Braden Shattuck, Joanna Coe Earn Philadelphia PGA Player of the Year Awards
Medford, N.J. (October 28, 2024) — PGA of America Golf Professionals Braden Shattuck of Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa., and Joanna Coe of Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., have earned the titles of Philadelphia PGA Rolex / Haverford Trust Player of the Year and Women’s Player of the Year, respectively, and were recognized at the Section’s Fall Membership Meeting at Medford Village Country Club. These are both Shattuck and Coe’s third consecutive Player of the Year titles.
Shattuck also earned the F. Edward DeBaufre Trophy for Scoring Average, a title he previously won in 2022. His scoring average of 68.42 over 12 rounds is the lowest since the trophy was commissioned in 1964. In addition to his impressive scoring, Shattuck played one of the most remarkable seasons in recent memory. In May, he secured Low Club Professional honors at the PGA Championship in Kentucky, after qualifying for the Corebridge Financial Team at the PGA Professional Championship in Texas, where he was defending champion. Following his impressive finish in the year’s second men’s major championship, Shattuck set a new course record, 63, at Bellewood Country Club the next day, en route to winning the Delaware Valley Open. He also won this year’s Conestoga Classic, and Jack Jolly & Son Championship.
While Coe remained competitive on the course, she also gave birth to her first child in June. She won her second Women’s Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship at Union League Golf Club at Torresdale in September, and competed on the victorious U.S. Women’s PGA Cup Team in October, marking her second-consecutive appearance in the burgeoning biannual event.
Fellow PGA Members John Pillar of the Country Club at Woodloch Springs in Hawley, Pa., and Bill Sautter of the Philadelphia Cricket Club in Flourtown, Pa., were also honored; Pillar secured this year’s Robert “Skee” Riegel Senior Player of the Year title, while Sautter earned Super Senior Player of the Year.
In addition to his Senior Player of the Year title, Pillar also earned the Section’s Comeback Player of the Year, thanks in part to his victories in the Philadelphia Senior PGA Professional Championship, Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic, and TaylorMade Classic. Sautter had a similarly successful season, winning seven Super Senior events.
PGA Member Brian Bergstol, Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort, was crowned this season’s Central Counties Chapter Player of the Year, having won eight Chapter tournaments. The Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) announced Trevor Bensel, PGA, of Sandy Run C.C., the PAO Player of the Year, winning the PAO Tour Championship at Aronimink G.C. and the PAO event at the William Hyndman III Memorial Classic.
PGA Professional Mark Parson, Harbor Pines G.C., was given the Section’s Ike Turner Most Improved Player award; his best finish this season was a tie for second place in the Philadelphia Players Championship at Lookaway G.C.
During the Fall Membership Meeting, the Section’s membership reelected DuPont C.C.’s Michael Caldwell, District 2; Elmhurst C.C.’s Mike Molino, District 4; Rolling Green G.C.’s Scott Chisholm, District 6; and Gulph Mills G.C.’s Tom Gilbert, District 6; to second two-year terms on the Board of Directors.
The Section also acknowledged this year’s recipients of the Bud Jennings PGA Golf Management Scholarship: PGA Associates Olivia Gardenhour, Chambersburg C.C., and Kevin Kennedy II, Applebrook G.C. The scholarship was developed by the Jennings family to honor Bud Jennings, a lifelong golfer and longtime Chester Valley Golf Club member. Given Bud’s love for the game of golf, and his willingness to give back and help others, the Jennings family says that this award is the perfect way to remember his legacy.
Following the meeting, 96 of the nearly 150 PGA Professionals in attendance teed it up in the Fall Meeting’s two-person scramble, with Manufacturers’ G. & C.C.’s Peter Clarke, PGA, and Rob Wolfers, PGA, finishing atop the leaderboard at 11-under-par. Five teams tied for second place one stroke behind the winners.
To view the full 2024 Fall Membership Meeting Golf event leaderboard, click here.
The 2024 Fall Membership Meeting is supported by Cobra Puma Golf, Evolve Golf, GolfForever, GolfStatus, Motocaddy, Signature Golf, and StickX. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Medford Village Country Club, their members, management, host PGA Professionals, and staff, as well as our partners, as the event would not have been possible without their support.
About the Philadelphia PGA Section
The Philadelphia PGA Section, covering eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, is one of 41 geographical managing entities of the PGA of America. This Section manages nearly 900 PGA of America Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.
Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com