Month: April 2017

Overbrook’s Grier Captures Callaway Golf TPD Championship

April 24, 2017Comments Off on Overbrook’s Grier Captures Callaway Golf TPD ChampionshipUncategorized

 

(Pine Hill, N.J.) – The Philadelphia PGA held the first event in the race for the Omega Player of the Year on Monday, April 24 at Trump National Philadelphia. The Callaway Golf TPD Championship featured more than 120 Professionals registered into the Section’s Tournament Player’s Division (TPD). The tournament serves as the first event in the chase for the Omega Player of the Year presented by The Haverford Trust Company.

The TPD Championship was played as a modified stableford tournament with players earning 1 point for any par, 3 points for birdies, 6 points for eagles, 9 points for double eagles, and -1 point for any bogey or worse.

The pace was set early in the day when defending Omega Player of the Year Michael Little (Lookaway Golf Club) posted a total of 22 points. Little’s round included four birdies, including a clutch birdie on his closing hole to post the early lead. As the morning wave went on players came close to matching Little but no one was able to join him at the top of the leaderboard until Jake Gerney (Trump National Philadelphia) used some home course knowledge to also finish at 22 points.

However, as the morning wave came to an end one player was able to separate herself from the field. Ashley Grier (Overbrook Golf Club) carded four birdies and only one bogey to finish with a total of 24 points on the day. Starting her round on the tenth hole, Grier carded two birdies in her first four holes before adding a third on the par 4 18th hole. After making the turn, Grier added one more birdie on her final hole to give her the 2 point lead.

“I have been trying to shake off the rust since coming back up from Florida in mid-March and have been working with Eric Kennedy to have some positive swing thoughts and it seemed to all come together today, said Grier on her first Section win. “I was able to make a few putts early in my round which settled me down and gave me some momentum. After a season of tournament play in the Philadelphia Section under my belt, I have a lot more confidence going into this season. I want to thank Dave Cartwright and the membership and staff of Trump National Philadelphia for hosting us today, Callaway Golf and Kevin Martin and Laura Manchester for sponsoring the event as well as Eric for being so supportive of his staff and allowing us to participate in Section events. Finally, I would like to thank Anthony for lending me his putter for today’s tournament or I wouldn’t hear the end of it.”

John Appleget (Wildwood Golf and Country Club) was one of the only players in the afternoon wave to make a run at Grier, he posted four birdies in a five-hole stretch but an untimely bogey on his next to the last hole proved to be too much and ultimately finished with 22 points.. However with 22 points, Appleget did take home the top spot in the tournament’s Senior division.

The Philadelphia PGA would like to thank our title sponsor Callaway Golf as well as our Section representatives Laura Manchester and Kevin Martin for their support of today’s event. The next event on the tournament schedule is the Delaware Valley Open being held at Indian Valley Country Club on Monday, May 1.

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Complete Tournament Results

PPGA Pinehurst Pro-Am March 20-22, 2017

April 13, 2017Comments Off on PPGA Pinehurst Pro-Am March 20-22, 2017Uncategorized

PINEHURST, NC – The Philadelphia PGA traveled to history Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, NC for the inaugural Philadelphia PGA Pinehurst Pro-Am.  Teams were comprised of one Philadelphia PGA Professional and three amateurs.  The week would include rounds of golf on Pinehurst No. 4, No. 8, No. 9 and the famous No. 2 course.  With the historic memorabilia inside the clubhouse and the bronze statues of Payne Stuart and Donald Ross just behind the 18th green of Pinehurst No. 2., players couldn’t help but feel a sense tradition and history that encompasses the entire Resort.

Team’s arrived on Sunday, March 26 and immediately took to the course for a practice round on Pinehurst No. 4.  Following the practice round, the week officially kicked off with a Welcome Reception in the Donald Ross Grill Room.  All players received a gift package that included a sweater from Glen Echo Golf, a pair of socks from Lift23, and much more.

Tournament played opened Monday, March 27 on Pinehurst No. 8.  This Tom Fazio design that was highlighted by tree lined holes that required accuracy and treacherous greens complexes that challenged the short game.  After round one the teams of Applebrook Golf Club head professional, Dave McNabb, and his amateur partners, Keith Walters, Frank Hallinan, and Jeff Shapiro were tied atop the leaderboard with Country Club of Woodloch Springs Director of Golf, John Pillar, and his amateur partners, Glenn Morris, Kurt Wilson, and Craig Schneider with a score of 6-uner (138).

The week continued with round two taking place on Pinehurst No. 9.  No. 9 is a Jack Nicklaus design that demanded strong play with every club to score well.  Once again McNabb’s team shot the low round of the day carding a 13-under (131) to take a 9-shot lead.   The team of Huntingdon Valley Country Club and Philadelphia PGA President Ian Dalzell and his amateur partners Kevin Broderick, Tom Kirby, and Trent Scott made the biggest move of the day jumping 4 spots on the leaderboard after a 10-under (134), to move into second place heading into the final round with the team of Glenmaura National Golf Club Assistant Professional, Christopher Miller, and his amateur partners, Thomas Miller, Michael Bryndzia, and Leonard Namiotka.

The final round was played on the famous Pinehurst No. 2.  This Donald Ross design is most famous for hosting three U.S. Open Championships and one U.S. Women’s Open Championship.  It was a truly special round of golf for all 60 competitors.  After all the shots were played it was McNabb’s team holding on and taking home trophies of the famous Pinehurst Putter Boy.  McNabb said, “It was great to be among so many friends for a week of golf and camaraderie. Both of our teams had a spectacular week at the Pinehurst Resort and we can’t wait to return in 2018. Winning the inaugural Philadelphia PGA Pro-Am at such a historic venue is a memory our team will share for a long time!”

The shot of the week went to Saucon Valley Country Club Head Professional Mike Wood who aced the 160-yard par three #17 with a 7 iron.  “To make a hole in one at such and iconic American golf course was very special.  For it to be with three of my members during such a great event made it even better.  It is definitely a memory I will never forget.” said Wood.

Successful Spring Meeting Ushers in the 2017 Philadelphia PGA Season

April 5, 2017Comments Off on Successful Spring Meeting Ushers in the 2017 Philadelphia PGA SeasonUncategorized

Wilmington, Del. – The Philadelphia PGA Spring Meeting, the first official event of the Philadelphia PGA calendar, was held Monday, April 3, at DuPont Country Club. Nearly 300 Philadelphia PGA Professionals and Apprentices came together to get reacquainted and get their seasons started.

Philadelphia PGA President, Ian Dalzell (Huntingdon Valley CC) led the meeting which guided all in attendance through the status of the Section’s operations as well as showcased some of the highlights for the upcoming season.

The Section was honored to have two guest speakers present at the meeting. The first was Tom Henderson, PGA who is the new PGA of America District 2 Director. District 2 encompasses the Philadelphia PGA, New Jersey PGA, and Metropolitan PGA Sections. Henderson spoke on the various PGA of America initiatives as well as updated the attendees on the programs affecting each Section. Henderson also spoke on the upcoming District 2 Teaching and Coaching Summit at Fiddler’s Elbow.

The second speaker was Tricia English who was representing the Fold of Honor Foundation. English shared her touching and inspiring story of the loss of her husband and how the Folds of Honor and the PGA Professionals who support the initiative have truly made an impact in her family’s lives.

The meeting also gave the Section a chance to recognize the most recent award winners. Although all award winners will be formally recognized at the 2nd annual Philadelphia PGA Awards Gala on Sunday, November 12.

The meeting concluded with Executive Director Geoffrey Surrette, PGA announcing some of the changes that have occurred at the Section office since last year’s Fall Meeting. Surrette reintroduced Brian Schulte, PGA as the Section’s new Tournament Director and also talked about the new structure for tournament operations. The Section also launched their new digital directory which is housed in the Philadelphia PGA mobile app.

With the meeting ended, some of the attendees focused their attentions on the season’s first event, the Spring Meeting Pro-Pro Scramble. Played on both courses at DuPont Country Club (DuPont and Nemours) the scramble format allowed for an easy transition into the tournament season as most players had not competed since the end of last season. Taking home the top spot on the DuPont course was the pair of Joe Kogelman (GolfTEC-Moorestown) and Stu Ingraham (M Golf Range) who carded a 12-under (59) to win by one shot. On the Nemours course, the team of John Appleget (Wildwood Golf&CC) and Rich Steinmetz (Spring Ford CC) took the top spot by two shots after finishing with a score of 9-under (61).

The Section’s Central Counties Chapter and Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) will both hold their respective spring meetings on Monday, April 10 at Centre Hills CC and Manufacturers Golf & CC.

Spring Meeting Tournament Results

For more information on the Philadelphia PGA – philadelphia.pga.com.