Macungie, Pa. (July 11, 2022) — Philadelphia PGA Member Rich Steinmetz of Spring Ford Country Club in Royersford, Pa., leads the Golf Association of Lehigh Valley’s 2022 Lehigh Valley Open at Brookside Country Club by three strokes, following his 3-under-par opening round of 68.

It was the first time seeing the Brookside layout for many of the PGA Professionals in the field as this is the first new host site for the GALV Lehigh Valley Open since 2009. The Section did host its Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship at Brookside in 1968, won by Stan Dudas. Between the steady breeze and the difficult greens, most scores remained near par or over.

Steinmetz, however, managed to make four birdies and only one bogey in his opening round, placing him three strokes ahead of Alex Willey, Burlington C.C.; Jeff Fick, Moselem Springs G.C.; and Travis Deibert, Doylestown C.C. Four players are tied for third, four back: Brian Kelly, Bucknell G.C.; Trevor Bensel, Sandy Run C.C.; and amateur Jake Haberstumpf, Bethlehem, Pa.; and Rocco Sgrillo, John F. Byrne G.C.

In the race for Low Amateur honors, Haberstumpf leads the way by two strokes over Zach Fischl, Bethelem, Pa.; and Michael Ashcraft, Freemansbirg, Pa. Scott Kalamar, Bethlehem, Pa.; is in solo fourth place at 5-over-par. Three amateurs are tied for fifth place at 6-over-par.

Brian Kelly leads the Senior Division at 1-over-par, one clear of Applebrook G.C.’s Dave McNabb; Hugo Mazzalupi, Linfield National G.C.; and George Forster, Radnor Valley C.C. John Pillar, C.C. of Woodloch Springs, is in fifth at 3-over-par.

The Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Bill Sautter leads the Super Seniors following his 3-over-par round of 74. PGA Life Member Michael Versuk is six behind Sautter.

The 2022 GALV Lehigh Valley Open’s final round is scheduled to conclude tomorrow, July 12.to Due to the weather forecast for tomorrow’s final round, starting times will be moved to 8:30-10:10 a.m., with a two-tee start.

The 2022 GALV Lehigh Valley Open, a Philadelphia PGA Rolex / The Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year tournament, is supported by the Golf Association of Lehigh Valley, Jani-King, and the PGA Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Brookside Country Club, its members, management, host PGA Professionals, and staff, as well as our partners, as the event would not have been possible without their support.

To view the full 2022 GALV Lehigh Valley Open leaderboard, click here.

The next Philadelphia PGA Rolex / The Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year tournament on the schedule is the Doylestown Open on Friday, July 29 at Doylestown Country Club. The Doylestown Open is also the final Silvercrest Cup qualifier prior to the final in September.

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 Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com