Lititz, Pa. (September 23, 2020) — Alex Knoll, PGA, of Glen Brook G.C. in Stroudsburg, Pa., winner of the Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship, at Bent Creek Country Club and the Country Club of York, will lead 11 Section PGA Professionals to compete in the 54th PGA Professional Championship, April 25-28, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Knoll turned in a winning total of 10-under-par 204 to successfully defend the Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship, winning wire-to-wire. Tom Cooper of Pine Valley (N.J.) C.C. was runner-up, finishing at 7-under-par 207. They are joined by Rusty Harbold of Philadelphia Cricket Club in Flourtown, Pa; Andrew Turner of French Creek G.C. in Elverson, Pa.; Michael Little of Lookaway G.C. in Buckingham, Pa.; Zac Oakley of Bidermann G.C. in Wilmington, Del.; Brett Walker of Sunnybrook G.C. in Plymouth Meeting, Pa.; Hugo Mazzalupi of Patriot’s Glen National G.C. in Elkton, Md.; Parks Price of the C.C. of York in York, Pa.;  Rich Steinmetz of Spring Ford C.C. in Royersford, Pa.; and Mark Sheftic of Merion G.C. in Ardmore, Pa.; Ashley Grier of Overbrook G.C. in Villanova, Pa. also qualified via her selection to the 2019 U.S. Women’s PGA Cup.

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“I was proud of myself today,” Knoll said of his final round at Bent Creek C.C. “My past big tournament experiences really helped me play better today.”

Knoll also made his major championship debut earlier this year in the 102nd PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, Calif.

A highlight of Knoll’s final round was his tee shot on No. 17, a short 270-yard par-4, which led to a birdie. He hit driver just long and right of the green.

“Driver is my best club,” Knoll said. “If I can put driver in my hand, I’m going to. Even though there was a lot of trouble, I thought driver would clear 90 percent of it, and I was just trying to go par-par to finish. Even if I hit it way off line, it was going to avoid more of the trouble rather than if I hit a bad iron. I hit a really great shot right at the flag, and ended up making birdie.”

In addition to his role as a PGA Professional at Glen Brook G.C., Knoll is a school teacher and was taking virtual attendance prior to his rounds in the Championship.

The PGA Professional Championship and 41 PGA Section Championships feature a total purse of more than $1.5 million. The PGA Professional Championship purse is $650,000, distributed among those who make the cut in the 312-player field. Golf Channel will televise all four rounds of the national Championship.

If eligibility is met and maintained, the low 20 scorers in 2021 will earn berths into the 103rd PGA Championship, May 20-23, 2021, at The Ocean Course in Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

In addition to the Walter Hagen Cup, the PGA Professional Championship winner also receives an exemption into the next 10 PGA Professional Championships and exemptions into six PGA TOUR events over a 12-month period.

Established in 1968, the PGA Professional Championship roster of Champions includes the following premier TOUR professionals: Sam Snead, Bob Rosburg, Don Massengale, Ed Dougherty, Larry Gilbert, and Bruce Fleisher.

The PGA Professional Championship is presented by Club Car and OMEGA. Supporting sponsors are Titleist/FootJoy, NIKE and TaylorMade. Presenting partners are Golf Channel and the PGA TOUR. The 41 Section Championships and the National Championship offer a combined purse of more than $1.5 million.

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.

About the PGA of America
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Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com