Author: Matt Frey
Rushin, Alunni, Ambrose, and Palmer Elected to Philadelphia PGA Board of Directors
New Hope, Pennsylvania (October 19, 2026) — PGA of America Golf Professionals Michael Rushin, Justin Alunni, Sam Ambrose, and Sean Palmer were elected to the Philadelphia PGA Board of Directors during the Section’s Fall Membership Meeting at Jericho National Golf Club.
Rushin, the PGA head golf professional at Bear Trap Dunes, was elected District 2 director; Alunni, the PGA head golf professional at Skytop Lodge, was elected District 4 director; while Ambrose, the PGA head golf professional at Chester Valley Golf Club, and Palmer, the chief operating officer for the Union League of Philadelphia, were both elected District 6 directors. All four will serve two-year terms on the board. Additionally, Joanna Coe, Merion Golf Club PGA director of instruction, was sworn in as an independent director following her appointment by Philadelphia PGA President Bob Hennefer.
Hennefer thanked outgoing district directors Mike Molino, Elmhurst Country Club; Scott Chisholm, Rolling Green Golf Club, and Tom Gilbert, Gulph Mills Golf Club; for all of their hard work and dedication throughout their terms.
Philadelphia PGA Vice President Eric Kennedy recognized the Section’s newest Hall of Fame member, Jim Smith Jr. of the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Smith will be formally honored at the Section’s annual awards banquet in early 2027. To learn more about Smith’s career, click here.
The Section honored two of its annual playing award winners during the meeting: the 2026 Rolex Haverford Trust Player of the Year Braden Shattuck, Rolling Green Golf Club, and the 2026 Women’s Player of the Year Joanna Coe. Both Shattuck and Coe have each earned their respective Player of the Year titles five years in a row.
Following the meeting, PGA Professionals competed in a Pro-Pro Scramble at Jericho National Golf Club. Evan Waldron and Shane Fiala of Philadelphia Cricket Club shared first place at 11-under-par with Brian Bergstol of Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort and Trevor Bensel of LuLu Country Club. Three teams tied for third place at 10-under-par: Nikita Romanov of Rock Manor Golf Course and Bill Smith of Berkleigh Golf Club; Jason Gebhart of The Bridges Golf Club and Richie Krebs of Briarwood Golf Club; and PGA Life Member Rob Rohrbach and Jeff Fick of Moselem Springs Golf Club.
To view the full 2026 Fall Membership Meeting Golf event leaderboard, click here.
The 2026 Fall Membership Meeting is supported by Bethany Travel, Club Car / Mid-Atlantic Golf Cars, Evolve Golf, Motocaddy, and Signature Golf. Thank you to our tee gift partners, L2 Brands, Sun Cruiser Vodka Iced Tea, and Tifosi / Shade Headwear for their contributions. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals also thank our host, Jericho National Golf Club, its members, management, host PGA Professionals, and staff, as well as all our partners, whose support helped make this event possible.
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, Director of Operations, mfrey@pgahq.com
George Forster and Tony Perla Claim First Place in the 2026 McQuiston Sr. Pro / Jr. Pro Championship
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (October 15, 2026) — PGA Life Member George Forster and Tony Perla of Huntingdon Valley Country Club claimed first place in the 2026 McQuiston Sr. Pro / Jr. Pro Championship at Bala Golf Club at 7-under-par.
This marks Forster’s fourth victory at the McQuiston Sr. Pro / Jr. Pro Championship and his second win alongside his nephew, Perla. Forster has also won the championship with Perla’s father, Tony Perla Sr., and John Spina.
Trevor Bensel of LuLu Country Club and Dave Quinn of Laurel Creek Country Club tied for second place at 6-under-par alongside Kevin Edwards of Olde Homestead Golf Club and Gregg Meyer of Woodstone Country Club & Lodge. Four teams tied for fourth place at 5-under-par: Dominic Frassinelli of GOLFTEC-Springfield and Pete Lovenguth of Sandy Run Country Club; Jason Wilson of Bethlehem Golf Club and Ross Brown of Fox Hill Country Club; Kyle Jackson of Sunnybrook Golf Club and Stephen Swartz of Carlisle Country Club; and Kyle Early and Adam Brigham of Waynesborough Country Club.
To view the 2026 McQuiston Sr. Pro / Jr. Pro Championship leaderboard, click here.
The 2026 McQuiston Sr. Pro / Jr. Pro Championship is presented by Bala Golf Club and supported by Golf Max, Levelwear, and Homestretch Golf. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Bala Golf Club, their members, management, host PGA Professionals, and staff, as well as our partners, as the event would not have been possible without their support.
About Henry J. McQuiston Jr., PGA
Henry J. McQuiston Jr. was born in Philadelphia in 1932 and grew up next to the Chester Valley Golf Club where his family lived. He and his two brothers played golf at Chester Valley and worked for superintendent Dick Murphy. McQuiston graduated from West Chester State Teachers College in 1954 and then served two years in the United States Army. After being discharged from the Army, he went to work as a schoolteacher. In 1958 he turned professional and worked at Chester Valley while playing some tournaments on the PGA Tour during the summer months and still teaching school the rest of the year. In 1960 he took the job as the assistant at the Bala Golf Club and two years later he became the head professional. In 1968 McQuiston finished in a tie for second in the Section Championship losing in a three-way playoff and in 1971 he was second in the Philadelphia Open losing a playoff. He qualified for the 1962 PGA Championship, the 1963 U.S. Open and the 1984 PGA Senior Championship. McQuiston qualified for the PGA Tour tournament at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club ten times and made the cut three times. McQuiston was a member of eleven Challenge Cup teams that competed against the Middle Atlantic Section. He qualified for the Club Professional Championship four times and the Senior Club Pro Championship once. In 1970 McQuiston and several other Section members built the Avalon Golf Club and operated it until they sold out in 1986. He was elected as the 20th president of the Section in 1973 and 1974 after having served as the second vice president for two years. McQuiston was the head pro at Bala for thirty-seven years after which he continued on as the pro emeritus at the club. In 2004 McQuiston’s name was added to the Section’s Senior Pro-Junior Pro Championship, which had been held at the Bala Golf Club for over 20 years. He was the Section’s “Golf Professional of the Year” in 1997. In 2005 he was inducted into the Philadelphia PGA Hall of Fame.
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, Director of Operations, mfrey@pgahq.com
PGA of America Golf Professional Joanna Coe Appointed to Philadelphia PGA Section Board of Directors
Lower Gwynedd Township, Pennsylvania (October 15, 2026) — The Philadelphia PGA Section is pleased to announce that Section President Bob Hennefer has appointed PGA of America Member Joanna Coe to the Section’s Board of Directors as an independent director.
Coe, a nationally recognized PGA Professional and accomplished competitor, brings a wealth of expertise to the board. In her role as an independent director, she will support the Section’s strategic initiatives, serving as a key advisor to advance the growth of the game and elevate the professional profile of PGA Members throughout the region.
“We are thrilled to welcome Joanna to our board,” said President Bob Hennefer, PGA. “Joanna’s leadership at Merion Golf Club and at the Association’s national level, combined with her remarkable playing career and dedication to education, makes her an invaluable asset to our leadership team as we continue to serve our PGA Professionals and local golf communities.”
Coe has established a distinguished career within the PGA of America. Currently serving as the Director of Instruction at the historic Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, she has consistently been recognized among the top instructors in the country. On the course, Coe has achieved national prominence, winning the inaugural Women’s PGA Cup with Team USA and earning PGA Women’s Player of the Year honors.
“I’m honored to serve on the Philadelphia PGA Board of Directors and grateful for the opportunity to give back to an organization that plays such an important role in our profession and our golf community,” said Coe. “Throughout my career, I’ve seen firsthand the impact PGA Professionals can have on growing the game, developing the next generation, and creating meaningful experiences for golfers of all ages and abilities. I look forward to working alongside fellow PGA Professionals to support our membership and continue strengthening the future of golf in the Philadelphia region.”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 300 golf facilities in our region.
Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Director of Operations, mfrey@pgahq.com
PGA of America Golf Professional Jim Smith Jr. Inducted Into Philadelphia PGA Hall of Fame
Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (October 14, 2026) — The Philadelphia PGA Section and its Hall of Fame Committee have inducted PGA of America Golf Professional Jim Smith Jr. into its Hall of Fame as the class of 2026. He is the 49th Philadelphia PGA Hall of Fame member.
Smith, the Philadelphia Cricket Club’s chief operating officer and PGA director of golf, is being recognized for over three decades of exceptional leadership, mentorship, and service to the golf profession. Elected to PGA Membership in 1994, Smith’s dedication to advancing the game has left an indelible mark on both the local and national levels. Smith has served in every capacity of the Section’s governance, culminating in his tenure as Philadelphia PGA Section President from 2007 to 2009. During his time on the Section Board of Directors and Executive Committee, he was instrumental in establishing sound financial practices and pioneering innovative tournament concepts, including the Tournament Players Division framework.
A hallmark of Smith’s distinguished career is his commitment to education and mentorship. He has mentored nearly 50 former PGA assistant golf professionals into key leadership roles across the country—including PGA directors of golf, head golf professionals, and directors of instruction. Recognized nationally by the PGA of America, Smith was awarded the Association’s prestigious Bill Strausbaugh Award in 2024, having previously earned the Section’s Bill Strausbaugh Award three times previously. He was also recognized as the Section’s PGA Golf Professional of the Year in 2006 and Merchandiser of the Year – Private Category in 2002.
“Being elected to the Philadelphia PGA Hall of Fame is not something I ever dreamed of or aspired to; rather, my only goal as a PGA Professional has been to give members, guests, and teammates the best of me every day,” said Smith. “I’ve failed as much as I’ve succeeded, and know this honor is mostly an acknowledgement of the great mentors and teammates I’ve been supported by in my career, the love and support of my family (Kathy, Courtney, Justin, Haley), and the incredible membership that is the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Recognition of me is recognition of them, and I am thankful beyond words.”
Smith will be recognized at the Section’s Fall Membership Meeting on Monday, October 19 at Jericho National Golf Club, and will be formally honored at the Section’s Awards Banquet in early 2027.
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 300 golf facilities in our region.
Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Director of Operations, mfrey@pgahq.com
Joe Kogelman and Dave Quinn Tie for First with Logan Hay and Alex Willey to Share the 2026 Philadelphia PGA Fall Pro-Pro Championship Title
Cape May Court House, New Jersey (October 12, 2026) — PGA of America Golf Professionals Joe Kogelman of GOLFTEC-Moorestown and Dave Quinn of Laurel Creek Country Club share first place with Logan Hay of Burlington Country Club and Alex Willey of the Metropolitan PGA Section in the 2026 Philadelphia PGA Fall Pro-Pro Championship at Union League National at 15-under-par.
In third place at 14-under-par were Lamar Saxon of Kennett Square Golf and Country Club and Austin Barbin of Chesapeake Bay Golf Club. A three-way tie for fourth place at 13-under-par included Jeff Fick of Moselem Springs Golf Club and PGA Life Member Rob Rohrbach; Michael Little of Clubhouse 54 and Mark Sheftic of Sunnybrook Golf Club; and Trevor Bensel of LuLu Country Club and Brian Bergstol of Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort.
To view the 2026 Philadelphia PGA Fall Pro-Pro Championship leaderboard, click here.
The 2026 Philadelphia PGA Fall Pro-Pro Championship is presented by Sterling Cut Glass and supported by Sun Cruiser, Homestretch Golf, Maui Jim, and Red Arrow Markers. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, the Union League of Philadelphia / Union League National, their members, management, host PGA Professionals, and staff, as well as our partners, 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, Director of Operations, mfrey@pgahq.com