Allentown, Pa. – Once again Lehigh Country Club played host to the first of two Philadelphia PGA Pro-Lady Team Championships. On Tuesday, May 17, 43 teams all featuring one PGA Professional and three female amateurs gathered at the William Flynn-designed course to compete in the better ball of partners event. The Spring Pro-Lady Team Championship featured both a Gross and Net division.

Early in the tournament it looked as though the winning team may have come from the tournament’s first pairing. The team featuring George Forster (Radnor Valley CC) and partners Ellen Berlinger, Cindy Farruggio, and Sue Meckling combined to shoot a team score of 11-under-par (59). The group carded nine birdies and one net eagle to set the pace early in the day.

However before the day was done the group was joined at 11-under-par by the team of Bill Sautter (Philadelphia Cricket Club) and his partners Carol Finger, Becky Frazier, and Nancy Phillips. Also finishing at 11-under-par was team featuring host Professional Wayne Phillips (Lehigh Country Club) and his partners Denise Hobbie, Barb Bennicoff, and Barb Brodsky. The paring of Kevin Edwards (Woodstone Country Club) and his partners Donna D’Amore, Suzy Armbruster, and Tammy Abernathy were also able to finish at 11-under-par. The final team to reach 11-under-par was the team John Allen (Huntingdon Valley Country Club) and his partners Shannon Reilly, Judy Leighton, and Lisa Fazio.

Although as the day went on it became clear that none of the teams at 11-under-par would post the winning score. Early in the afternoon wave the team featuring John Bierkan (Aronimink Golf Club) and his partners Lynne Jones, Lisa Hummer, and Liz Finley were able to post a score 1-shot better and finish at 12-under-par (58). They were quickly joined by the team of Tom Koenig (Penn Oaks Golf Club) and his partners Donna Dalusio, Tina Landis, and Joan Skivo. Also finishing in a tie for second place was Sean Williams (Lehigh Country Club) and partners Joy Wallace, Barb Barry, and Suzi Lentz. The fourth and final team to finish at 12-under-par was the group featuring Rick LeBeau (Gulph Mills Golf Club) and his partners Maggie Condon, Scilia Smith, and Dina Gibson.

In the end one team managed to best the field and claim the tournament’s top prize. Steve Frederick (Lehigh Country Club) and his partners Mo Bryan, Erica Hyman, and Linda Epstein carded an impressive 15-under-par (55) to win by 3-shots. The team finished with eleven birdies and two eagles claiming the season’s first Pro-Lady Team event. With the exception of amateur Mo Bryan this Lehigh team was the same team that claimed a share of the title in 2015.

In the Gross Division the team from Merion Golf Club featuring PGA Professional Matthew Walbert and his partners Liz Haines, Loraine Jones, and Christie Tallent led wire-to-wire with a score of 5-under-par to finish 1-shot clear of the second place finishers. The team carded six birdies and only one bogey to claim the top spot.

The Section would like to thank our tournament sponsor Volvik and Mr. Chris Terebesi as well as the members and staff of Lehigh Country Club for their support. The next event on the Philadelphia PGA calendar is The Laurel Creek Classic scheduled for Monday, May 23 at Laurel Creek Country Club.

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