Introducing the 2023 Spring Interns

Jan 17, 2023Southern Texas PGA

Operations Interns

Austin Thayer


Hello, my name is Austin Thayer and I’m from Lafayette, Indiana. I graduated from Purdue University last May with a degree in Organizational Leadership. In my time at Purdue I was an intern for Purdue Athletics working with the Ticket Office and with Event Operations. I was also a practice player for the Purdue Women’s Basketball Team. It’s always been my dream to work in sports, specifically golf. I’m blessed to be given this opportunity by the STPGA to make that dream a reality. I look forward to learning all I can this Spring and can’t wait to play a part in growing the game of golf! In my free time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, going to the gym, playing golf and basketball, and watching Purdue Athletics. Boiler up! 

Gavin Hogan


I'm from Fort Worth, Texas and recently graduated this past fall from New Mexico State University majoring in Marketing with a specialization in PGA Golf Management. In my spare time outside of work and golf, I enjoy exercising and playing the guitar. I am most looking forward to contributing to the wide variety of events that are provided throughout the section. It is with great pleasure to join the Southern Texas PGA and to be able to work in tournament administration.

Josh Rassner


Howdy! My name is Josh Rassner, and I am from Houston, Texas. I am a current student at Texas A&M University, majoring in Sports Management and minoring in business. I have always been extremely passionate about sports, and I knew early on that I wanted to work in the sports industry. If I am not playing golf in my spare time, you can find me watching the best team in baseball, which just so happens to be my hometown Houston Astros. I am also very engaged in fantasy sports, which has made my interest in football grow immensely. I played baseball year round throughout the majority of my childhood, which never allowed me to play golf competitively. As I have since hung up the cleats, golf has become my primary focus, and I am desperately trying to make up for lost time. I am very excited to begin this next chapter in my life, and I can't wait to help contribute to the STPGA and learn about the golf industry. I am looking forward to a great Spring season. Thanks and Gig 'em!

Connor Murphy


Connor is returning to the STPGA this Spring from our Fall internship.

What's up, I'm Connor! I am from Lake Charles, Louisiana which is also where I went to school for my undergraduate degree at McNeese State University. Recently, I have obtained my masters degree in Sport Management. One fact about me, I am a huge New Orleans Saints fan. WHO DAT! I am excited to learn the administration and operations side of golf and am eager to work alongside others with similar passions!

By Southern Texas PGA 06 May, 2024
McAllen, TX (May 4-5, 2024) - This past weekend the Srixon Billiard Factory Prestige Tour hosted The Rio Grande Showcase at McAllen Country Club! This weekend both of our champions earned their first win in the 2024 season!
By Southern Texas PGA 03 May, 2024
Spring, TX (MAY 3, 2024) – We had another great month on the Srixon Billiard Factory Prestige Tour with 3 more amazing tournaments! Thank you to all our awesome players and parents for continuing to help make the Prestige Tour the best in Texas! Good luck to all our players as they compete in their State Championship tournaments in the coming weeks, we love when our players have success at all levels! Prestige Tour Schedule Updates! In case you missed it our 2024 Summer Prestige Tour schedule is open! We had a couple of edits to the schedule, the Fore! Challenge will now be taking place at Delaware Springs Golf Course in Burnet, TX and will still be on May 29-30. The PGA Tour Superstore Summer Showdown will now take place on June 3-4 at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort in Boerne, TX. Click Here to view the 2024 Prestige Tour schedule and be ready to spend your Summer with the STPGA! Insperity Invitational Tour Championship We are less than 75 days out from the premier event of the year, the first annual Insperity Invitational Tour Championship for the Srixon Billiard Factory Prestige Tour! This once in a lifetime opportunity will take place at the Clubs of Houston Oaks on July 7-9. This long-awaited championship will showcase the best junior golfers the Southern Texas PGA has to offer, and the largest champion prize we have offered, a Battlefield Promotion onto the Legends Junior Tour! You can view the Invitation Breakdown to see how you can earn your spot! Ben Hogan Junior Cup Matches Do not miss out on your opportunity to represent Team STPGA at the 9 th Annual Ben Hogan Junior Cup Matches as we battle it out with the Northern Texas PGA in these Ryder Cup style matches. These esteemed Matches will once again take place at the prestigious Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth, TX on August 5-6. Shady Oaks was once home to world renowned golfer Ben Hogan, the name sake of the matches, where he co-founded this pristine course with Texas Golf Hall of Famer, Marvin Leonard. There are still ample opportunity to claim your spot on the team and co can find out by viewing our exemption breakdown . Prestige Tour Player Tournament Status Update In an effort to continue to uphold the integrity of the game and to ensure players do not quit mid-round due to elective, non-emergency reasons, the Southern Texas PGA is updating the policy on player designations when a player is no longer an active participant in a tournament. If a player tees off to begin a tournament, they will now be classified under one of the following 4 designations should they no longer become an active participant in the tournament, Disqualified (DQ), Withdrawal (WD), No Show (NS) and No Card (NC). To view the full definition of these classifications, Click Here to view the full policy. Legends Junior Tour Performances We are excited for a great year on the Prestige Tour, but to also what all our junior golfers will accomplish at the next level. With a short break in April, we are looking forward to our players showing out at the Bluebonnet Championship, the next Legends Junior Tour event and an Invitational, on May 4-5 at Brownwood Country Club! Good luck to all our players competing! Thank You to Our Title Partners! With all the awesome achievements of our Srixon Billiard Factory Prestige Tour golfers we want to thank our many Partners without whom our incredible Tour would not be possible! Firstly, we want to thank Billiard Factory , who is a fantastic supporter of the Southern Texas PGA Junior Golf Program. Billiard Factory has amazing products and services for all your home entertainment furniture needs! Another big thank you to Srixon for providing our players with golf balls and other equipment to keep them at the top of their game! Always keep them in mind when looking to level up your game or when deciding which golf ball to play. Another big thank you to Veritex Bank , our title sponsor of the Lone Star Shootout. Veritex Bank is a community bank serving its customers with a full suite of banking products and services. Keep them in mind for all your banking and financial needs! Rules Corner On the May edition of Rules Corner, we will be talking about Provisional Balls. This is covered in Rule 18.3 in the Rules of Golf. A Provisional Ball is there to prevent a player from having to go all the way back to where their previous stroke was made when stroke and distance is their only option. You can play a Provisional Ball anytime you think your original ball may be lost outside a penalty area or Out of Bounds. If a ball is known or virtually certain to be in a Penalty Area, you would NOT be playing provisional, but instead taking your relief of stroke and distance. Remember, you MUST ALWAYS announce a provisional to one of the players in your group or to a Rules Official, if you do not you would be taking stroke and distance. You can continue to play your provisional as long it is not nearer the hole than where your original ball is believed to be. Once you play from closer to the hole, or your 3-minute search time is up for your original ball, your provisional is now your ball in play and you can no longer make a stroke at your original. Your Provisional MUST be abandoned once your original ball is found. Provisionals are there to help you save time and a walk back, so don’t forget to use them! You can find more information about the Rules for the Prestige Tour by reading the Hard Card , the STPGA Rules and Regulations , and the USGA Rules of Golf! Thank you again to all our players, parents, host facilities, and Sponsors! We are looking forward to a great rest of the year with fierce competition and low scores! Don’t forget to check the Prestige Tour Schedule for the rest of the year! As always, if we can ever be of assistance to you, please feel free to contact me via email ( mcoughlin@pgahq.com ) or phone (832-442-2300) or Connor Murphy via email ( cmurphy@pgahq.com ) or phone (832-442-2410)!
By Southern Texas PGA 29 Apr, 2024
KINGWOOD, TX (APRIL 27-28, 2024) - Eleven Champions were named at the 2024 Spring Championship at The Clubs of Kingwood (Forest Course). Champions were crowned from Junior Tour and Little Linksters. In addition to crowning our spring season champions, an incredible opportunity to qualify for the 13th Annual Texas Junior Cup team was also on the line this weekend for the Little Linksters.
By Southern Texas PGA 22 Apr, 2024
Kerrville, TX (April 20-21, 2024) - This past weekend the Srixon Billiard Factory Prestige Tour hosted the Heart of Texas Classic at Riverhill Country Club! The competition was close as they battled through the tough weather conditions, both champions rose above the rest to clinch their first-time Prestige Tour wins.
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