Mount Laurel Township, N.J. (September 18, 2024) — PGA of America Golf Professionals Joanna Coe, Merion G.C.; Dave Pagett, Whitemarsh Valley C.C.; Zac Oakley, Bidermann G.C.; and Mark Sheftic, Sunnybrook G.C.; have each advanced to the semi-final matches of the 2024 Philadelphia PGA Match Play Championship, and are all that remain of the 120 PGA Professionals who have been competing in the event since May. The semi-final and final matches are scheduled for Wednesday, October 2 at the famed Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.

Sixteen PGA Professionals began their day at Laurel Creek Country Club to vie for the four semi-final slots. Tavistock C.C.’s Mike Meisenzahl, PGA, defeated defending champion Michael Little, Clubhouse 54, 1-up, in the Dick Smith Sr. Bracket. Reigning Women’s Philadelphia PGA Professional Champion Joanna Coe bettered this year’s Philadelphia Senior PGA Professional Champion, John Pillar, C.C. at Woodloch Springs, 6 and 4. In the Art Wall Bracket, Zac Oakley defeated Merion G.C.’s Matthew Durham 1up, while Alex Knoll, Glen Brook G.C., conceded his match to Trevor Bensel, Sandy Run C.C.

Rolling Green G.C.’s Braden Shattuck, PGA, topped Laurel Creek C.C.’s Dave Quinn, PGA, 3 and 2, in the Ed Dougherty Bracket, while Dave Pagett, Whitemarsh Valley C.C., defeated Patrick Allgeier, Aronimink G.C., 2 and 1. In the Henry Williams Bracket, DuPont C.C.’s Matt Finger defeated Merion G.C.’s Grant Gardiner 5 and 3. Mark Sheftic, Sunnybrook G.C., bested the University of Delaware’s Brendon Post 3 and 2.

Joanna Coe claimed victory in the Round of 8, topping Mike Meisenzahl 2 and 1. Zac Oakley, the 2023 Philadelphia PGA Professional Champion, defeated Trevor Bensel 3 and 2. Dave Pagett bettered Braden Shattuck 2-up, and Mark Sheftic beat Matt Finger 5 and 3, to earn their spots in the semi-finals.

Coe will face off against Oakley in the semi-finals at Merion G.C. on October 2, followed by the match of Pagett vs. Sheftic. The winners will meet in the final match that afternoon.

To view the full 2024 Philadelphia PGA Match Play Championship results, click here.

The 2024 Philadelphia PGA Match Play Championship is supported by Rolex and the PGA Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our Round of 16 and Round of 8 host, Laurel Creek Country 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 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, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com

Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (September 18, 2024) — Following the conclusion of the third annual Silvercrest Cup at Union League Liberty Hill on September 16, Silvercrest Asset Management Group, an investment advisor providing asset management and family office services to high net worth individuals and select institutional investors, made significant donations to PGA of America REACH Foundation Philadelphia, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the Philadelphia PGA Section, and the J.Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust, the official charitable arm of the Golf Association of Philadelphia.

Silvercrest gifted both foundations $10,000 each to use towards achieving their individual missions and goals. PGA REACH Philadelphia’s mission is to positively impact lives through the game of golf, focusing on three core pillars: Youth, Military, and Diversity & Inclusion.

“We are thrilled to have a dedicated partner like Silvercrest to support our foundation,” said PGA REACH Philadelphia Director Courtney Curcio. “Their commitment to the game of golf, and our local communities will help our grow our programming this year and into the future.”

Donations to PGA REACH Philadelphia help fund valuable and effective programs like PGA Jr. League, PGA HOPE Philadelphia (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) for U.S. military veterans, and the Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour Diversity Scholarships.

About PGA REACH Philadelphia 
PGA of America REACH Foundation Philadelphia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2018 as the charitable arm of the Philadelphia PGA Section, one of the 41 Sections within the PGA of America. PGA REACH Philadelphia is committed to serving our communities and growing the game of golf through our three pillars: Youth, Military, and Diversity.

For more information on PGA REACH Philadelphia and its mission to positively impact lives through golf, visit pgareachphiladelphia.com To donate to PGA REACH Philadelphia, please click here.

Lafayette Hill, Pa. (September 16, 2024) — PGA of America Golf Professional Anthony Sebastianelli of Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa., turned in a 6-under-par 66 at Union League Liberty Hill to win the third annual Silvercrest Cup by two strokes over Cedarbrook C.C.’s Andrew Cornish.

Sebastianelli made eight birdies and two bogeys on a cool and breezy day.

“I hit it pretty well, and putted well today,” Sebastianelli said following his round. “There were times in the round where it could have gotten away from me, but my caddie kept me relaxed. It was difficult with the wind, and the greens were very quick; [Union League Liberty Hill] was a great test of golf today.

“It means the world to win the $15,000 first-place prize,” continued Sebastianelli. “We are extremely fortunate to have Silvercrest a part of our Section. Every event that Silvercrest is involved with is special, not just today, but all of the qualifiers too.”

He won the fourth and final Silvercrest Cup qualifier this season at the Doylestown Open in July.

Sebastianelli went on to thank Silvercrest Asset Management Group, Mr. Allen Gray, his wife Emily, his caddie, the membership and staff at Rolling Green, Union League Liberty Hill, and the Section.

The Philadelphia PGA Section, one of the PGA of America’s 41 geographical managing entities, and Silvercrest Asset Management Group, an investment advisor providing asset management and family office services to high net worth individuals and select institutional investors, partnered to create the Silvercrest Cup, a new tournament series for Philadelphia PGA Professionals in 2022. Fifty-four PGA Professionals earned their place in the $30,000 Silvercrest Cup final via a points system drawn from their performance in four qualifying events; the top eight amateurs on the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s (GAP) William Hyndman III Player of the Year list were also invited to compete. Sebastianelli’s $15,000 in earnings is one of the most lucrative winner’s checks on the Section’s tournament calendar. In addition to the final purse, each of the four qualifying events included a bonus pool of $4,000, shared between each qualifier’s champion and runner-up.

Four PGA Professionals tied for third place at 2-under-par: Michael Little, Clubhouse 54; Trevor Bensel, Sandy Run C.C.; Joe Kogelman, GOLFTEC – Moorestown; and Zac Oakley, Bidermann G.C.

Sunnybrook G.C.’s Mark Sheftic, PGA, took home the top prize in the Senior Division, finishing at even-par to better four PGA Professionals by one stroke: Brian Kelly, Titleist Fit Crew; PGA Life Member George Forster; Dave Quinn, Laurel Creek C.C.; and Terry Hertzog, Bent Creek C.C.

Thanks to his 1-under-par round of 71, Blue Bell C.C.’s Buddy Hansen earned Low Amateur honors, bettering Merion G.C.’s Patrick Knott and Jake Haberstumpf, Ledgerock G.C., by two strokes.

While the Silvercrest Cup rewards playing excellence of Philadelphia PGA Professionals and top amateurs, the series also provided significant donations of $10,000 to the Philadelphia PGA Section’s 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, PGA REACH Philadelphia, and the GAP’s J.Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust.

To view the full 2024 Silvercrest Cup leaderboard, click here.

The third annual Silvercrest Cup is presented by Silvercrest Asset Management Group. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Union League Liberty Hill, 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, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com

Welcome to the latest episode of the Philadelphia PGA Section’s new web series, “Playing Through,” where PGA of America Golf Professionals, Section staff, Section partners, and other industry professionals are asked 18 questions about their lives and careers.

This episode features PGA of America and LPGA Member Jennifer Cully, a PGA coach at HoneyBrook Golf Club in Honey Brook, Pa. Cully has competed on the LPGA Tour, was named the LPGA Professionals’ Southwest Section Teacher of the Year in 2005, and runs a small farm locally. To watch the episode, click here or screen capture.

If you are interested in appearing in a future episode, please complete this form by clicking here. To watch past episodes, click here.

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, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com

Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (September 4, 2024) — The PGA of America has announced the roster of five PGA of America Golf Professionals who will compete as the United States Team in the third edition of the Women’s PGA Cup, including Joanna Coe of Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. Coe will be competing in her third consecutive Women’s PGA Cup.

The biennial international competition among teams from the U.S., Australia, Canada, Great Britain & Ireland, South Africa and Sweden will take place Sept. 30 – Oct. 5, 2024, on the Meadows course at Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Oregon.

The Philadelphia PGA Section, in coordination with our Education Committee, is happy to introduce a monthly Golf Operations Group virtual discussion series. The series is designed to stimulate conversations and the sharing of golf operations and general management best practices among our PGA of America Golf Professionals.

The series is slated to begin on Thursday, October 17 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, with 2024 PGA of America Bill Strausbaugh Award recipient and Philadelphia Cricket Club PGA Director of Golf Jim Smith Jr. leading the first session.

The hour-long Golf Operations Group sessions will be held monthly:

• Thursday, October 17 at 9:00 a.m.
• Wednesday, November 20 at 9:00 a.m.
• Wednesday, December 18 at 9:00 a.m.
• Wednesday, January 15 at 9:00 a.m.
• Wednesday, February 19 at 9:00 a.m.
• Wednesday, March 19 at 9:00 a.m.

While the sessions are geared toward full-time PGA general managers and PGA directors of golf, they are open to PGA Professionals of any classification. Each session will have a discussion leader to help moderate the conversations, while some sessions may include guest speakers.

To register for the first session, and subsequent dates, click on the below button.

Springfield, Pa. (August 28, 2024) — PGA of America Golf Professional Brett Walker of Chester Valley Golf Club in Malvern, Pa., led wire-to-wire to capture the 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship at Rolling Green Golf Club and Chester Valley Golf Club. He finished with rounds of 64-71-69–204, 8-under-par, bettering Rolling Green’s Braden Shattuck, PGA, by one stroke.

This is Walker’s second victory in the Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship, having won in 2021 at Aronimink Golf Club.

“It was a grind today,” Walker said following his final round on the William Flynn-designed Rolling Green course. “Winning is never easy; Braden and Zac [Oakley] made it tough on me, and I just tried to hit the best shots I could. When I focused on my own game and my own shots, it went well for me.”

Walker nearly made a double-eagle 2 on the par-5 seventh hole, missing the cup by mere inches, ultimately settling two feet away to set up his eagle.

“I am grateful to be out here,” Walker said after reflecting on what winning a Section Championship with his home facility in the rotation. “It is pretty special. I can’t thank the Chester Valley and Rolling Green members enough for giving up their course for a few days. I have to tip my cap to both grounds crews and superintendents; they did a great job getting both courses into championship-caliber conditions.”

Walker went on to thank the Chester Valley membership, PGA Professionals, and staff, for allowing him to play, the spectators who came to watch the action, the Section staff, and his wife Sarah.

The Low Club Professional at this year’s PGA Championship, Shattuck turned in a 4-under-par 67 to put pressure on Walker. Twenty-twenty-two Philadelphia PGA Professional Champion Brian Bergstol, Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort, finished in third place at 2-under-par. Mike Meisenzahl, Tavistock C.C., finished at even-par in fourth place, followed by Sandy Run C.C.’s Trevor Bensel, PGA, in fifth place at 1-over-par.

One-hundred-forty-six of the Philadelphia PGA Section’s best players competed for the William B. Packer Trophy and a berth into the 2025 PGA Professional Championship, ​April 27-30, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. From there, PGA Members from the 41 PGA Sections will compete to join the Corebridge Financial Team and earn a berth into the 2025 PGA Championship on May 12-18, at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C.

Walker will lead 13 Philadelphia PGA Professionals to the national championship: Braden Shattuck (2); Brian Bergstol (3); Mike Meisenzahl (4); Trevor Bensel (5); Rusty Harbold, Philadelphia Cricket Club (6); Terry Hatch, Royal Oaks G.C. (7); Dave Quinn, Laurel Creek C.C. (T8); Jeff Herb, Waynesborough C.C. (T8); Zac Oakley, Bidermann G.C. (T8); Terry Hertzog, Bent Creek C.C. (T11); Andrew Turner, Whitford C.C. (T11); and Dave Pagett, Whitemarsh Valley C.C. (T11). Alternates are as follows: Billy Stewart, Union League Liberty Hill; Parks Price, Hanover C.C.; Stephen Swartz, Carlisle C.C.; Sam Ambrose, Chester Valley G.C.; and Scott Chisholm, Rolling Green G.C.

To view the full 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship leaderboard, click here.

The 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship is presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial, and Rolex, and is supported by Gallagher, Golf Channel, the PGA Tour, Titleist, FootJoy, Callaway, Nike, TaylorMade, Visit Delco, SCNS Sports Foods, and StrackaLine. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our hosts, Rolling Green Golf Club and Chester Valley 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 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, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com

Springfield, Pa. (August 27, 2024) — PGA of America Golf Professional Brett Walker of Chester Valley Golf Club in Malvern, Pa., leads the 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship by three strokes entering tomorrow’s final round at Rolling Green Golf Club. He followed up his 7-under-par opening round of 64 at Rolling Green with a 1-over-par 71 at his home course.

“I didn’t play great today,” Walker said following his round at Chester Valley. “I shot 1-over, but I think if you stand around even-par on this course, you’re doing really well.”

Walker said his game plan for tomorrow’s final round is to do what he did in the first round at Rolling Green: pick good targets, and take birdies when he can.

Walker, the 2021 Philadelphia PGA Professional Champion, sits at 6-under-par and leads a collection of adroit players, including this year’s PGA Championship Low Club Professional Braden Shattuck, Rolling Green G.C., in second place at 3-under-par; Defending Champion Zac Oakley, Bidermann G.C., tied for third place at 2-under-par with 2022 Champion Brian Bergstol, Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort. Trevor Bensel, Sandy Run C.C., is in fifth place, five strokes behind Walker.

One of the day’s highlights was made by Riverton C.C.’s Michael Ferguson, PGA, with his first swing of the day: a hole-in-one on Rolling Green’s difficult 10th hole! He used a 4-iron from 214 yards; it was his second career ace, and first in competition. Well played, Michael!

One-hundred-forty-six of the Philadelphia PGA Section’s best players are competing for the William B. Packer Trophy and a berth into the 2025 PGA Professional Championship, ​April 27-30, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. From there, PGA Members from the 41 PGA Sections will compete to join the Corebridge Financial Team and earn a berth into the 2025 PGA Championship on May 12-18, at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C.

The low 60 players and ties advance to the final round, scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, August 28 at 8:00 a.m. at Rolling Green G.C. Follow the action via our live scoring by visiting golfgenius.com/pages/4586440. For more information on the championship, including the week’s schedule, pairings, and more, visit the championship’s official e-publication. Members of the media are welcome onsite to cover the championship.

To view the full 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship leaderboard, click here.

The 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship is presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial, and Rolex, and is supported by Gallagher, Golf Channel, the PGA Tour, Titleist, FootJoy, Callaway, Nike, TaylorMade, Visit Delco, SCNS Sports Foods, and StrackaLine. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our hosts, Rolling Green Golf Club and Chester Valley 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 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, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com

Springfield, Pa. (August 26, 2024) — PGA of America Golf Professional Brett Walker of Chester Valley Golf Club in Malvern, Pa., leads the 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship following his 7-under-par 64 opening round at Rolling Green Golf Club. Walker will play his home course in tomorrow’s second round.

Walker, the 2021 Philadelphia PGA Professional Champion, leads Sandy Run C.C.’s Trevor Bensel, PGA, and Tavistock C.C.’s Mike Meisenzahl, PGA, by one stroke. Rolling Green’s own Braden Shattuck, PGA, is tied for fourth place. PGA Member Matt Goudie, Lancaster C.C., is in fifth place at 3-under-par.

“My round went pretty

Walker said Rolling Green played tough, but it was scoreable if players put their golf balls in the correct spots. He said his game plan for tomorrow is to try to stay in his routine and take the birdies when they come.

One-hundred-forty-six of the Philadelphia PGA Section’s best players are competing for the William B. Packer Trophy and a berth into the 2025 PGA Professional Championship, ​April 27-30, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. From there, PGA Members from the 41 PGA Sections will compete to join the Corebridge Financial Team and earn a berth into the 2025 PGA Championship on May 12-18, at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C.

The second round continues tomorrow, Tuesday, August 27 at 8:00 a.m. at both Rolling Green G.C. and Chester Valley G.C. The low 60 players and ties will advance to the final round on Wednesday, August 28 at Rolling Green G.C. Follow the action via our live scoring by visiting golfgenius.com/pages/4586440. For more information on the championship, including the week’s schedule, pairings, and more, visit the championship’s official e-publication. Members of the media are welcome onsite to cover the championship.

To view the full 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship leaderboard, click here.

The 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship is presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial, and Rolex, and is supported by Gallagher, Golf Channel, the PGA Tour, Titleist, FootJoy, Callaway, Nike, TaylorMade, Visit Delco, SCNS Sports Foods, and StrackaLine. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our hosts, Rolling Green Golf Club and Chester Valley 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 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, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com