The Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth (JASDFW) held its annual golf tournament, drawing business and community leaders for a day of competition and networking that culminated in a record-setting performance. The event, which took place under favorable weather conditions, underscores the role of informal business gatherings in sustaining international partnerships.
The tournament's headline moment came from the Frisco Economic Development Corporation-sponsored team of Thai Thong, Jeremy Carroll, Chad Berens and Neil Nesladek, who carded a 54, or 18 under par — the lowest score ever recorded in the JASDFW tournament. The B12 Consulting team of Terry Woods, Jay Eubanks, William Johnson and Earl Carty finished second with a 57, 15 under par. Two teams, The Original Pancake House DFW and Toyota Team 2, tied for third at 10 under par. Individual honors went to Nesladek for Closest to the Pin and Craig Fryer for Longest Drive.
A Hole-in-One Contest on Hole #17 offered golfers the chance to win a Toyota Tundra, generating excitement even though no player claimed the vehicle this year. Organizers recalled the tournament two years ago, when an SMBC participant made the winning hole-in-one and drove away with the vehicle. Click for Images from the event capture the day's competition and camaraderie.
Beyond the scoreboard, the tournament served as a platform for JASDFW members, partners and supporters to strengthen relationships while advancing the organization's mission of fostering deeper connections between North Texas and Japan. The event's sponsor roster reflects the breadth of corporate engagement in the region, with Title Sponsor Toyota; Tournament Lunch Sponsor Frisco Economic Development Corporation; Breakfast & Putting Contest Sponsor Irving Economic Development Partnership; Pin Flag Sponsor ORIX Corporation USA; Contest Sponsors City of Plano EDC and Toyota Tsusho America; Hole Sponsors B12 Consulting, Barnes & Thornburg, MUFG, Panasonic and CG Infinity; Scorecard Sponsors City of Carrollton and Artmac Soft; and Pro Golfer Sponsor AI Connex.
The annual tournament matters beyond the course because it convenes the corporate and community network that underpins North Texas-Japan economic and cultural exchange. In a region that hosts significant Japanese investment and business operations, such gatherings provide rare opportunities for executives, economic development officials and community leaders to build the trust that facilitates cross-border commerce. JASDFW's work spans business, cultural and educational programs, and the tournament's sponsor list — from automakers to banks to consulting firms — illustrates how deeply Japanese and North Texas business interests are intertwined. For readers in the region, the event signals a continuing commitment to international partnership at a time when global business relationships are increasingly shaped by local engagement. The record-setting round adds a memorable milestone to an event that has become a fixture on the region's business-social calendar.
