Volunteers of America Classic Continues Partnership with Southern Texas PGA Junior Golf Offering LPGA Tour Exemption for Youth Females in Texas

January 20, 2022Southern Texas PGA

Spring, TX – The Volunteers of America Classic - the only LPGA Tour event in the state of Texas - will continue its partnership with Southern Texas PGA Junior Golf for the third year in a row. Youth female golfers can compete for the opportunity to play with the pros next September by participating in the Volunteers of America Classic Girls Championship.

The Northern Texas PGA Foundation will conduct the Volunteers of America Classic Girls Championship Monday, July 11 through Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Tribute Golf Links will play host for rounds one and two, and Wednesday’s final round will take place on Old American Golf Club. The winner of this Championship will earn an exemption into the 2022 Volunteers of America Classic.

Exemption opportunities into the Volunteers of America Classic Girls Championship will begin in January 2022. Youth female golfers can compete in select Prestige Tour events hosted by the Southern Texas PGA, select All American Tour events hosted by the Northern Texas PGA, and select tournaments hosted by the Legends Junior Tour. Last year’s Volunteers of America Classic Girls Championship resulted in STPGA Junior Golf member Farah O’Keefe, class of 2023 earning an exemption into the 2021 LPGA Tour Volunteers of America Classic, and subsequently making the cut and finishing at T56.

For the team at the Volunteers of America Classic, the opportunity to help inspire the next generation of LPGA Tour players and expand its community outreach is something that fit right into the tournament’s mission.

For more information, visit
stpgajuniorgolf.com and VOAClassic.com.

To see how you can earn a spot to play for a LPGA exemption,
Click Here.

About the Volunteers of America Classic
The 2022 Volunteers of America Classic will return to Golf Club at The Tribute’s Old American Golf Club in The Colony, TX, for the fifth consecutive year. The official LPGA Tournament will feature the world’s best female golfers in a four-day stroke-play event vying for a $1.5 million purse from September 26 – October 2. Be sure to follow along online, on Instagram, Facebook, and on Twitter for the latest tournament news.

About the LPGA
The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950 and headquartered in Daytona Beach, FL, the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 2,300 members representing more than 30 countries. With a vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women’s golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while the Symetra Tour, the official development and qualifying tour of the LPGA, consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world

stage. Additionally, LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management.

The LPGA demonstrates its dedication to the development of the game through The LPGA Foundation. Since 1991, this charitable organization has been committed to empowering and supporting girls and women through developmental and humanitarian golf initiatives, such as LPGA*USGA Girls Golf. Follow the LPGA on its television home, Golf Channel, and on the web. Join the social conversation on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and on Instagram and Snapchat at @lpga_tour.

About Golf Clubs at The Tribute
Each course set on this remote peninsula inside The Tribute community was specifically designed to take you back in time to experience the game of golf in its purest form. Old American Golf Club, designed by PGA Tour Winner Justin Leonard and Golf Course Architect Tripp Davis, pays homage to the "Golden Age" of golf course architecture in America, while Tribute Golf Links
also designed by Tripp Davis, allows you to immerse yourself in a true links- style course paying homage to the most famous holes in Scotland. To learn more about the Golf Clubs at The Tribute or its courses, visit www.golfclubsatthetribute.com.

About PGA REACH Southern Texas
In 1994 the Southern Texas PGA Foundation was created with the focus on getting more juniors playing golf. After a rebrand in 2019 to PGA REACH Southern Texas, the foundation’s mission has grown. We strive to positively impact the lives of youth, military, and diverse populations. This is accomplished by enabling access to PGA Professionals and the multitude of programs offered by PGA REACH Southern Texas.
PGA REACH Southern Texas has 4 distinct pillars with multiple programs to demonstrate the impact of golf on individuals. Junior Golf – College Scholarships – Military Involvement – Employment Opportunities.

By Southern Texas PGA January 28, 2026
Organization continues its support for both junior golfers and PGA Professionals SPRING, TX (January 28, 2026) - The Southern Texas PGA is thrilled to welcome back First Community Credit Union (First Community) as a returning Patron Partner of the STPGA and its initiatives. This will mark the third year that the organizations are tied together with a shared mission to give back to the Houston community, create unique storytelling opportunities, and invest in the next generation of golfers. The partnership spans across all three competitive seasons of the STPGA Junior Golf Program and covers support of Little Linksters, Junior Links, and Junior Tour events. Another major facet of the partnership includes the First Community Scholarship that is awarded annually through the PGA REACH Southern Texas Scholarship Program. “As we enter our third year of partnership, we are grateful for First Community’s unwavering support of junior golf in Southern Texas,” said Thomas Hutton, PGA, Executive Director of the STPGA. “Their involvement allows us to expand opportunities across all levels of our junior golf programs, support our section professionals, and continue to make an impact in our community.” In 2025, First Community and the STPGA expanded their involvement through the creation of the First Community STPGA Team and after a major success, the 2026 First Community STPGA Team is ready to go. The team is made up of PGA Professionals that qualify for the PGA Professional Championship, which will be held this year at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon from April 26-29. “Supporting the STPGA Junior Golf program and the First Community STPGA Team aligns perfectly with our mission of investing in the people and communities we serve,” said T.J. Tijerina, President/CEO of First Community. “We’ve seen immense benefits through our partnership with the STPGA and are excited to continue to make an impact.” The 2026 First Community Team will feature the following PGA Members. Full player biographies and team details will be released later this spring: Jesse Droemer, PGA Teaching Professional at Riverbend Country Club Jamie Fraser, PGA Head Professional at Darmor Club Bobby Gates, PGA Director of Instruction at Summit Golf School Greg Hiller, PGA Director of Instruction at TPC San Antonio Alan Hodde, PGA Director of Instruction at Axis Golf Academy Steve Jurgensen, PGA Teaching Professional at Westwood Golf Club Gilbert Mendez, PGA General Manager at Performance Golf Klub Casey Russell, PGA Director of Golf at Big Easy Ranch Robert Scott, PGA Teaching Professional at Royal Oaks Country Club J.T. Taylor, PGA Assistant Professional at Woodforest Golf Club The Southern Texas PGA is extremely grateful for the support of partners like First Community in how they support our members, and we look forward to another great year as partners! About PGA REACH Southern Texas In 1994, the Southern Texas PGA Foundation was created with the focus on getting more juniors to play golf. After a rebrand in 2019 to PGA REACH Southern Texas, the foundation’s mission has grown. We strive to positively impact the lives of youth, military, and diverse populations. This is accomplished by enabling access to PGA Professionals and the multitude of programs offered by PGA REACH Southern Texas. PGA REACH Southern Texas has 4 distinct pillars with multiple programs to demonstrate the impact of golf on individuals: Junior Golf – College Scholarships – Military Involvement – Employment Opportunities. About First Community: Founded in 1954 by Spring Branch ISD, First Community serves the diverse needs of over 179,000 members with a full array of financial services, 14 full services branches and on the strength of $2.9 billion in assets. First Community is federally insured by the NCUA and an equal housing opportunity lender. Their mission is to empower members so they can achieve their financial goals. First Community is open to anyone that lives, works, attends school or worships or is a part of a Select Employee Group (SEG) in the 41 Texas counties they serve ranging from Houston, DFW, Austin, and San Antonio, or is a relative or family member of an FCCU member or employee. To learn more about First Community, visit FCCU.org. Contact Information Thomas Hutton, PGA Executive Director Southern Texas PGA thutton@pgahq.com Amber Magee Senior Vice President/Marketing Director First Community Credit Union amber.magee@fccu.org
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