section's Board of Directors
••••••
In early June, the Northern Texas PGA Foundation continued its charitable commitment to higher education by announcing our 2026 scholarship recipients. Ninety high school seniors who will be attending college this fall have earned scholarships totaling $947,500, breaking last year’s record by $184,500!
The Foundation’s scholarship program, which began in 1983, has now reached an incredible milestone. Over the last 43 years, 1,000 scholarships have been awarded for a lifetime total of nearly $7.5 million in student support.
“What amazing numbers these are!” said Northern Texas PGA Chief Executive Officer Mark Harrison. “The growth and support we have seen for our scholarship program over the last few years is remarkable, and truly unmatched. I want to thank all of our partners who make this year-over-year record possible, and I also want to congratulate and wish the best of luck to the young men and women who have worked diligently throughout high school to receive one of our scholarships this year. I know they will go on to do great things.”
The 2026 scholarship amounts vary from $2,500 to $20,000. In addition, two students were awarded a “last-dollar” full scholarship to two of the Foundation’s partner schools, the University of North Texas at Dallas and the University of Texas at Arlington. One student was awarded a full-ride scholarship to the University of North Texas, which is a new partner school for this year.
During the last week of May, the Northern Texas PGA hosted the Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open. This was the 46th year of the Championship, marking another chapter in the event’s rich history, continuing its tradition as one of the premier women’s tournaments in Texas.
Sera Hasegawa of Waco, TX, and who currently resides in Japan, is the 2026 Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open Champion. After carding an impressive final round low score of 8-under-par, 64, her great round put her into a sudden-death playoff with three others and came out victorious after making back-to-back birdies on the 18th hole. She bested defending champion Sadie Englemann, Abbey Daniel and Katie Lu. All four competitors finished the tournament at 14-under-par.
Her Championship rounds were 66-72-64–202, 14-under-par, giving Sera her first professional win and etching her name in Texas Women’s Open history.
“In Japan, we don't have this kind of tournament, so that's the reason I'm here. I really appreciate all of your support. I enjoy the play here,” Hasegawa said. “I didn't even set a goal today. I just felt like, okay, one shot, one moment, like that's it.”
With her victory, Hasegawa earned $13,250, a crystal trophy, a pair of custom-painted boots courtesy of RTown Art Gallery, and an exemption into the Epson Tour’s Island Resort Championship in late June.
Lauren Rios (a) of Coppell, TX, was awarded the Championship’s low amateur honor. She carded rounds of 73-68-67–208, 8-under-par, and finished in a tie for
12th place. This is the third year in a row that she has played in the Championship. She will be a fifth year at UTSA this coming semester.
When asked about her rounds and the low amateur honor, Lauren stated, “It feels amazing, honestly, my only goal here was to make the cut with all the pros in it, so this is just amazing. My putter was on fire, so that really helped. But I'm glad I just kept it together to finish strong.”
The Championship will return to Grapevine Golf Course June 2-4, 2027.
Corey Roberson, PGA director of golf at Lakewood Country Club, fired a bogey-free 33-33–66 in his Final Round to claim the Prize Possessions | E-Z-GO Eastern Championship. Rounds of 69-66–135, 9-under-par, gave Roberson a one-stroke victory.
Starting the day, Roberson was two shots back of the leaders. He knew low scores were out there if he took advantage of his opportunities. “I just tried to stay patient. I made a couple of birdies early to kind of get it going. It [his mindset] was just to play golf and have fun,” said Roberson.
Roberson had the same sentiment after his win back at the GT Golf Supply Pro-Pro Championship in March. Much of his attention since then has been focused on the renovations going on at Lakewood Country Club, and he added he has not been able to pick up a club as much as he may normally. “I just kind of came out with very low expectations, just play golf, enjoy it, and now I get to come home with a trophy,” added Roberson.
In the Senior Division, Pablo del Olmo, PGA instructor at the PGA Coaching Center, carded a 4-under-par 68 today to win by two strokes. His rounds of 68-68–136, saw him finish the Championship at 8-under-par total.
del Olmo started the final round one shot back of the lead, but four birdies in his first six holes helped him move to the top of the leaderboard. “What works for me is I got to keep going. I can’t pump the brakes,” said del Olmo. An aggressive mindset led to 12 birdies and an eagle across both days. “I think my driving and tee distance is the strength of my game; I have a little advantage there, especially in the par 5s.” del Olmo finished the eight par 5s he faced in 7-under-par.
The field competed for an overall purse of $52,500.
The Prize Possessions | E-Z-GO Eastern Championship was presented by Branded
Bills, Infraway, Levelwear, Nexbelt, PGA TOUR, Strackaline, THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson and Vortex® Golf.
This 36-hole Northern Texas PGA major championship was the first 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, Good Good Golf and XXIO.
