COLLEGE GOLFER SPOTLIGHT: SEAN BADGER

NTPGA • September 14, 2018

COLLEGE GOLFER SPOTLIGHT: SEAN BADGER

As many of you know, our motto here at the NTPGA Junior Tour is #WHOSNEXT ®. The NTPGA Junior Tour is well represented by its alumni on the PGA, Web.com and LPGA Tours. Currently, there are 22 former Junior Tour members competing professionally including Jordan Spieth, Cody Gribble, Ryan Palmer, Angela Stanford, Brittany Lang and many more.

 

But, our #WHOSNEXT® motto doesn’t just apply to future professional golfers. It applies to our former members currently showcasing their talents at the collegiate level all across the country.

 

In this bi-monthly blog series, we will be featuring former Junior Tour members who are currently playing golf. Every other week we’ll check out what they had to say about their time playing on the NTPGA Junior Tour, and gain some insight into what it’s like to play college golf.

 

We know it is the goal of many of our current members to move on to play golf in college. Are you the next college golfer? #WHOSNEXT®


Sean Badger - NTPGA Junior Tour Member 2013-2014

Graduate - Weber State University 

Professional Sales Major


Q: What are your post graduation plans?

A: Possibly start graduate school while finishing my final year of eligibility next season. After I finish playing golf for Weber, I plan to begin working either in Utah or back home in Dallas. 


Q: How old were you when you became an NTPGA Junior Tour Member?

A: I believe 15 or 16 yrs old. 


Q: How did being a part of the NTPGA Junior Tour help or impact your golf game?

A: It gave me the experience I needed to become a better player and to eventually become a collegiate player. I had a late start to the game and being able to play a ton of tournaments on the NTPGA Junior Tour helped give me the experience I needed to catch up to a lot of the players that had been playing their entire lives. 


Q: What was the biggest thing you learned while you were a part of the NTPGA Junior Tour?

A: I learned how to compete and most importantly, I learned how to network and build lifelong friendships on the golf course. There are players today at the college tournaments that I played junior golf with in Texas and it’s awesome to see them! The friendships I built on the NTPGA Junior Tour are some I’ll always remember. 


Q: What is one piece of advice you would give to current NTPGA Junior Tour members?

A: No matter what happens during a round of golf, try and remember to have fun and if you gave it your best effort then that’s all you can ask for. The results don’t matter. At the end of the day, remember that there is always a tomorrow, always another round of golf, and always another chance to make that final putt for your lowest round ever. 


Q: How did the NTPGA Junior Tour help prepare you for playing golf in college?

A: It gave me the opportunity to play tournaments with some quality players, which is something you see in college. It helped me compete and learn to compete. The NTPGA Junior Tour is a great tour to get a lot of experience on and to build the golf resume. There are many great tournaments that the NTPGA Junior Tour conducted that helped me prepare for my future.


Q: Please describe what your personal golf recruiting process looked like. 

A: I emailed a bunch of coaches at universities in Texas and Utah. I sent them swing videos, scores, and most importantly, information about myself, my grades and other accomplishments outside of golf. Form there, I went on a few visits to schools that emailed me back. Once I got the offer to play for Weber, though, I took it. My recruiting process was simple and didn’t require a ton of thinking once I received an offer from Weber. 


Q: How does playing in college differ from the NTPGA Junior Tour?

A: College golf differs in the sense that it is a lot more serious and you are playing against some of the best players in the country, from all different universities. It’s simply the next level; the courses are much harder and it is a fun challenge. 

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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.

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By Steven Clements • July 6, 2023
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