Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour to PGA Professional: Spencer Dillard's Journey to Success

Sarah Jordan • February 11, 2025

Spencer Dillard’s rise from a young golfer to a devoted PGA of America Golf Professional is a story of passion and purpose. His love for the game began when he was gifted a Tiger Wood’s golf video game as a kid. Spencer, who is now an Assistant Golf Professional at Preston Trail Golf Club, reflects on a journey shaped by the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour.


Spencer’s golfing journey began at the age of seven when his parents enrolled him in a small golf camp in McKinney, Texas. A year later, he discovered the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour and started competing in tournaments. These early experiences helped him develop both his skills and excitement for the game.


Spencer’s first experience on the junior tour was memorable. “I think I shot 72 for my very first [Prep Tour] event,” Dillard shares. “By the end of that year, I shot a 46. I was so happy to go from shooting a 72 for nine holes to [shooting] in the 40s.”

From 2008 until 2014, Spencer played on several levels of the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour, including the Prep and Medalist Tours. When asked about how the junior tour prepared him for play later in life, Spencer says that the competition pushed him to be better.


“Regardless of your skill level, there are always going to be people better than you or at least [at] equal [skill] level with you,” he explained. “It’s really easy to look in the mirror and judge yourself on your performance, and that [judgment] helped push me along in golf and in other areas of my life.”


While Spencer did not know entirely what he wanted to do with his future after junior golf, he knew that he was interested in becoming a club professional one day. On a road trip back home from a golf tournament, his mom told him about the PGA Golf Management Program at Sam Houston State University. When hearing about the program, Spencer was immediately interested and committed to pursuing a degree in Golf Management at Sam Houston. The program offered many different career paths in golf. 

“I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into,” Dillard said. “I was just like yeah, I’ll go try it out.” 


And in 2015, he headed to Huntsville. During his time in Sam Houston State University’s PGA Golf Management Program, Spencer's perspective of the industry expanded. The program’s blend of networking opportunities and mentorship prepared him for life as a PGA Professional. He was able to explore many internships through the program which led to gaining more hands-on experience in the industry.


“I completed an internship in New York, which was a transformative experience for me,” Dillard explained. “I had a great PGA professional there, Rob Labritz. He kind of paved the way for me and showed me what it is to be a club professional.”


Spencer graduated from the Sam Houston State University PGA Golf Management program in 2019. He then earned his PGA Membership in February 2020, after completing an internship and securing a position at Preston Trail Golf Club. Today, as an assistant professional at Preston Trail, Dillard’s daily objective is to coach and develop the training staff, providing golf instruction, and representing the club at various events. Ultimately, Dillard and the Preston Trail team value their culture and strive to make the club a special place to grow the game.


Reflecting on his journey, Spencer attributes much of his success to the foundational experience of the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour and the mentors who guided him throughout his life.


“Golf [makes] it super easy to compare yourself because it’s just you— you don’t have a team that may win or lose you the game, it’s all on you,” Dillard noted. “It is really easy to look in the mirror and kind of judge yourself on your performance. I learned that all you can do is move forward while embracing the pressure.”


For young golfers considering their own journey, Dillard emphasizes the importance of enjoying the process and having fun while doing so.


“Have fun,” he advises. “It is easy to put too much pressure on yourself. There is a lot of pressure in golf, but the outcome is the outcome. It’s not the end of the world if you play a bad tournament. It's going to be okay.”


“You’re probably going to have a better outcome if you just go out and have fun, and not be too worried about where you finish in a certain event,” he encourages.


Today, Dillard is passionate about the game of golf and promoting opportunities in the sport. In 2024, he earned the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Player of the Year Award for the Section. Dillard wants young players to know that their golf journey doesn’t end if they don’t pursue collegiate competition. 


“There are so many different avenues that are involved with golf,” Dillard says. “I think the perception is that if you do not play college golf, your golf career is over, and it is not like that.”


Dillard’s story is a story about the power of dedication to the game of golf and love for the sport. His journey from the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour to now is an inspiring example of how the game of golf can shape not only careers, but life ahead.

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Three Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour Members Earn Invites to Augusta as Drive, Chip and Putt National Finalists

By Vincent Lopez • April 4, 2024
The Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour will have three participants at the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club on April 7, 2024.The National Finals have been held the Sunday before The Masters since 2013 and has ingrained itself into the legendary traditions of the tournament and course. Dixie Mae Crain has competed on the NTPGA Junior Tour since 2019 and has shown steady improvement over the past five years. Although her experience on the Junior Tour has undoubtedly improved her game, there is another aspect of the tour that has aided her on her journey to Augusta. “Just getting the pressure from other people being there, like competitors and all that, just having that pressure,” said Crain. She hasn’t let the rush of being a National Finalist change her preparation however, “It’s really all about if you really get consistent. You just need to get consistent with your chipping and putting.” After seven years of participating in Drive, Chip and Putt Dixie will be competing in the age 12-13 division at Augusta and looks forward to the trip to Georgia with her dad, brother, and two former coaches. 

Congratulations to our PGA Jr. League #GameChanger Award Winners

By Vincent Lopez • January 22, 2024
The Northern Texas PGA is proud to share that eight PGA members have been named PGA jr. League #GameChanger Player Engagement Award winners! The award recognizes individuals who have significantly contributed to PGA Jr. League and serve as leaders in golf instruction and player development. Additionally, Charleton Dechert, PGA facilities manager at First Tee of Fort Worth, and Joey Anders, PGA instructor at Brookhaven Country Club were celebrated for having two of the top 10 largest programs in the country. Charleton serves as the PGA Jr. League Coordinator at First Tee of Fort Worth, an organization that focuses on introducing the game of golf to young people in the area. In 2023, he led the largest PGA Jr. League program in the nation for the second year in a row! 473 golfers participated in programming in 2023. That’s 109 more golfers than the second-largest program in the country. He continues to inspire and guide the next generation of golfers. 

Northern Texas PGA Announces Extension, Enhanced Partnership with Veritex Community Bank

By Molly Rawlins • September 26, 2023
FRISCO, TX – The Northern Texas PGA and Veritex Community Bank announced a partnership extension with support directed towards junior golf and events for PGA of America Golf Professionals. The enhanced partnership will last through 2026 and benefit both the NTPGA and NTPGA Foundation. Veritex has been involved as a sponsor of the NTPGA since 2012. Veritex will support tournaments for the NTPGA’s nearly 900 professionals as a sponsor of the Joyce Crane | Veritex Community Bank Section Championship and The National Car Rental Northern Texas Assistant PGA Professional Championship presented by Veritex Community Bank. Additionally, the NTPGA’s Assistant of the Year will receive a $1,500 bonus from Veritex. Tournaments and events conducted on the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour will be referred to as the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour presented by Veritex Community Bank. The Spring, Summer and Fall Series Points Challenges in all three areas (East, Metro and West) will be referred to as the Veritex Community Bank Points Challenges. “Veritex’s core values are truth, transparency, and integrity. These beliefs are synonymous with those inherent in the game, which is why we are proud to align with organizations such as the NTPGA,” said C. Malcolm Holland, CEO and President of Veritex Community Bank. “We support the game at every level, beginning with junior golf, to rising college and Korn Ferry Tour players, and peak with major champions. Providing a foundation for kids to learn, have fun and compete through the guidance of PGA Professionals is a core aspect of that journey.” “The Northern Texas PGA Members, Associates, staff and junior golfers are fortunate to have a partner on our side like Veritex. We are delighted to continue this long-standing relationship that helps the NTPGA in fulfilling our missions of serving the PGA Professionals and growing the game of golf alongside our friends at Veritex Community Bank who have become a major contributor to the game here in North Texas,” said Mark Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Texas PGA.