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 | | Two-Time Champion, J.J. Spaun | |
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The Valero Texas Open celebrated this storied tournament in April overlapping on Easter weekend. The crowds showed up BIG on Thursday and especially Friday with schools out for Good Friday. Although Saturday’s round was rained out, Easter Sunday was a good time spent with friends and family at the tournament.
The sweet victory made by J.J. Spaun, the 2025 U.S. Open champion, picked up his third PGA TOUR victory in his 252nd start at the age of 35 years, 7 months, 15 days. His other two victories were won here at the Valero Texas Open. He becomes the 11th multiple winner of the Valero Texas Open and the first since Corey Conners (2019, 2023).
During his post-round interview, J.J. Spaun shared, “I think the biggest lesson for me this week was learning that like I don't have to be perfect to win golf tournaments. I don't think I was perfect at the U.S. Open, I don't think I was perfect when I won here in 2022. But I'm proud that I was able to hit the shots that I wanted to hit when the moment needed it. That proved to me that wherever I feel like my golf swing is or wherever mentally, if I'm not confident in being able to hit certain shots, that I pulled it off today and down the stretch when it mattered. That's all that matters. I need to just continue to use that mindset for the rest of the season.”
 |  | Relive the 2026 Valero Texas Open |
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| | Vote: Best Golf Tournament for Fans | |
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Last week USA TODAY announced the Readers’ Choice Awards nominations and the Valero Texas Open is nominated for Best Golf Tournament for Fans. We may be the favorite in your hearts, but let’s make it official for all to see. We invite you to vote for the Valero Texas Open as fan favorite.
You can vote every day between now and June 8 – so vote now and often. We encourage you to spread the word. Help the VTO be the #1 Fan Favorite!
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| | Celebration of Champions | |
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Champions fore Charity fundraising program hosted its annual Celebration of Champions on Wednesday, May 14 at Security Service FCU Event Center. Nearly 330 representatives from charities, schools, and program sponsors -- from San Antonio, Austin, and Corpus Christi attended the luncheon as funds raised through the seven month-long Champions fore Charity campaign were distributed to the 198 participating agencies. Based on generous support from donors, the year over year growth increased 23.4% with a collection of 99.98% of the total fundraising commitments.
 | | Click to watch highlights from the Celebration of Champions luncheon. |
The Champions fore Charity campaign is a charitable initiative organized and supported by the Valero Texas Open, providing 236 charity organizations throughout the greater San Antonio community and beyond with a fun and unique fundraising platform. The charities also received several financial incentives like the 7% Matching Gift. Thanks to generosity of the community, the 2026 Valero Texas Open, along with Champions fore Charity, and the Valero Benefit for Children, raised a record $25.2 million, bringing the grand total to $306.2 million in charitable giving.
Seymour Battle, Senior Vice President, Communications, PR & Engagement for Valero helped celebrate and congratulate the hard work, dedication and passion that the charity representatives put forth to better the community through the various services they provide on a daily basis.
Champions fore Charity Ambassadors, David Chancellor (WOAI news anchor), and Sarah Forgany (KENS news anchor) helped to recognize the achievements made by participating nonprofits in the 2025-2026 fundraising program.
During the remarks, several of the program incentive winners were announced and recognized including:
| Drawing fore More Awareness |
During the fundraising campaign the Drawing fore More Awareness offered a fun way to keep participating charities and schools engaged and motivated. Throughout the seven-month campaign, charities were entered into a drawing based on commitment amount raised within the incentive window in which a designated number of entries into the current drawing provided a chance to win $2,500. Six (6) lucky charities earned a cumulative total of $15,000 from the Valero Texas Open tournament proceeds.
The drawings took place with the help of program ambassadors, Sarah Forgany, David Chancellor, and Randy Carroll as they each alternated for each contest to randomly draw a qualified charity.
This year’s incentive recipients included:
 |  | Junior Achievement of South Texas | |
| | Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Education Foundation | |
| Guess the Champion Contest |
Donors from Champions fore Charity had the opportunity to guess who would be the 2026 champion through the "Guess the Champion Contest", for a chance to win a Stay & Play Package provided by TPC San Antonio and the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. Only one donor correctly guessed this year's champion, J.J. Spaun and automatically won the grand prize.
The winner of the Stay & Play Package, Victoria Small, attended the Celebration of Champions and was surprised by the announcement during the remarks. Her donation supported Communities In Schools of San Antonio which received an incentive bonus of $5,000!
Program Ambassador, David Chancellor with WOAI News 4 hosts a weekly segment on the morning news called "Sock It To Mondays". David partnered with Champions fore Charity which featured two (2) charities each month on the first and third Mondays from October - May. During the remarks, David was surprised to receive a frame with all the charity socks he featured during the campaign season as a keepsake.
Here’s your chance to see all the wonderful charities that have been featured this campaign season through this video montage.
Through the Lexus fore a Donor incentive, one (1) lucky donor who attended the Valero Texas Open wins a two-year lease on a Lexus NX, compliments of our friends at North Park Lexus San Antonio and Dominion.
Like the Stay & Play Package winner, the winner of the Lexus fore a Donor attended the luncheon and had no idea that he won. Some stories to get the winner to attend the luncheon made it compelling enough for the winner to rearrange his travel schedule to attend and fly back later that afternoon.
The donor who generously supported the UTSA Men's & Women's Golf Program and winner of the two-year lease on the Lexus NX is none other than Daniel Conway!
| Final Top 12 Charitable Leaderboard |
This year the participating charities and school programs were assigned Peer Group based on annual operating budget. We congratulate the 1st Place from each of the twelve (12) Peer Groups from the 2025-2026 campaign season.
| Peer Group A | Dreamhill Estates Educational Resource Center (DEERC) | $185,250 |
| Peer Group B | Friends of Government Canyon | $143,450 |
| Peer Group C | Bexar STEMulate | $143,001 |
| Peer Group D | Children In Need | $186,000 |
| Peer Group E | Disabled Outdoorsmen USA, Inc. | $800,000 |
| Peer Group F | Special Reach Inc. | $203,406 |
| Peer Group G | New Braunfels Food Bank | $1,050,000 |
| Peer Group H | Arms of Hope | $567,464 |
| Peer Group I | Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children | $258,384 |
| Peer Group J | Family Service | $700,500 |
| Peer Group K | Catholic Charities | $143,000 |
| Peer Group L | CommuniCare Health Centers | $150,000 |
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| | Champions fore Charity Corporate Partners | |
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Champions fore Charity, thanks to its corporate supporters, can deliver 100% of all funds contributed to participating organizations. Please visit www.ValeroTexasOpen.com to learn more about the Valero Texas Open and its Champions fore Charity program. The 2026-2027 campaign season will kick-off in the fall.
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