Georgetown, Texas event is the largest pro-am in the Southern Texas PGA in terms of participation.
The ninth annual Cimarron Hills Pro-Am Supporting PGA REACH Southern Texas and the J.L. Lewis Memorial Scholarship Fund was held on May 9 in Georgetown, Texas at the club’s much-awarded Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and added more than $70,000 to the coffers of the two beneficiaries.
The Cimarron Hills Pro-Am was created in 2017 by Chris de Keratry, Cimarron Hills’ PGA director of golf. In 2021, proceeds from this event was dedicated to a new scholarship for PGA Reach Southern Texas named after the late J.L. Lewis, a former PGA Tour player and long-time STPGA member and teacher who had a lasting impact in the central and south Texas regions.
This is the fifth year the J.L. Lewis Memorial Scholarship was awarded, and the $70,252 taken in during this year’s event pushed the amount raised in the life of the tournament to $197,510. Southern Texas PGA members continue to be the backbone of the industry by running high quality facilities, conduction events like the Cimarron Hills Pro-Am, and raising money to impact lives.
“It’s extremely gratifying that our South Texas golf community and the members of the Southern Texas PGA continue to support this initiative and help us raise money to help fund this scholarship,” de Keratry said. “It is a lasting tribute to J.L. and what he stood for. The growth of this event over the past nine years is indicative of the recognition of the impact such a scholarship can make to young golfers’ lives. We are truly appreciative and humbled.”
The J.L. Lewis Memorial Scholarships are to be given to deserving young men and women through PGA Reach Southern Texas and is named in honor of Lewis.
As a club professional, Lewis was not only one of the best players in the section but he also served as head professional at several area clubs including Forest Creek Golf Club in Round Rock, Mill Creek Country Club in Salado, and Ben White Golf Center in Austin. Lewis was named sectional player of the year once in the Southwest Section and three times in the Southern Texas Section.
After retiring from competitive golf, Lewis and his wife Dawn settled in Williamson County in central Texas where he continued what he did his entire life — teaching the game of golf.
In the final month of his life, Lewis wrote: “In the past 52 years I’ve been playing or teaching golf to players of all levels and ages. What I love the most about teaching is that I’m always learning. Every day, something new emerges in terms of how to make the improvement easier for the student. Helping the student know their best swing is the No. 1 priority . . . this is the essence of golf.”
The J.L. Lewis Scholarship is be awarded to any high school or college golfer who has maintained a 3.0 minimum GPA. The STPGA Scholarship Program aims to not only inspire the next generation to grow in their golf game but also to pursue their academic dreams, providing scholarships to graduating high school and current college students.
Since 1999, they have awarded more than $2 million over 20 different scholarships to both to junior golfers and non-golfers alike.
Cimarron Hills Golf & Country Club, host of the Cimarron Hills Pro-Am, is part of Legacy Golf Properties.
