Year: 2025

Michael Strain Wins Philadelphia PGA Connelly Cup Head Golf Professional Championship

June 9, 2025Comments Off on Michael Strain Wins Philadelphia PGA Connelly Cup Head Golf Professional ChampionshipPPGA

Medford, N.J. (June 9, 2025) — PGA of America Golf Professional Michael Strain of Concord Country Club in West Chester, Pa., outmatched Mike Meisenzahl of Tavistock (N.J.) Country Club, in a sudden-death playoff that went four holes to win the 2025 Philadelphia PGA Connelly Cup Head Golf Professional Championship at Medford Village Country Club. It is Strain’s first Philadelphia PGA Section victory.

The Connelly Cup is named in honor of Jack Connelly, a past president of both the PGA of America (2001-02) and Philadelphia PGA Section (1983-84). Connelly was also inducted into the Section’s Hall of Fame in 2000, and PGA of America Hall of Fame in 2005.

Strain battled the cool and damp conditions to finish his round with a 2-under-par 70, good enough to tie Meisenzahl and force a playoff. He kept his round in regulation steady, making three birdies and a lone bogey.

“I hit it really well today,” Strain said after being presented the trophy. “Having [my wife and PGA Member] Tori [Newbury] on the bag today helped a lot.”

Strain said his best shot of the day came on the first playoff hole, having hit a low hook among the left trees and ending about six feet from the hole. Meisenzahl drained his 30-plus-foot birdie to continue the playoff.

Ultimatley, Strain walked away victorious after going 3-4-4-4 in the playoff.

Strain went on to thank his wife Tori, his family, all of the members at Concord Country Club, Medford Village Country Club for hosting, and the Section staff.

There was a four-way tie for third place, two strokes behind the leaders: Andy Hewitt, Cripple Creek Golf & Country Club; Michael Little, Clubhouse 54; Bob Hennefer, Laurel Creek Country Club; and Anthony Hoffman, John F. Byrne Golf Course.

Green Valley Country Club’s John Cooper, PGA, took the top prize in the Senior Division with his 2-over-par 74. He bettered George Frake, Moorestown Field Club; and Dave McNabb, Applebrook Golf Club; by two strokes. George Forster, Radnor Valley Country Club, finished in fourth place at 5-over-par. Darryl Lock, Skippack Golf Club, and John Allen, Squires Golf Club tied for fifth place at 7-over.

View the full 2025 Philadelphia PGA Connelly Cup Head Golf Professional Championship leaderboard by clicking here.

The 2025 Philadelphia PGA Connelly Cup Head Golf Professional Championship is supported by Bushnell Golf, Wilson, Earth Networks, and the PGA Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA of America Golf Professionals thank our partners, Medford Village Country Club, its membership, management, and staff, 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

PGA of America Golf Professional Anthony Sebastianelli Wins 39th Burlington Classic Presented by WSFS Bank in Sudden-Death Playoff

June 2, 2025Comments Off on PGA of America Golf Professional Anthony Sebastianelli Wins 39th Burlington Classic Presented by WSFS Bank in Sudden-Death PlayoffPPGA

Westampton, N.J. (June 2, 2025) — PGA of America Golf Professional Anthony Sebastianelli of Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa., won the 39th Burlington Classic Presented by WSFS Bank at Burlington Country Club, following a sudden-death playoff with Radnor Golf Foundation’s Hugo Mazzalupi, PGA.

Sebastianelli turned in rounds of 67-68–135 to finish his tournament at 5-under-par. He made par to Mazzalupi’s bogey on the first playoff hole to win. Terry Hatch, Royal Oaks Golf Course, shot a 5-under-par 65, good enough to finish in third place. Jeff Herb, Waynesborough Country Club, Mark Sheftic, Sunnybrook Golf Club, and Austin Barbin, Chesapeake Bay Golf Club, tied for fourth place, four strokes behind the champion.

“This is an event I have wanted to win since 2023, when I lost in a playoff,” said Sebastianelli following play. “I actually got a little emotional on 18, because I really wanted to win it that bad.”

He said his game plan for the final round was to play “boring golf,” fairways and greens, which he said he did well.

“Golf is hard,” continued Sebastianelli. “After I made double bogey on 17, I told myself that golf is hard, which helps me reset.”

He birdied his final hole to secure his place in the playoff.

Sebastianelli went on to thank Burlington Country Club, PGA Member Mike Mack, Tournament Chair John Hanuscin, WSFS Bank, Rolling Green Golf Club, and his wife Emily.

Hugo Mazzalupi took the top prize in the Senior Division, finishing ahead of Hatch by one stroke, and two stokes clear of Mark Sheftic, Sunnybrook Golf Club. John Pillar, Country Club at Woodloch Springs, and Rich Steinmetz, Spring Ford Country Club, tied for fourth place at even-par.

Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Bill Sautter, PGA, finished atop the Super Senior Division with rounds of 76-71–147, bettering Wayne Phillips, Lehigh Country Club, and Greg Farrow, Deerwood Country Club, by three strokes.

Corey Katzen recorded rounds of 74-68–142 to finish as low amateur and win the Marotto Medal by six strokes over Kyle Raudenbush and Pete D’Angelo.

Following the final round, Burlington Country Club presented Philadelphia PGA Section Executive Director a $1,000 donation to PGA REACH Philadelphia, the Section’s 510(c)(3) charitable foundation.

View the full 39th Burlington Classic Pro-Am leaderboard by clicking here.

The 39th Burlington Classic Pro-Am is presented and hosted by Burlington Country Club and is supported by WSFS Bank. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA of America Golf Professionals thank its membership, management, staff, host PGA of America Golf Professional Mike Mack, Tournament Chair John M. Hanuscin, and the entire 2025 Burlington Classic Pro-Am Committee, as the event would not have been possible without their support.

The next Philadelphia PGA Rolex / The Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year tournament is the Conestoga Classic on Monday, June 16, at Conestoga Country Club in Lancaster, Pa.

About the Burlington Classic
The Burlington Classic Pro-Am was founded in 1986 by Mike Mack, PGA, Joe Fattorini, Leroy Peacock, Rex McWilliams, Chip Miller, George Hilt, and Donald “Butch” Eckman. The event quickly became one of the most popular events on the Philadelphia PGA Section’s tournament calendar, and is now a Philadelphia PGA Rolex / The Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year Points Event.

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

PGA of America Golf Professionals Fick, Rohrbach Lead Parris, Devaney, and Schillinger to Victory in the 39th Burlington Classic Pro-Am Presented by WSFS Bank

June 1, 2025Comments Off on PGA of America Golf Professionals Fick, Rohrbach Lead Parris, Devaney, and Schillinger to Victory in the 39th Burlington Classic Pro-Am Presented by WSFS BankPPGA

Westampton, N.J. (June 1, 2025) — PGA of America Golf Professionals Jeff Fick of Moselem Springs Golf Club in Fleetwood, Pa., and Rob Rohrbach led their team of amateurs, Ryan Parris, Conner Devaney, and Jake Schillinger, to victory in the 39th Burlington Classic Pro-Am Presented by WSFS Bank at Burlington Country Club on a unseasonably cool day.

The winning team finished with a team score of 25-under-par in the Two Best of Five format, one stroke ahead of host PGA Member Mike Mack, Burlington Country Club, Retired PGA Member Mike Thompson, Tim Irons Sr., Dave Reilley, and Gary Smith; and Medford Village Country Club’s Nicholas Lemieux, LuLu Country Club’s Mike Dynda, Pat Little, Pat Haas, and Tom Gee. Two teams tied for third place at 23-under-par: John Spina, Philadelphia Cricket Club, and Rich Steinmetz, Spring Ford Country Club, Anthony Maffia, Anthony Bianco, and Glen Ikeda; and Dave McNabb, Applebrook Golf Club, and Michael Ferguson, Riverton Country Club, P.J. Elstone, Paul Elstone, and Richard Curl.

The individual PGA Professional event will conclude on Monday, June 2, Mark Sheftic, Sunnybrook Golf Club, leads the field following his 5-under-par round of 65. Radnor Golf Foundation’s Hugo Mazzalupi, Chesapeake Bay Golf Club’s Austin Barbin, and Bidermann Golf Club’s Zac Oakley find themselves in a tie for second place at 4-under-par. Two PGA Professionals are tied for fifth place, two strokes behind Sheftic: Anthony Sebastianelli, Rolling Green Golf Club, and Ross Brown, Fox Hill Country Club.

Sheftic is also leading the Senior Division, one clear of Mazzalupi, three over McNabb, and four clear of Dom DiJulia, DiJulia School of Golf, and Jason Wilson, Bidermann Golf Club.

There is a tie for the lead at 2-over-par in the Super Senior Division following the first round: Greg Farrow, Deerwood Country Club; and Rob Shuey, P.O.Y. Golf. Wayne Phillips, Lehigh Country Club, is in third place, three strokes behind the leaders, followed by Bill Sautter, Philadelphia Cricket Club, at 6-over-par.

Five amateurs from the first round advanced to the final round to compete for low amateur honors and the Marotto Medal on Monday, alongside the PGA Professional field: Tom Byrne, 1-under-par; Pete D’Angelo, 2-over-par; Corey Katzen, 4-over-par; Kyle Raudenbush, 4-over-par; and Carl Sornson, 4-over-par.

View the full 39th Burlington Classic Pro-Am leaderboard by clicking here.

The 39th Burlington Classic Pro-Am is presented and hosted by Burlington Country Club and is supported by WSFS Bank. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA of America Golf Professionals thank its membership, management, staff, host PGA of America Golf Professional Mike Mack, Tournament Chair John M. Hanuscin, and the entire 2025 Burlington Classic Pro-Am Committee, as the event would not have been possible without their support.

About the Burlington Classic Pro-Am
The Burlington Classic Pro-Am was founded in 1986 by Mike Mack, PGA, Joe Fattorini, Leroy Peacock, Rex McWilliams, Chip Miller, George Hilt, and Donald “Butch” Eckman. The event quickly became one of the most popular events on the Philadelphia PGA Section’s tournament calendar, and is now a Philadelphia PGA Rolex / The Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year Points Event.

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

PGA of America Announces Inaugural PGA NCCGA Pinehurst Open Held December 6-7, 2025

May 28, 2025Comments Off on PGA of America Announces Inaugural PGA NCCGA Pinehurst Open Held December 6-7, 2025PPGA

Editors: For photos, click here.

FRISCO, Texas (May 28, 2025) – The PGA of America announced today the inaugural PGA NCCGA (National Collegiate Club Golf Association) Pinehurst Open hosted Dec. 6-7, 2025, on the No. 6 and No. 9 courses. The December tournament will be held on the No. 6 and No. 9 courses in 2025 and 2026, followed by the No. 6 and No. 8 courses in 2027.

“The PGA NCCGA Pinehurst Open was established to offer an unparalleled experience at a prestigious venue, welcoming all NCCGA players,” said PGA of America President Don Rea Jr., PGA Master Professional and Owner/Operator of Augusta Ranch Golf Club (Arizona). “The mission of the PGA NCCGA is to provide every golfer with the opportunity to compete during their college years, and this tournament is a testament to that vision, embodying its true purpose.”

The PGA NCCGA Pinehurst Open is designed to be inclusive of all collegiate club golf teams, and it is open to the first 25 club teams who sign up when registration launches later this year. Each team will consist of up to eight individuals and the top five scores will count towards each day’s team score. The team with the lowest 36-hole total score will capture the title.

“We’re excited to welcome the PGA NCCGA back to Pinehurst, and we are looking forward to hosting these great players and teams in the years to come,” says Matt Barksdale, Pinehurst Resort’s Vice President of Golf. “Pinehurst has always been a home for great amateur golf events, and the PGA NCCGA Pinehurst Open provides a great opportunity to compete on some of Pinehurst’s best courses.”

As the national governing body for collegiate club golf, the PGA NCCGA operates multiple 36-hole tournaments in each of its 27 regions across the country. All tournaments are co-ed and open to active college students of all skill levels. Individual students can represent their schools if they don’t have the required five students to form a team.

The top teams and individuals in the country, as well as two teams from the Pinehurst Open, will receive an automatic bid to the Spring Championship. The 2025 PGA NCCGA Spring Championship was recently held at Mission Resort + Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida, April 26-27. The Golf Club at North Carolina State University claimed its second national title in a wire-to-wire finish.

About the PGA National Collegiate Club Golf Association (NCCGA)

The PGA NCCGA is the national governing body of collegiate club golf and is operated by the PGA of America. With more than 300 schools and 5,000 members, the NCCGA makes college golf a reality for any student. For more information about the PGA NCCGA, visit NCCGA.org and follow on Instagram.

About Pinehurst Resort & Country Club

Established in 1895 in the Sandhills of North Carolina, Pinehurst Resort & Country Club is a 2,200-acre property featuring 10 outstanding golf courses, The Cradle nine-hole par-3 short course, 75,000 square-foot putting course (Thistle Dhu), 16 clay tennis courts, an award-winning spa, other recreation and social activities for families, and elegant accommodations across one hotel, two inns, villas and condos. Widely known as the Cradle of American Golf, Pinehurst hosted more single golf championships – including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup and PGA TOUR Championship – than any other site in North America. Golfers enjoy layouts designed by the game’s greatest architects, including Donald Ross, Gil Hanse, Jack Nicklaus, Rees Jones, Tom Fazio and Ellis Maples. Pinehurst Resort, in concert with the United States Golf Association (USGA), was recently selected as the first U.S. Open Anchor Site and will host the championship in 2024, 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047. The resort is slightly more than an hour from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, 90 minutes from Charlotte Douglas International Airport and only a half-day drive from many East Coast cities. To book tee times and golf packages: www.pinehurst.com, 855.235.8507.

About the PGA of America

The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who love the game, are expert coaches, operators and business leaders, and work daily to drive interest, inclusion and participation in the sport. The PGA of America owns and operates numerous championships and events, including major championships for men, women, seniors and the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s foremost sporting events. For more information, visit PGA.com and follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook.

Media Contacts

Alan Cox, PGA of America, acox@pgahq.com

Hayley Wilson, Alday Public Relations, hayley@aldaypr.com

PGA of America Golf Professional Trevor Bensel Wins 27th Annual Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic and $100,000 Prize

May 27, 2025Comments Off on PGA of America Golf Professional Trevor Bensel Wins 27th Annual Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic and $100,000 PrizePPGA

Plymouth Meeting, Pa. (May 27, 2025) — PGA of America Golf Professional Trevor Bensel of LuLu Country Club in Glenside, Pa., won the 27th Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic at Sunnybrook Golf Club with a 5-under-par 67 in front of hundreds of fans. Bensel’s $100,000 winner’s check is the largest first-place prize available from any event across the PGA of America’s 41 nationwide Sections.

Bensel bettered Rolling Green Golf Club’s Braden Shattuck, PGA, by one stroke. He made seven birdies and two bogeys, and made a terrific up-and-down for par on No. 18 to secure his victory.

“Definitely without a doubt,” Bensel said after being asked if his par on 18 was the best of his career. “I hit a perfect shot, it ended up three feet below the hole, and made the putt.”

Bensel went on to thank The Haverford Trust Company and Haverford Founder and Director Mr. George Connell for giving him the opportunity to win a life-changing amount of money, and Sunnybrook Golf Club for hosting.

During the trophy ceremony, Bensel joked that he has been living with a friend, and that he will be able to afford his own place now.

Bensel is no stranger to the Section’s winner’s circle, having several individual titles to his name, including the 2022 Philadelphia Assistant PGA Professional Championship.

Four PGA Professionals tied for third place at 3-under-par: Zach Barbin, Chesapeake Bay Golf Club; Parks Price, Hanover Country Club; Alex Knoll, Glen Brook Golf Club; and Billy Stewart, Union League Liberty Hill.

To view the full 27th Annual Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic leaderboard, click here.

The 27th Annual Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic’s title partner is The Haverford Trust Company, and was supported by Tasc. The event is also a Rolex Philadelphia PGA Player of the Year bonus points event. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank the Haverford Trust Company, Sunnybrook Golf Club, its membership, management, and staff, as well as our partners, as the event would not have been possible without their support.

About Haverford
The Haverford Trust Company was founded in 1979 on Philadelphia’s landmark Rittenhouse Square. Since our founding, one thing has remained unchanged…our commitment to quality. Haverford has prospered for more than 45 years in a finance industry dominated by giants through our passion and adaptability. With 140+ employees and $14.6 billion* in assets, our size is our advantage. We focus on the essentials: the Quality Investing philosophy whose goal is to provide our clients with the right mix of stability and growth across the market cycle. For more information, visit haverfordquality.com.

*Including assets under management or consultation for The Haverford Trust Company and Haverford Financial Services as of 3/31/2025

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

Playing Through: Megan Leineweber, PGA (S2E4)

May 27, 2025Comments Off on Playing Through: Megan Leineweber, PGA (S2E4)PPGA

Welcome to the latest episode of the Philadelphia PGA Section’s web series, “Playing Through,” where PGA of America Golf Professionals, Section staff, Section partners, and other industry professionals are asked 18 questions about their lives and careers.

This episode features PGA of America Member Megan Leineweber, the PGA head golf professional at Stonewall in Elverson, Pa.

If you are interested in appearing in a future episode, please complete this form by clicking here. To watch past episodes, click here.

PGA of America Golf Professionals Support Patriot Golf Days Over Memorial Day Weekend

May 20, 2025Comments Off on PGA of America Golf Professionals Support Patriot Golf Days Over Memorial Day WeekendPPGA

FRISCO, Texas (May 20, 2025) – Once again, for the 18th year, PGA of America Golf Professionals, in support of Folds of Honor and the PGA of America REACH Foundation, will serve Veteran and First Responder Families over Memorial Day weekend (May 24-26) through Patriot Golf Days.

The initiative encourages golfers throughout the nation to support families of Veterans and First Responders by rounding up green fees, donations, golf tournaments or participating in Hero100 Golf Marathons.

Founded in 2007 by former F-16 fighter pilot and PGA of America Golf Professional Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, Patriot Golf Days is a grassroots fundraising initiative of Folds of Honor held annually in May and culminating Memorial Day weekend.

Over the last 18 years, Patriot Golf Days events have raised more than $106 million and funded about 21,240 academic scholarships. More than 200,000 rounds have been played in support of Patriot Golf Days.

“Golf is an engine for good,” said PGA of America President and Master Professional Don Rea Jr., Owner/Operator of Augusta Ranch Golf Club (Arizona). “It’s an honor to support Veteran and First Responder Families alongside Folds of Honor through Patriot Golf Days and do all we can to provide for those who have served our country. Whether it be through Patriot Golf Days or PGA HOPE, our more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals strive to give back through this great game we all love.”

“As a PGA of America Golf Professional, I’m grateful to my fellow Members for their unwavering support of Patriot Golf Days,” said Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “Folds of Honor is blessed to be working with the leading golf organizations to make a life-changing difference for our recipients. I’m thankful too for the individuals who play golf during the month of May or make an online donation. These funds provide educational scholarships to the families who deserve and need our help and who have sacrificed so much.”

The PGA of America REACH Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America, supports the promotional efforts for Patriot Golf Days to the more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals, their facilities and consumers. Folds of Honor leads the grassroots efforts for Patriot Golf Days activities through Memorial Day weekend.

“As a PGA of America Member, and someone who believes in the mission of Folds of Honor, I’m excited to again be participating in Patriot Golf Days,” said Chris Tuohey, PGA, General Manager at Covered Bridge and Champions Pointe Golf Clubs in Henryville, Indiana. “The individuals who Folds of Honor serves, and who have sacrificed so much for our country and communities, deserve our full support. We have a terrific membership who believe in the power of an education and support Patriot Golf Days. I encourage everyone to get involved in any way they can.”

Additionally, since 2023, the Folds of Honor Foundation has made a significant annual commitment to PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), the flagship military program of the PGA of America REACH Foundation. The program introduces golf to Veterans and Active Duty Military through a six-to eight-week golf instruction curriculum taught by PGA of America Golf Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency.

PGA HOPE, celebrating over a decade of impact in 2025, has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which enables direct referrals to the program as a form of therapy. The program has served more than 50,000 Veterans since 2015 and is expected to host 17,000 across all 50 states in 2025.

About PGA of America REACH Foundation

The PGA of America REACH Foundation is the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America. The mission of the Foundation is to positively impact the lives of youth, military and diverse populations by enabling access to PGA of America Golf Professionals, PGA Sections and the game of golf. For more information on the PGA of America REACH Foundation, visit PGAREACH.org, follow @PGAREACH on Instagram, X and find us on Facebook.

About Folds of Honor

Folds of Honor is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of US military service members and first responders who have fallen or been disabled while serving our country and communities. Our educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program. Funds for a second bachelor’s degree or trade/technical program certification are also available. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 62,000 scholarships totaling about $290 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 45 percent are minorities. A total of 91 percent of expenses fund our mission of providing educational scholarships to the families of our nation’s heroes. It is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and Platinum on Candid. It was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot (with three combat tours in Iraq) and PGA Professional. He is currently stationed at Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship visit foldsofhonor.org.

Media Contacts:
Jesse Dodson, PGA of America, jdodson@pgahq.com
Glenn Greenspan, Folds of Honor, GGreenspan@foldsofhonor.org