Q&A With STPGA Junior Golf Member William Moll
October 23, 2018 •Blake Davis
How did the nerves of your first tee shot on Monday morning rank amongst most nervous golf shots you’ve ever hit?
It was definitely the most nervous I have ever felt standing over a golf ball. There were a lot of people watching, and as I thought about what was at stake, it made the anxiety about the first shot even greater. Playing for something larger than myself brought a lot of extra weight to the shot.
What was the best advice you heard in Paris about how to stay calm under pressure?
Our captain, Mr. Allen Wronowski, PGA, told us to have a great time and enjoy every second while on the course because it was going to be such an awesome experience. Once I got past the first tee shot, by focusing on the present and enjoying the moment I was able to stay calm most of the time.
Talk about the difference in mindset you had when playing alternate shot and best ball. Which one did you prefer playing in?
When playing alternate shot, you need to consider your playing partner, and what he/she would like to hit on the next shot. Best ball is just about making the best score possible with your own ball and you can usually play more aggressively. I prefer best ball because I sometimes find it hard to get into a groove when playing alternate shot.
How badly do you want to play in the Ryder Cup one day, having now gotten a taste of the Junior Ryder Cup?
I would absolutely love to be able to play in the Ryder Cup someday. It is probably one of the biggest goals I could set for myself. The feeling I had walking down to the first tee in front of the crowd was overwhelming. It was so cool and exciting being there. The atmosphere is completely different from a regular tournament. There is so much pride for your country and the competition is intense. I love both of those things.
What was it like playing as the away team in Europe? How much different would the experience have been had you played in the States?
It was definitely tough playing as the away team. Most of the fans were rooting for the European team and adjusting to the time change was a challenge as well. I know that our team was really tired because of the time difference. I think playing in the States would have been better for our team golf wise, but I am glad we played where we did because we were able to see and experience a new country and to some degree, a different style of golf.
You had a very back and forth singles match against Rasmus Hojgaard. Even though he got the edge on you, how much fun was that environment?
The match was awesome even though I lost. I played one of my best rounds, shooting six under. I felt like I put up a good fight, especially down the stretch when we halved a couple of holes with birdies. It was just super fun being able to compete well against one of the top-30 amateurs in the world. It meant a lot to me and gives me confidence knowing that I was able to perform fairly well under the circumstances.
How much more did the nerves kick in after that match, having to watch your teammates and hope that your match wouldn’t be the difference-maker in the final outcome?
Nerves were really high watching the last few matches finish. You definitely think about the “what ifs” in your own match, but while the other matches were still being played, I wanted to concentrate on supporting my teammates. We already had 12 points to secure the tie and we wanted to get another half point to secure the outright win. Watching Rachel Heck’s 12-foot birdie putt to halve her match to win it for the team was very intense and the feeling of euphoria was awesome when she made it.
What was it like getting to meet and hang out with other top junior golfers across the country?
It was so much fun playing with the other junior golfers on the team. While I already knew some of the US players pretty well from other tournaments, over the course of the week in Paris I feel like the entire team really bonded and we all became great friends. We spent so much time together competing as teammates, practicing together, cheering for each other, eating together, going to Disneyland, and just hanging out. Also, getting to meet and know the players from the European team was very special too.
Was there any particular reason you were teamed up with Cole Ponick and Rachel Heck on Monday? Similar golf games, similar personalities, both, or something else?
Well, for both of those pairings, we were paired together because Cole, Rachel, and I are good friends. Chemistry is essential in team match play, so it is important to be paired with someone you get along with well. Also, Cole and I have very similar golf games, so for alternate shot that may have been a factor in our pairing.
Where do you go from here after this experience and what will be the lasting takeaway from your time at this event?
Now that I am back home, I will go back to preparing for college and the rest of my junior career. I can practice now with a new goal in mind of hopefully being able to play in a Ryder Cup someday. The feeling of pride for my country as I walked to the first tee is something I will never forget. Playing in the Junior Ryder Cup is definitely an experience that will motivate me to achieve my goals in the future.
What advice would you give younger golfers?
One thing I would say to junior golfers is just to keep playing the game you love. Getting experience on the course is awesome and very beneficial to your golf game, so practice, but make sure to play a lot too. Just have fun in your junior golf experience and make life-long friends at tournaments.
Over the years, what has the Southern Texas PGA meant to you?
The STPGA has meant so much to me. When I was younger, the STPGA provided so many great opportunities to play and compete in golf tournaments, and there was always a goal to try to make it to the championship tournament and play well. Playing in those tournaments really helped me get to where I am today, with respect to my golf game and life in general. The STPGA has taught me many lessons about the game and has helped me love to play golf. The atmosphere the STPGA creates at tournaments is so fun that it’s impossible to not enjoy it no matter how you play.
La Porte, TX (October 3-4, 2026) – The Bay Forest Junior Championship continued its 37-year tradition of junior golf at Bay Forest Golf Course this past weekend! Players battled through two rounds, and even with a little rain on Day 2, the players persevered through the conditions. Congratulations to all of our division champions! Adding to the history of this event, the Boys 15–18 and Girls 11–18 overall champions will have their names etched onto the Kiibler Cup forever, becoming part of the tournament’s legacy for years to come. A big thank you to Bay Forest Golf Course, our players, parents, and everyone who helped make this longtime tradition such a great weekend!
Good Evening Players, Parents, & Family Friends, September kicked off an exciting start to Fall on the Srixon Prestige Tour. Srixon Prestige Tour Champions - September September kicked off the Fall with exciting weekend events, starting in San Antonio as the Srixon Prestige Tour visited the historic Brackenridge Park Golf Course for the Cavender Buick GMC North Brackenridge Park Classic , and scores did not disappoint. Gavin Swearengin of San Antonio, TX, started off strong and did not look back. Swearengin topped it off with a 7-under 28 on the back nine in Round 2 to finish 15-under par and claim his first Boys 15-18 win of the year. In the Overall Girls Division, Jessie Lee of San Antonio, TX, claimed her third win of the year after impressive rounds of 5-under and 3-under to secure a 5-shot victory, adding another impressive finish to an outstanding year. Cort Cage of Montgomery, TX, battled his way to his first career win in the Boys 11-14. Cage fired a 4-under 31 on the back nine in Round 2, but no birdie was more important than his birdie putt on the 18th hole, which gave him a 1-shot edge and crowned him a champion. The following week, the Srixon Prestige Tour headed west of San Antonio for The Cowboy Cup at Flying L Ranch Golf Course, where players continued to go low. Braxton Simpson of Kerrville, TX, captured his first career Boys 15-18 title. Simpson had consistent rounds, firing a 4-under 68 in Round 1, and kept that momentum going, leading him to a comfortable three-shot victory. For our Overall Girls Division, Pippa Fikes of Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, led the way with two impressive under-par rounds and 4 birdies on the last 6 holes in Round 2. This marked Fikes’ 4th overall win of her impressive season. Luke Willis of Horseshoe Bay, TX, outlasted the rest of the field in a close battle to secure his first career Boys 11-14 title. Willis’ round of 78 in Round 2 led him to a 1-shot victory. The last event of September, the Srixon Prestige Tour headed over to Georgetown, TX, for the Antigua Sun City Showdown at White Wing Golf Club. Knox Frazier of Austin, TX, claimed his first career Boys 15-18 win after firing a 2-under 70 in Round 2 and battling it out with 4 other juniors who fell just 1 shot short of Frazier. We had a close battle in the Overall Girls Division as Natalie Vuu of Houston, TX, claimed her second win of the season. Vuu’s birdie on Hole 17 in Round 2 gave her a 1-shot lead after she put together two consistent rounds. Dawson Dial of Cedar Park, TX, claimed his second Boys 11-14 win of the year. Dial had the low round of the day, firing a 3-under 69 in Round 2. Events with Open Spots Available The following events are open for registration. Please take a look at the events below to see which divisions have spots available or are accepting waitlist registrations: Discover Victoria South Texas Showcase (October 17-18) - Victoria Country Club Spots available for all divisions Fall Showdown (October 24-25) - Panorama Golf Club Spots available for Boys 11-14; waitlist spots available for Boys 15-18 and Girls 11-18 Fredericksburg Open (October 24-25) - Lady Bird Johnson Golf Club Spots available for Boys 11-14; waitlist spots available for Boys 15-18 and Girls 11-18 Round Rock Cup (October 31 - November 1) - Forest Creek Golf Club Spots available for Boys 11-14 and Girls 11-18; waitlist spots available for Boys 15-18 Visit Lake Charles Fall Classic (November 7-8) - Mallard Golf Club Spots available for all divisions The Gobbler Cup (November 14-15) - Stonebridge at Newport Spots available for Boys 11-14 and Girls 15-18; waitlist spots available for Boys 15-18 Omega Transactions Turkey Shootout (November 23-24) - Walden on Lake Conroe Spots available for Boys 11-14; waitlist spots available for Boys 15-18 and Girls 11-18 December Registration Approaching Winter is on the horizon, but the action on the Srixon Prestige Tour is showing no signs of slowing down! As the season enters its final stretch, there are still plenty of opportunities to compete, make memories, and finish the year strong. Registration for December events opens October 6th at 9:00 AM! Don’t wait to secure your spot! Before the conclusion of the season, there are still opportunities to compete on great courses, test your game against strong fields, and make more memorable moments along the way. The following events will open for registration: Jingle Bell Rock (December 12-13) - Texas A&M Golf Club Prestige Tour 4 Bal l (December 12-13) - South Shore Harbor Golf Club The countdown to the end of the season is on, and there’s still plenty of golf left to play! Don’t miss your chance to be part of another unforgettable month on the Srixon Prestige Tour. Thank You to our Sponsors! For the eighth consecutive year, Srixon returned as the sole Prestige Tour Title Partner for the 2026 year. Keep in mind, if you are looking for golf balls to golf clubs, Srixon is one of the premiere brands in the industry and will always keep you at the top of your game! A huge thank you to Cavender Buick GMC North for sponsoring the Cavender Buick GMC North Brackenridge Park Classic, and to Antigua for sponsoring the Antigua Sun City Showdown.
Georgetown, TX (September 26-27, 2026) – Fall competition continued in Georgetown, Texas, as the Srixon Prestige Tour took over White Wing Golf Club for the Antigua Sun City Showdown. Across two rounds of play, juniors navigated the course and battled for the top spots on the leaderboard. By the end of the weekend, four division champions emerged, adding their names to the list of Srixon Prestige Tour winners this season. Congratulations to Tiffany Wong on a strong showing at the Antigua Sun City Showdown! With her performance, Wong earned exemptions into both the 2026 Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational and the 2027 Texas Junior Girls’ Invitational on the Legends Junior Tour. A big thank you to White Wing Golf Club, all of our players and parents, our Title Partner Srixon, and Antigua, the Title Sponsor of the event for helping make the weekend a memorable one. Congratulations to all of our winners!
WALLER, TEXAS (SEPTEMBER 21, 2026) - One of the most highly anticipated junior golf events of the year wrapped up on Sunday as Team Northern Texas PGA defeated Team Southern Texas PGA by a score of 14 to 10 at the 15th Annual Texas Junior Cup Matches. The opening round of Mixed Four-Ball was an evenly-matched thriller, with Team NTPGA holding a narrow lead at 3.5 to 2.5 going into the afternoon Scramble Matches. There, the scoring gap opened up, giving Team NTPGA a more comfortable margin of 9-3 going into Sunday’s matches. Team STPGA did not go down without a fight, winning seven of the Singles Matches in the final round of competition. However, Northern Texas secured their third consecutive title with five victories on the day, bringing the tournament to the 14-10 final score. “Over the years, the Texas Junior Cup Matches have found a special place in the hearts of so many people,” Director of Junior Golf J.T. Milner said. “For the junior golfers and their families, the Matches have become a special part of their junior golf journey.” The event, held at Sand Hill Farm in Waller, TX, features 24 of the top junior golfers across the state aged 12 and under in a Ryder Cup-style format. On Friday, players and families participated in practice rounds and opening ceremonies before heading into two full days of competitive golf. Saturday featured 9-hole Mixed Four-Ball and Scramble Matches, while Sunday concluded the event with 9-hole Singles Matches. Sand Hill Farm once again was a spectacular host for the Matches. The unique 9-hole private course was created by the Tucker family, founders of Mustang Cat, and designed by former professional golfer Peter Jacobsen. We are grateful to the Tucker family for their continued support of this event, allowing us to give our junior golfers top-tier experiences. The Matches wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and dedication of our Captains and Vice Captains on both sides. Chad Moscovic, PGA led the victorious NTPGA team after filling the role of Vice Captain in the 2025 Matches, backed by Kim Paez, PGA. On the STPGA side, Jennifer MacCurrach, PGA provided guidance for the team, backed by David Pilsner, PGA. Both sides were instrumental in building an atmosphere of teamwork, camaraderie, and sportsmanship. “While the competition brings together some of the best junior golfers in Texas for inspired play on the course, the Matches are about so much more than just golf,” Milner said. “They give players the opportunity to meet new people, build lifelong friendships, and create memories with their families that go far beyond the competition itself.” With the victory, Team NTPGA holds the all-time series record at 7-5-1 and celebrates its third straight championship in the Matches’ history.
