Lower Gwynedd Township, PA., October 31, 2019 … PGA REACH Philadelphia, the charitable arm of the Philadelphia Section PGA (PPGA), has received a grant for $5,000 from Golf Galaxy in support of their youth programming.  A check was made to PGA REACH Philadelphia during the PPGA’s Annual Fall Meeting by PGA Members Ryan Carfara and Leigh Taylor, who operate the Golf Galaxy store in Devon, PA.

The donation from Golf Galaxy is part of DICK’S Sporting Goods’ Sports Matter Community Grants Program, which was established in 2018 and has pledged $2.5 million to provide meaningful grants to support youth sports teams, leagues, and programs in local communities throughout the country.  Each DICK’S and Golf Galaxy store may choose a worthy organization that supports youth sports programs, specifically those participants that lack financial means.

“As PGA Professionals and members of the Philadelphia PGA Section, Leigh Taylor and I have chosen to gift the PGA REACH Philadelphia Foundation a $5,000 grant to support its youth golf programs,” said Ryan Carfara, PGA, Store Manager, Golf Galaxy – Devon. “PGA Jr. League is the flagship youth pillar program of PGA REACH, with the goal of making the program accessible to all interested kids in the United States and around the world. We see this as a great opportunity to support young golfers in our local communities through an organization that is near and dear to our hearts.”

“We greatly appreciate the support from Golf Galaxy and DICK’S Sporting Goods’ Sports Matter Community Grants Program, and their generous donation will provide support for our youth programming, “ said Leila Mackie, Foundation Director, PGA REACH Philadelphia. “PGA Jr. League, along with the Golf in Schools Program, and the Diversity Scholarship are all apart of PGA REACH Philadelphia’s youth pillar that serves local communities by providing programs that support positive life/skill development and opportunities for youth to learn and play the game.”

PGA REACH Philadelphia was founded in 2018 to positively impact lives through the game of golf.  The foundation is operated under the guidance of the Philadelphia PGA Section’s 880 PGA Professionals and Assistants located in Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey (Trenton – south), Delaware and parts of Northern Maryland, who are at the forefront of golf programming that grows the game of golf at more than 400 public and private golf facilities.

PGA REACH Philadelphia’s mission is to grow the game by providing financial assistance, instruction, instructional materials, mentoring, equipment and scholarships to individuals and organizations throughout the region.

For more information on PGA REACH Philadelphia, visit:  https://www.pgareach.org/philadelphia

Lower Gwynedd Township, PA., September 9, 2019 … PGA REACH Philadelphia, the charitable arm of the Philadelphia Section PGA (PPGA), has announced its inaugural “Month of Giving,” a fundraising campaign that will take place from October 1^st through October 31^st, with proceeds going to support the foundation’s three core pillars: Youth, Military and Diversity.

As PGA REACH Philadelphia’s signature fundraising initiative, “Month of Giving” will encompass several key events and programs. Information and registration for this event can be found HERE.

Additional “Month of Giving” events include:

• The annual Philadelphia PGA Golf Marathon, where PGA Professionals pledge to play 100 holes in 1 day. To donate, register, or participate CLICK HERE.
• A PGA REACH Philadelphia Awareness Event at the Union League Golf Club at Torresdale on October 9^th.

“The inaugural “Month of Giving” campaign is vital to our fundraising efforts at PGA REACH Philadelphia,” said Leila Mackie, Foundation Director, PGA REACH Philadelphia.  “Since our launch earlier this year, support of our programs has been incredible, we are using this month-long series of events and activities to promote our foundation and help raise funds that are core to our mission of positively impacting lives and communities through the game of golf.”
Among the key programs that will benefit from “Month of Giving” fundraising, is PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), the PGA of America’s flagship military program.  Through PGA HOPE, PGA Professionals provide weekly golf clinics to Veterans with disabilities in order to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. As golf has become a therapeutic part of the rehabilitation process for many Veterans with disabilities, PGA HOPE is truly making a difference in their lives.

The foundation will also continue growing its successful flagship youth initiative, PGA Jr. League. Golf’s version of Little League Baseball provides a fun, social and inclusive opportunity for boys and girls, ages 13 and under, to learn and play the game of golf in a popular “team” scramble format. Each team is coached by a PGA or LPGA Professional, and all players wear team uniforms with player numbers on the back. In 2019, more than 1,800 kids participated throughout the Philadelphia PGA region, encompassing over 150 teams, playing in 31 Leagues at 86 public, private and First Tee facilities.

Additionally, PGA REACH Philadelphia’s “Golf in Schools” Program will be a benefactor of the “Month of Giving” campaign. This program, operated in partnership with the Golf Association of Philadelphia, grows the game of golf among youth in local communities, backed by a comprehensive curriculum developed by PGA Professionals designed to introduce the game to students of all skill levels through their physical education classes in school. Currently, there are 30 schools that take part in PGA REACH Philadelphia’s Golf in Schools Program through their physical education classes throughout the Philadelphia region.

Lastly, PGA REACH Philadelphia Philly Junior Tour Diversity Scholarship will benefit from the “Month of Giving” campaign. In 2019, PGA REACH Philadelphia awarded three scholarship opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds to participate on the elite Philly Junior Tour (PJT). The PJT leads the region in competitive junior golf with over 90 events seasonally held at many of the area’s top facilities. Membership consists of junior golfers 18 years of age and younger who play a tournament schedule that covers all geographic areas of the Philadelphia Section.

Anyone who would like to get involved with PGA REACH Philadelphia’s “Month of Giving” campaign, including the  Philadelphia PGA Golf Marathon, and PGA REACH Philadelphia Awareness Event, can click on one of the links above. To make a general donation to PGA REACH Philadelphia, please visit: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/pgareachphila_donate

For more information on PGA REACH Philadelphia visit: www.pgareach.org/philadelphia

About PGA REACH Philadelphia

The PGA Reach Philadelphia Foundation is the 501c3 charitable arm of the Philadelphia Section of the PGA of America (PPGA), which encompasses Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey (Trenton – south), Delaware and parts of Northern Maryland. The Foundation was created to support the PGA of America’s national PGA REACH program, whose mission is to positively impact lives and communities through the game of golf, with a focus on 3 core pillars: Youth, Military and Diversity. Under the guidance of more than 850 PGA Professionals and Assistants from the PPGA, the Foundation hosts a dynamic line-up of dynamic golf programming that provides access for individuals from all backgrounds to experience golf in a welcoming environment.

PRESS CONTACTS:  Joe Monforto/Communications Director at (215) 481-9086 or jmonforto@pgahq.com
                                           Jared Minski/Mastro Communications at (732) 469-5700 or jared@mastrocomm.com

Northfield, N.J. – On a perfect fall afternoon 18 teams came together to play the Fall Finale at the historic Atlantic City Country Club. It has been 8 years since this event has taken place and the Pros were excited to have the weather on their side after this unpredictable season that they went through. It was a 12:30 PM shotgun for all 72 players, with one Pro and three amateurs playing in both a net and gross division with a best ball of 4.

As scorecards started to come in there were two teams that had a score to beat with -11 under par 59. Mike Paukovitis (St Davids GC) with partners William Paukovits, Christopher Acker, Regan Papariello were the first to turn in their scorecards and with 11 birdies took the early lead. The team of Jeff Fick (Chapel Hill GC) and partners Scott Gilroy, John Brennan, and Howard Pomerantz also finished 11-under par to tie them. Team Fick’s scorecard had 7 birdies and added two eagles on hole 13 and 15. Fick’s team tied for the win in the Net division, and Paukovitis’ team, although winning the Gross division with a 9-under par 61, settled for the tie in the Net with a bigger purse.  Coming in tied for third in the Net division were the teams of Forster (Radnor Valley CC) and Duckett (Saucon Valley CC). Host professional Barry Shewalter, with his teammates Doug Fraser, Matthew Johnson, and Brian Sterback, won the Gross division with a 5-under par 65.

The Philadelphia Section would like to thank the Atlantic City Country Club for hosting the event as well as the tournament sponsor Lincoln for their continued support this season. The section will have the last tournament of the season next Wednesday at Llanerch Country Club for the rained-out, Spring Pro-Lady.

Full Leaderboard

Bethlehem, Pa. – Each season a pair of meetings bookend the Philadelphia PGA season and on Monday, October 29 the Section held its annual Fall Meeting signaling the unofficial end to the 2018 season. This year’s Fall Meeting was held at SteelStacks in Bethlehem, Pa. and brought together more than 200 Philadelphia PGA professionals. Section meetings allow leadership to discuss the business of the Philadelphia PGA as well as to publically recognize Section professionals for their accomplishments.

The meeting was highlighted by presentations from each of the Section’s Executive Committee members recapping the all facets of Section operations. Additionally, the Section also formally recognized the three newest members of the Philadelphia PGA Hall of Fame; Tom Carpus, Pete Micklewright, and Herb Jewson. With the announcement coming in late September this was the first time for these individuals to be introduced in front of their peers. Previous Hall of Fame Press Release.

The meeting also featured presentations from several of the Section’s Fall Meeting sponsors; Cobra/Puma Golf, Signature Golf, Golf Cart Services, Open Rounds, and the Section newest partner the SVS Wealth Management Team at Morgan Stanley. Finally Dr. Wang of the Rothman Institute spoke on the best practices for preventing and treating golf related injuries.

The Section also recognized several players for the year-long performances by handing out the Player of the Year awards. Leading the way on the Omega Player of Year presented by The Haverford Trust Company points list was newly crowned Section Champion Billy Stewart (The ACE Club). Stewart’s season included several top-10 finishes culminating with his first Section Championship. He also won the Philadelphia Open all leading to his first Player of the Year title. Stewart finished ahead of a couple of past player of the champions in Brett Melton (Radley Run Country Club) and Dave Quinn (Philmont Country Club) who finished second and third respectively.

On the senior side, Dave McNabb (Applebrook Golf Club) was awarded the Robert “Skee” Riegel Senior Player of the Year, his first senior player of the year title. It also marked the first time in seven years that a new name was atop the senior player of the year leaderboard. McNabb had multiple senior wins but none was bigger than his first Senior Section Championship title in August. Also by virtue of his finish at the Senior PGA Professional Championship, McNabb qualified for the 2019 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club next May. Rounding out the senior player of the year awards were Dave Quinn (Philmont Country Club) and George Forster (Radnor Valley Country Club).

In the newly created Super Senior Player of the Year points list, George Forster (Radnor Valley Country Club) was crowned its inaugural champion. Finishing in second place was Greg Farrow (Deerwood Country Club) while Don DeAngelis (Center Square Golf Club) rounded out the podium.

The Section’s Howard “Ike” Turner Most Improved Player went to Michael Wheeler (Whitford Country Club) who improved more than 100 spots from his 2017 finish on the Omega Player of the Year presented by The Haverford Trust Company points list. Wheeler also lowered his scoring average by more than four shots finishing with a scoring average of 74.86 during the 2018 season.

At the conclusion of the meeting 68 two person teams made their way to beautiful Saucon Valley Country Club for the Fall Meeting Pro-Pro Scramble. With the size of the field teams were split between Saucon Valley’s Old and Grace courses where they competed in separate events. Leading the way on the Old Course was the pair of Brian Bergstol (Shawnee Inn & Resort) and Joe Kogelman (GolfTEC – Moorestown) who posted a 9-under (62) to win by one shot. On the Grace Course it was the team of Michael Caldwell (Bidermann GC) and Keith Clawson (Bidermann GC) who took home the top spot after posting a 12-under (60).

Fall Meeting Pro-Pro Scramble