BLUE BELL, Pennsylvania – Cedarbrook Country Club hosted the 2018 PGA Jr. League Philadelphia Section Championship on Saturday, August 25, with eight All-Star teams of junior golfers ages 13 all looking for their chance to advance to next month’s Regional Championship at LedgeRock Golf Club in Mohnton, Pennsylvania.

Eight All-Star teams arrived at Cedarbrook Country Club for their quarterfinal matches after advancing through a qualifying stage at either Newark Country Club or LedgeRock Golf Club on August 6. In the early morning the matches were sent out on both the front nine and back nine at Cedarbrook Country Club. The teams playing in the quarterfinals were the All-Star teams from (North Philadelphia vs Jersey Shore), (HVCC 1 vs Delaware 1), (Lancaster 1 vs York 2), and (Flourtown vs Penn State).

After the morning matches, all teams were treated to lunch before the four remaining teams (Jersey Shore vs  Delaware 1 and Lancaster 1 vs Penn State) headed back out for their semifinal matches. Unlike the quarterfinals, all semifinal matches were played on Cedarbrook Country Club’s front nine. Once again teams played outstanding matches but it was the Delaware 1 team (PGA Captain – Dave Seeman) and the Penn State team (PGA Captain – Steve Wager) that advanced to the final Championship round.

Special congratulations to Michael Maslanka of team Delaware 1 who aced the par-3 9^th hole at Cedarbrook Country Club after the tee shot with his 9-iron found the bottom of the cup on the 120 yards long hole during this 2^nd round.

After only a short break, the teams from Delaware 1 and Penn State were ready to get their Championship match underway. Throughout the course of the match, both All-Star teams showed why they deserved to be in the Championship round. However at the end of the day it was the All-Star team from Delaware 1 that came out on top.

The juniors that represented the team from Delaware 1 included Win Thomas (Hartefeld National GC), Nicholas Gross (Hartefeld National GC), Adrian Jordan (Hartefeld National GC), Mathew Normand (Hartefeld National GC), Henry Stone (Hartefeld National GC), Michael Maslanka (Rock Manor GC), Zac Antao (Rock Manor GC), Jack Homer (Wilmington CC), Drew Allen (Wilmington CC), and Jax Puskar (Kennett Square G&CC).

With their 7-5 victory over Penn State, Delaware 1 will now represent the Philadelphia PGA at the Regional Championship at LedgeRock Golf Club on September 15-16 where they will play for one of 12 spots in the 2018 PGA Jr. League Championship presented by National Car Rental at Grayhawk Golf Club (Scottsdale, Arizona) November 16-19.

The PGA Jr. League Postseason presented by National Car Rental is designed to celebrate the regular recreational season held in April through July, as well as provide a fun and welcoming environment for the 20 percent of PGA Jr. League players who identify as competitive golfers. Following the regular season, 10-player All-Star teams were formed from a combination of players in each local league.

PGA Jr. League brings friends and families together around fun, coed team golf experiences, all with expert coaching and instruction from PGA and LPGA Professionals, who serve as Captains of the teams. A record 50,000 boys and girls participated in PGA Jr. League this year, growing from 42,000 players in 2017. For more information on PGA Jr. League, visit PGAJrLeague.com.

As the Official Partner of PGA Jr. League, National Car Rental is committed to growing future business leaders by growing junior golf. National Car Rental helps provide fun, engaging and welcoming experiences for PGA Jr. League golfers and their families all season and postseason long.

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – On Monday, August 27th, the Philadelphia PGA returned to Penn Oaks Golf Club in West Chester for the second and final round of the 16^th annual Pro-Am for Wishes. After yesterday’s Pro-Am, which also counted as the first round of the 36-hole tournament, two players held a 1-shot lead over the rest of the field.

Both Alex Knoll (Bethlehem GC) and Mike Tobiason (Deerfield GC) shot an opening round 4-under-par (67) earning themselves the overnight lead and the last pairing in the final round with Andrew Turner (Sunnybrook GC) who stood one shot behind at 3-under 68. With an outstanding group of Professionals chasing them both Knoll and Tobiason knew that they had to maintain their play from their opening round to bring home the win.

As the scores started to come in Terry Hertzog (Country Club of York) put up a number that would threaten the leaders. Hertzog would birdie the first four holes to shoot 2- under-par 69 for a 137 total. His lead did not last long although he did pick up the senior win, as Tobiason continued his strong play by carding a 2-under-par (69) giving him a 36-hole score of 6-under-par (136). After his one eagle, birdie, and bogey yesterday, Tobiason was able to add two more birdies in today’s round to clinch the top prize for his first section win.

“It is truly an honor to win with all of the competition in this Section. These professionals in this Section have game, to win out here you have to go low. I’ve played in the Pro-Am for Wishes for the past three years it is a privilege to be in the winning circle finally”.
-Mike Tobiason

Next up for the Philadelphia PGA is the Summer Pro-Lady Team at Sunnybrook GC on Wednesday, August 29 in Plymouth Meeting, Pa. The Section would like to thank everyone involved in the Pro-Am for Wishes, including Penn Oaks Golf Club and all of the supporting sponsors.

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Horsham, Pa. – After a stretch of rainy days that flooded several parts of the Delaware Valley the weather finally cooperated as teams gathered at Commonwealth National Golf Club for the 2018 Pro-Scratch Championship. The Pro-Scratch Championship features two-man teams consisting of one PGA Professional and one amateur.

Playing late in the day, it was the team of Alex Knoll (Bethlehem Golf Club) and Mike Guro who managed to best the field with their team score of 5-under (66). Knoll and Guro combined for five team birdies, including four through their opening nine holes, while also playing bogey-free golf on their way to a one shot victory.

Finishing in solo second place, one shot shy of Knoll and Guro, was the team of Brendon Post (Univ. of Delaware) and his partner Blaine Lafferty. The duo combined for four birdies, two on each nine, while also playing bogey-free to take the second spot on the podium with a 4-under (67).

Rounding out the top three were a pair of teams that finished with a score of 3-under (68). The first team to get to the 3-under number featured Mike Moses (Concord Country Club) and his partner John Donnelly. The pair combined for three team birdies with each player contributing to the overall score. The second team to finish at 3-under was Chris Gardner (Bluestone Country Club) and partner Matt Graeff. Gardner and Graeff combined for seven birdies, most of any team in the field, but a couple of big numbers ultimately dropped them back to 3-under and a third place tie.

The Section would like to thank our sponsor for the Pro-Scratch Championship, PXG and local representatives Doug Huntsinger, Shannon, McKew and Steve Thomas. The Section also thanks the membership and staff of Commonwealth National Golf Club for hosting this year’s event.

The Philadelphia PGA will be back to play on Monday, August 20 for the first round of the Philadelphia Senior PGA Professional Championship at White Manor Country Club.

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Villanova, Pa. – The 2018 edition of the Robert “Skee” Riegel Senior Open was played on Thursday, August 2 at Radnor Valley Country Club. The tournament, named for the longtime PGA Professional, brought together some of the Section’s best Senior PGA Professionals as well as two senior amateur competitors for a one-day, 18-hole stroke play event.

Once again the competitors in the field were battling the hot, humid conditions that have settled into the Delaware Valley over the last couple of weeks. Additionally afternoon storms that were threatening the area hung over the field as everyone was hoping to finish before their arrival.

Playing early in the day, John Pillar (Country Club of Woodloch Springs) set the pace which ultimately proved too much to overcome. Early in his round, Pillar paired one birdie and one bogey. However, with a birdie on the par-5 7^th hole, Pillar began to make his move up the leaderboard. Pillar went on to make five straight birdies on holes 7-11 to get to 5-under. He added one additional birdie on the 13^th hole but a bogey on the 14^th dropped him back to 5-under which is where he finished.

As play continued, no one was able to match Pillar at the top of the leaderboard. The closest a fellow competitor managed to get was 3-under (67). Dave Quinn (Philmont Country Club), who carded five birdies against two bogeys to reach his 3-under finish, two shots behind Pillar, but good enough for a solo second place finish.

Rounding out the podium was Stu Ingraham (M Golf Range) who finished three shots back after posting a 2-under (68). Ingraham carded six birdies; second to Pillar’s seven, en route to his final score. However it was a double bogey on the 18^th hole that ultimately dropped Ingraham into third place.

In the tournament’s Super Senior division, Mike Mack (Burlington Country Club) took home the top spot. Mack posted a 2-over (72) to finish one shot of host professional George Forster (Radnor Valley Country Club) and Bill Sautter (Philadelphia Cricket Club).

The Philadelphia PGA would like to thank the membership and staff of Radnor Valley Country as well as tournament sponsors Jani King Philadelphia and the PGA Tour. The next event of the Philadelphia PGA calendar is the National Car Rental Philadelphia Assistant PGA Professional Championship at Laurel Creek Country Club on Monday, August 6.

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DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – With the calendar reading the last Friday in July that could only mean one thing, the Doylestown Open is here. The one-day stroke-play tournament is held annually at Doylestown Country Club. The event served as the ninth event in the race for the Omega Player of the Year presented by the Haverford Trust Company.

Playing early in the day, and fresh off f his victory at the Philadelphia Open, Billy Stewart (The ACE Club) posted a number for everyone to chase. Stewart did not get off to the start he wanted with a bogey and a double bogey on his front nine although two birdies helped Stewart to make the turn at 1-over. However, as Stewart made his way back to the clubhouse, his round began to take shape. Stewart played bogey-free while posting three birdies and an eagle to play his inward nine at 5-under bringing his 18-hole score to 4-under (68).

With weather threatening the area throughout the day the tournament faced its first delay which lasted a little over an hour. Unfortunately, that was not the last weather delay of the day.

As players resumed their rounds after the first weather delay it was Rich Steinmetz (Spring Ford Country Club) who was able to get things going in the right direction. Steinmetz paired two birdies and two bogeys on his outward nine to make the turn at even par. However, like Stewart, Steinmetz got his round going on his back nine. Steinmetz made four birdies, including one on the 18^th hole, to finish his round at 4-under (68) joining Stewart at the top of the leaderboard.

With all but one group finished the horns blew again as a line of severe storms approached the area. After waiting more than an hour the decision was made to call the event. Because the entire field was not able to finish their rounds the Section’s “75%” rule went into effect meaning the players who finished their rounds would be awarded prize money but no player of the year points would be posted.

Because the tournament was unable to be completed, Stewart and Steinmetz were declared co-champions of the 2018 Doylestown Open. Finishing just behind the champions at 3-under (69) was another pair of players, Michael Tobiason (Deerfield Golf Club) and Stu Ingraham (M Golf Range) both ended tied for third.

Although Ingraham came up just one shot shy in the main tournament he did manage to take home the top spot in the tournament’s senior division. Ingraham’s 3-under (69) was good enough for a two shot victory over second place finisher John DiMarco (Laurel Creek Country Club) who carded a 1-under (70). Finishing in third place in the senior division was Gary Hardin (Northampton Country Club) who posted a 1-over (73).

Taking home the tournament’s low amateur spot was Doylestown Country Club member Russel Hartung who finished with a 1-over (73) after carding birdies on his final two holes.

The Section would like to thank the membership and staff of Doylestown Country Club for their support of this event.

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Galloway, N.J. – The Stockton Seaview Resort in Galloway, N.J. once again played host to the Philadelphia PGA and the Pro-Assistant-Pro Championship. The event pairs the highest ranking PGA Professional at a given facility with each of his or her PGA Assistant Professionals in a better ball of partners event. The tournament was held on both the Bay and Pines course at Seaview Resort with prizes awarded on each course separately.

A pair of teams shared the top spot on the Bay Course. Finishing with matching scores of 6-under (65) were the teams of David Clark and Matt Episcopo from Pine Valley Golf Club and Paul Viola and Alex Knoll from Bethlehem Golf Club. The teams narrowly edged out four teams who finished one shot back with scores of 5-under (66). In the group at 5-under were the teams of Tom Michaels and Blake Scheider of Berkshire Country Club, David Clark and David Sandberg from Pine Valley Golf Club, Bob Hennefer and Curtis Kirkpatrick of Indian Spring Golf Club, and John Kellogg and Shawn Hall of Radley Run Country Club.

Leading the way on the Pines Course was a team from LedgeRock Golf Club featuring PGA Head Professional Tony Perla and his Assistant PGA Professional Tim Beegle. The team posted a score of 6-under (65) to win by one shot over the team of Pat Butkus and Greg Matthias from Tavistock Country Club. A trio of teams tied for third place after finishing two shots back with team scores of 4-under (67). Tony Perla and Pat Butkus also managed to finish in third place with their Assistants Tyler Schermick and Brad Sanders respectively. The third team to finish at 4-under was the duo from North Hills Country Club, Shawn Matthews and Kerry Fitzpatrick.

The Section would like to thank our sponsors Cutter & Buck, Golf Max, Country Club Editions, and the PGA Tour for supporting this great event. The next event on the Philadelphia PGA calendar is Thursday’s Skee Riegel Senior Open at Radnor Valley Country Club on Thursday, August 2.

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EASTON, Pa. – In an unfortunate trend, weather once again plagued the GALV Lehigh Valley for the third consecutive year. However, unlike the previous two events, this year’s tournament had to be shortened to an 18-hole event after heavy rains made the course unplayable half-way through the second round.

With play reverting back to the tournament’s first round scores it was Mark Sheftic (Merion Golf Club) who came away with the victory in the season’s eighth Omega Player of the Year points event. Sheftic played a near perfect round of golf on Monday at Northampton Country Club posting a tournament best eight birdies against only two bogeys. Sheftic had five birdies and one bogey on the outward nine to make the turn at 4-under. As he played his way back to the clubhouse, Sheftic had three additional birdies and one more bogey to finish at 6-under (66) which in the end was good enough for a two shot victory.

Finishing just behind Sheftic in a tie for second place at 4-under (68) was a trio of players including two Lehigh Valley amateurs. The first of the group to reach 4-under was amateur Carlos Fullerton, who after an early bogey on the par3 4th hole went on to post five birdies to finish just two shots shy of Sheftic’s number. Although Fullerton did not claim the tournament’s overall top spot he did share the amateur division title with Jim Maura. Maura played a flawless round of golf adding four birdies along the way to join Fullerton at 4-under.

Rounding out the group of players at 4-under was PGA Professional Brian Bergstol (Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort). Bergstol carded five birdies, which included a stretch of four in five holes, helping him to overcome a bogey on the par4 12th hole to finish tied for second place.

In the tournaments senior division John Appleget (The Shore Club) took home the top spot after posting a 2-under (70) in the tournament’s opening round. After carding two birdies and two bogeys over his opening nine holes, Appleget made the turn at even par. As he made his way around Northampton’s inward nine, Appleget posted three additional birdies against only one bogey to finish two shots clear of second place finisher John Pillar (Country Club of Woodloch Springs) who finished day one at 1-under (71). Rounding out the podium in the senior division was George Forster (Radnor Valley Country Club) who finished with an even par (72).

Leading the way in the newly formed super senior division was Don DeAngelis (Center Square Golf Club). DeAngelis played a phenomenal round to open the tournament playing bogey-free golf while adding three birdies to finish at 3-under (69).

The Section would like to thank our title sponsor, the Golf Association of Lehigh Valley and Mr. Karl Gilbert as well as the entire staff and membership of Northampton Country Club for their hospitality.

There won’t be much of a break in action as the Philadelphia PGA will resume tournament play on Friday, July 27 for the Doylestown Open held annually at Doylestown Country Club. For complete coverage of the Philadelphia PGA follow on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

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Malvern, Pa. –The heat wave continued on Tuesday afternoon, July 3, 2018 but the Philadelphia PGA was still able to hold their annual Connelly Cup- Head Professional Championship at Applebrook Golf Club, on a walking only course. The Connelly Cup is named in honor of Jack Connelly a past President of both the Philadelphia PGA and the PGA of America. This year’s event at Applebrook Golf Club brought together 50 of the Section’s Head Professionals. Play today began with shotgun start allowing all players to start their rounds at the same time.

The build-up of heat as the day progressed produced a fifteen minute delay with a heavy downpour and thunder. The sweltering heat continued following the delay as the players finished in sauna-like conditions. As the scorecards started to come in it was the host Head Professional, Dave McNabb, who took the early lead with a 3-under par, 68. Dave’s lead would not last long as past Section President John Pillar (Country Club of Woodloch Springs) topped the leaderboard with a score of 65, 6-under par. Pillar had 7 birdies and 1 bogey on his scorecard despite the weather conditions.  Out of the five par threes Pillar birdied three of them adding two more on par fives and two on par fours. Unfortunately the day ended with a much longer weather delay causing five people to be unable to finish.

The Philadelphia Section would like to thank the Applebrook staff for helping make this a great event as well as our presenting sponsors Bushnell, Country Club Editions, Earth Networks, Pukka, and the PGA Tour.

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The Philadelphia PGA’s annual Pro-Junior Championship was held on Monday, July 11 at Applecross Country Club. The championship pairs one PGA Professional with one junior partner, boy or girl age 18 or younger, in a better ball of partners event featuring both a NET and GROSS division with juniors receiving 80% of their current handicap. In addition to being a competitive event that allows the junior golfer to experience a Philadelphia PGA Professional tournament, the Championship is also about camaraderie between PGA Professionals and the junior participants.

With scores coming in fast and furious after the championship’s 12pm shotgun it was tough to get a grasp as to who was pulling away from the field. However, in the end it was the team from Llanerch Country Club featuring Jared Murosky, PGA and his partner Riley Quartermain who walked away as champions. Murosky and Quartermain shot a combined 12-under (60) in the tournament’s net division to finish four shots ahead of second place finishers John Pillar, PGA and his partner and son Alex who finished with a score of 8-under (64). Rounding out the top three was the team from Sunnybrook Golf Club featuring PGA Professional Branden Allen and his partner TJ Robertson.

Despite finishing runner-up in the tournament’s net division, John and Alex Pillar did manage to claim the top spot in the tournament’s gross division. The Pillar’s shot a combined gross score of 7-under (65) to finish three shots ahead of four teams who all finished at 4-under (68). The group at 4-under featured Stu Ingraham (M Golf Range) and his partner Ryan McCabe, Robert Kleckner (Linfield National Golf Club) and his partner Joshua Ryan, the father/son team of Rich and Drew Steinmetz of Spring Ford Country Club and the tournament’s net division champions Jared Murosky and Riley Quartermain.

The Philadelphia PGA thanks the staff and membership of Applecross Country Club for their support of our tournament program. We also thank our tournament partner Adidas and local representative Tom Kelly, PGA for their contributions to today’s event. The next event on the Philadelphia PGA’s schedule is the Rolling Green Team Stableford on Tuesday, July 17 at Rolling Green Country Club in Springfield, Pa.

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