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 September 14, 2026
San Antonio, TX (September 12-13, 2026) – The Srixon Prestige Tour was in San Antonio this weekend for the Cavender Buick GMC North Brackenridge Park Classic at Brackenridge Park Golf Course. Junior golfers battled through two rounds of exciting competition, putting their skills to the test and fighting for the top of the leaderboard. A big thank you to Brackenridge Park Golf Course, all of our players and parents, our Title Sponsor Srixon, and our Title Partner Cavender Buick GMC North for helping make the weekend a memorable one. Congratulations to all of our winners!
By Southern Texas PGA September 8, 2026
Good Evening Players, Parents, & Family Friends, August marked the perfect end to the biggest Summer on the Srixon Prestige Tour. Srixon Prestige Tour Champions - August August came roaring onto the scene at Vaaler Creek Golf Club for the Creekside Clash , and the Srixon Prestige Tour wasted no time delivering some incredible golf! Layton Eckermann of Lampasas, TX took control early and never let up, cruising to a dominant 10-stroke victory for his first career Boys 11-14 win. Brady Shelton of Spicewood, TX fired a first-round 2-under 70 to seize the lead and held strong through the finish to capture his second Boys 15-18 title of the year. In the Overall Girls Division, Lucy Thompson of Austin, TX erased a four-shot Round 1 deficit with an impressive comeback to secure her first career victory! From there, the Tour headed east to Houston for the STPGA Challenge at BlackHorse Golf Club, where the competition heated up once again. Dakota Ybarra of Baytown, TX wasted no time making his move, opening with an even-par 72 to build a commanding six-shot lead and cruise to his second Boys 11-14 victory of the season. Boys 15-18 saw a thrilling comeback, as Sawyer Schellberg of Houston, TX battled back from six shots down to force a playoff—and then delivered when it mattered most to claim his first career win. Makenzie Minshew of The Woodlands, TX also rose to the occasion in a playoff, earning her first career Overall Girls victory in dramatic fashion! The Srixon Prestige Tour then headed west to New Braunfels for the Surf & Turf New Braunfels Showcase at Landa Park Golf Course, and the drama continued. Cooper Powasnik of Schertz, TX erased a three-shot Round 1 deficit to storm back and capture his first career Boys 11-14 title. In the Boys 15-18 Division, Tate Vanlandingham of San Antonio, TX came through in a thrilling three-way playoff, sinking a birdie on the third playoff hole to secure his first career victory. Natalie Vuu of Houston, TX set the tone early with an opening-round 72, jumping out to the lead and holding on for her first career Overall Girls win! August saved some of its biggest fireworks for last, wrapping up back in Houston at Quail Valley Golf Club for the Vortech Contracting H-Town Showdown . Dylan Hananto of Houston, TX went wire-to-wire to capture his first career Boys 11-14 victory. Reece Williams of Beaumont, TX held off a furious late charge from the field to earn his first career Boys 15-18 win. In the Overall Girls Division, Payson Pistono of The Woodlands, TX put together a dominant performance, pulling away from the field to win by six shots and claim her first Overall Girls victory of the year! 2026 Ben Hogan Junior Cup Matches Team STPGA battled all the way to the finish at the 2026 Ben Hogan Junior Cup Matches, but Team NTPGA ultimately claimed the Cup after a hard-fought competition between the best players of the two Sections. The action was intense from the start, with Day 1’s Four-Ball Matches ending in a 3-3 tie. Team STPGA then seized momentum in the Foursomes Matches, highlighted by a clutch putt from Emily Zhang on No. 9 to secure Match #5. The victory gave Team STPGA a narrow 6.5-5.5 lead heading into the final day, setting the stage for an exciting finish. With the Cup hanging in the balance, Team STPGA came out ready to battle in the Singles Matches. Despite a tremendous effort from the entire team, Team NTPGA caught fire and captured Day 2 by an 8.5-3.5 margin, securing the Cup with a final 14-10 victory. A huge thank you to Captain James Devore for leading Team STPGA and helping create an unforgettable few days of competition, camaraderie, and memories. Click Here to view the results of the Ben Hogan Junior Cup Matches. Click Here to view the Photo Album for the Ben Hogan Junior Cup Matches. New Fall Event! The Srixon Prestige Tour Fall Schedule just got even bigger! A brand-new event has been added to the lineup, and we’re heading back to the scenic Flying L Ranch Golf Course in Bandera for The Cowboy Cup, on September 19–20! Get ready for an unforgettable weekend of competitive junior golf, incredible scenery, and plenty of opportunities to make your mark. And, of course, the stakes are high! EXEMPTION OPPORTUNITY: The Boys 15–18 and Girls 11–18 Champions will each earn a spot in the Legends Junior Tour’s Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational! The Fall schedule is heating up, and The Cowboy Cup is one you won’t want to miss! Saddle up and get ready for another premier Srixon Prestige Tour experience! Click Here to Register for The Cowboy Cup! November Registration Fall has officially arrived, but the action on the Srixon Prestige Tour is showing no signs of cooling off! With the season entering its final stretch, there are still plenty of opportunities to compete, make memories, and finish the year on a high note. Registration for November events opened last week at 9:00 AM! Don’t wait to secure your spot—these events are ready to deliver another month of incredible courses, fierce competition, and unforgettable moments. The following events open for registration: ● Visit Lake Charles Fall Classic (November 7-8) - Mallard Golf Club ● The Gobbler Cup (November 14-15) - Stonebridge at Newport Golf Course ● Abraham Ancer Classic (November 23-24) - Cordillera Ranch ● Omega Transactions Turkey Shootout (November 23-24) - Walden on Lake Conroe 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 is returning 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. Another big Thank you Surf & Turf Golf for sponsoring the Surf & Turf New Braunfels Showcase, and to Vortech Contracting for sponsoring the Vortech Contracting H-Town Showdown.
By Southern Texas PGA August 31, 2026
Missouri City, TX (August 29-30, 2026) – The Srixon Prestige Tour summer season wrapped up last weekend with the Vortech Contracting H-Town Showdown at Quail Valley Golf Course! Our junior golfers battled through the Houston heat and completed 36 holes of competitive golf, showcasing their skills and drive in another successful event. Thank you to our host facility, our players and parents, our Title Partner Srixon, and all of our staff. We are also grateful to Vortech Contracting for being the Presenting Sponsor of this event. Their support allows us to make these competitions possible! Read more about our winning junior golfers below.
By Southern Texas PGA August 19, 2026
The Southern Texas PGA is happy to announce our new interns joining the staff for the Fall 2026 season! Please welcome these individuals into our great Section and we look to continue our incredible service and grow the game! 
Show More