West Chester, Pa. (August 5, 2024) — PGA of America Golf Professional Michael Little of Clubhouse 54 in North Wales, Pa., turned in rounds of 67-67–134 to finish at 8-under-par and win the 48th Pro-Am for Wishes at Penn Oaks Golf Club, bettering Zac Oakley of Bidermann Golf Club in Wilmington, Del., by two strokes. It marks his first Section win of the season.

The Pro-Am for Wishes first started in 1976 at Whitford Country Club, and has been held annually at Penn Oaks Golf Club since 2008 (the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) to benefit Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley. Since the event moved to Penn Oaks, it has raised over $750,000 for the Make-A-Wish foundation.

Little entered the final round one stroke behind Oakley, but took the lead by the sixth hole. Little’s putter was hot, making 14 birdies, including six in today’s final round.

“Playing with Zac today helped me a lot,” Little said after his round. “He is an absolute competitor, and I would not have made as many birdies as I did if he wasn’t in my pairing. It really helped to know where I was, and I like to play golf that way. I think any PGA Professional would want to be in that position.

“It’s a relief [to earn my first victory of the year]; I have had a really good year so far, and today I finally executed for an entire tournament.”

Little commented that his two-day total of 8-under is the lowest he has ever finished in relation to par.

He went on to thank Penn Oaks, their PGA Professionals, the Pro-Am for Wishes Committee, his family, Clubhouse 54, Equity Warehouse, the Philly Foursome, and the Philadelphia PGA staff. He also thanked Taylor from Titleist, as he encouraged Little to change to the ProV1x golf ball for this event.

Billy Stewart, Union League Liberty Hill, finished in a tie for third place with Mark Sheftic, Sunnybrook G.C., at even-par. Four players tied for fifth place at 2-over: Trevor Bensel, Sandy Run C.C.; amateur Jimmy O’Connor; Mike Caldwell, DuPont C.C.; and Dave Quinn, Laurel Creek C.C.

PGA Professionals Zac Oakley, Bidermann G.C., and Frank Palumbo, Rolling Green G.C.., led their team of amateurs, Mike Lee and Mike Dalesio, to a one-stroke victory in the two Better Balls of Four pro-am competition, bettering five teams, including: Whitemarsh Valley C.C.’s Dave Pagett, Talamore C.C.’s Andy Watters, Howard Lebold, Steve Krumenacker; Kings Creek C.C.’s Chris Krueger, Julian Krinsky School of Golf’s Danie Steyn, Rich Weaver, Steve Gehringer; Rolling Green G.C.’s Anthony Sebastianelli, Frog Hollow G.C.’s Kevin Shaw, Dan Giacchino, and Jackson Mohr; Moselem Springs G.C.’s Jeff Fick, PGA Life Member Rob Rohrbach, Jack Impriano, and Brad Impriano; and Cripple Creek G. & C.C.’s Andy Hewitt, Burlington C.C.’s Don Allan, Joe Shirley, and Joey Shirley. The pro-am was cut to nine holes (hole Nos. 1-5 and 10-13) due to severe weather delays on Sunday, August 4. The winning team finished with a score of 6-under-par 66.

In the Senior Division, Dave Quinn took the top prize, finishing two strokes in front of Dave McNabb, Applebrook G.C., and Eric Kenney, Overbrook G.C. Chris Krueger finished in fourth place at 5-over-par, while PGA Life Member George Forster finished in fifth place at 6-over-par.

Jimmy O’Connor was one of two amateurs to play in Monday’s final round based on their opening round performance; he bettered Bruce Longenecker by 22 strokes, finishing with rounds of 72-72–144, claiming Low Amateur honors.

To view the full 2024 Pro-Am for Wishes leaderboard, click here.

The 48th Pro-Am for Wishes is supported by Tamora Group, Todd & Marla Horn, Woodward Properties, Piazza Auto Group, Ambler Surgical, Meridian Bank, Caddick Construction, Aqua America, Connacht Rose LLC, Rich Weaver, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, HWE, Ducklings Early Learning Franchise, and Akkodis. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Penn Oaks Golf 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.

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. (July 31, 2024) — The Philadelphia PGA Section and Silvercrest Asset Management Group have finalized the PGA of America Golf Professional field for the third annual Silvercrest Cup, scheduled for Monday, September 16 at the Gary Player-designed Union League Liberty Hill in Lafayette Hill, Pa.

Fifty-four PGA Professionals earned their place in the Silvercrest Cup final, which will boast a purse of over $35,000, 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 will also be invited to compete. The Silvercrest Cup champion is set to receive $15,000, one of the most lucrative winner’s checks on the Section’s tournament calendar. In addition to the final purse, each qualifying event included a bonus pool of $4,000, shared between each qualifier’s champion and runner-up.

Trevor Bensel, PGA, of Sandy Run Country Club in Oreland, Pa., finished atop the 2024 Silvercrest Cup points standings with 722.13 points. Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort’s Brian Bergstol, PGA, finished only 3.2 points behind Bensel, while recently crowned Philadelphia Assistant PGA Professional Champion Zach Barbin, Chesapeake Bay G.C., finished in third place with 686.67 points. Rolling Green G.C.’s Anthony Sebastianelli finished in fourth place with 652 points thanks in part to his win at the final qualifying event of the season at Doylestown C.C. Danny Lewis, Philadelphia Cricket Club, rounded out the top five with 634.63 points.

Bergstol won the season’s first Silvercrest Cup qualifying event at Tavistock C.C., and was joined by Braden Shattuck, Rolling Green G.C., with his two wins at Bellewood C.C. and Conestoga C.C. The 2023 Silvercrest Cup co-champion, Dave Pagett, Whitemarsh Valley C.C., qualified in the 33rd position.

2024 Silvercrest Cup – Top 10 Points Earners

1. Trevor Bensel, PGA…722.13
2. Brian Bergstol, PGA…718.93
3. Zach Barbin…686.67
4. Anthony Sebastianelli…652.00
5. Danny Lewis, PGA…634.63
6. Braden Shattuck, PGA…548.00
7. Robert Fenton, PGA…532.36
8. Michael Little, PGA…521.13
9. Terry Hertzog, PGA…519.23
10. Zac Oakely, PGA…513.00

To view the full 2024 Silvercrest Cup standings, click here and select “Silvercrest Cup” under “Category.”

While the Silvercrest Cup rewards playing excellence of Philadelphia PGA Professionals and top amateurs, the series will also provide significant donations to local foundations, including the Philadelphia PGA Section’s 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, PGA of America REACH Foundation Philadelphia, and the GAP’s J.Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust.

About Silvercrest Asset Management Group
Silvercrest was founded in April 2002 as an independent, employee-owned registered investment adviser. With offices in New York, Boston, Virginia, New Jersey, California and Wisconsin, Silvercrest provides traditional and alternative investment advisory and family office services to wealthy families and select institutional investors. As of December 31, 2023, the firm reported assets under management of $33.3 billion.

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

Blue Bell, Pa. (July 30, 2024) —PGA of America Golf Professional Terry Hatch of Royal Oaks Golf Course in Lebanon, Pa., turned in a 3-under-par 68 to win the 2024 Skee Riegel Senior Open at Blue Bell Country Club by one stroke over Mark Parson, Harbor Pines G.C., and John DiMarco, Legacy Club.

Hatch’s round was highlighted by his eagle on the ninth hole, a 522-yard par-5. He closed his round with consecutive birdies on hole Nos. 17 and 18, finishing the day strong.

Mark Parson and John DiMarco tied for second place at 2-under-par 69, followed by Dave McNabb, Applebrook G.C., at 1-under-par. There was a three-way tie for fifth place at even-par 71: PGA Life Member George Forster; John Pillar, C.C. at Woodloch Springs; and Dave Quinn, Laurel Creek C.C.

Wayne Phillips, Lehigh C.C., took the Super Senior Division with a 2-under-par 69, topping Bill Sautter, Philadelphia Cricket Club, by one stroke. Jack Brennan, Mountain View C.C., finished in third place with an even-par 71.

To view the full 2024 Skee Riegel Senior Open leaderboard, click here.

The 2024 Skee Riegel Senior Open is supported by Sunday Golf, Quaker Sales / Frank Wittenberg, Jani-King, and the PGA Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Blue Bell 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.

About Robert Henry “Skee” Riegel, PGA
Skee Riegel was born in 1914 in New Bloomfield, Pa., and grew up in eastern Pennsylvania. Riegel served in the U.S. Air Corps as a flight instructor during World War II. After leaving the service he rose to the top of amateur golf, winning the U.S. Amateur in 1947, the Western Amateur in 1948 and the Trans-Mississippi Amateur in 1946 and 1948. Riegel also played on the U.S. Walker Cup teams in 1947 and 1949, remaining unbeaten in Walker Cup play. Riegel turned professional in 1950 and was one of the first golfers involved in strength training. In 1951, he nearly won the Masters, finishing in second place behind Ben Hogan. Riegel returned to Pennsylvania to become PGA Head Professional at Radnor Valley Country Club in 1954, where he continued his winning ways, claiming victory in the 1957 and 1959 Pennsylvania Opens and the 1960 Philadelphia Open. He left Radnor Valley at the end of 1961 for the opportunity to participate in the ownership of a new golf course, York Road G.C. in Bucks County, now known as the Bucks Club. For over 30 years, Riegel was a permanent member of the Philadelphia PGA Section’s Tournament Committee and served as Rules Chair for every Section tournament. In 1975, he was given the Section’s PGA Professional Development Award for his many hours spent educating the golf professionals on the rules of golf. Riegel was inducted into the Philadelphia Section Hall of Fame in 1993.

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. Visit phillypga.com to learn more.

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

Malvern, Pa. (July 29, 2024) — PGA of America Golf Professional Zach Barbin of Chesapeake Bay Golf Club in Rising Sun, Md., captured the 2024 National Car Rental Philadelphia Assistant PGA Professional Championship at White Manor Country Club in dramatic fashion, birdieing three of his final four holes to better Zac Oakley, Bidermann G.C., by one stroke.

The championship honors the late Dick Smith Sr., PGA, who served as president for both the PGA of America and the Philadelphia PGA Section. Srixon | Cleveland Golf | Asics, Ohana Farm LLC, Payntr Golf, and the PGA Tour also support the 2024 National Car Rental Philadelphia Assistant PGA Professional Championship.

Barbin fired impressive scores of 68-66–134, 8-under-par in the 36-hole stroke play event. He made 12 birdies during the tournament, including seven in his final round, and five on his final nine holes.

“You want to enjoy the moments you have in competition,” Barbin said following the completion of play. “That’s why we play the game. You want to make a putt when it matters.

“I was pretty calm over my final putt,” he continued. “I was actually thinking of Brian [Bergstol] before I hit it, because he made a similar length putt to beat me at Tavistock earlier this season.”

He went on to thank God for the work and playing opportunities, his wife Olivia for all of her love and support, his family, the Section staff, Chesapeake Bay Golf Club, White Manor Country Club, and all of the championship’s partners.

In addition to having his name engraved on the perpetual George Izett Memorial Trophy, Barbin receives the $2,089 winner’s check.

Brian Bergstol, Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort, finished in third place, two behind Barbin. Rolling Green G.C.’s Anthony Sebastianelli finished in fourth place at 1-under-par, followed by the  Peninsula G. & C.C.’s Michael Chanaud at even-par.

Zac Oakley will lead five fellow Section PGA Members to compete in the 2024 National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship, November 14-17, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida: Brian Bergstol; Robert Fenton, Sunnybrook G.C.; Rusty Harbold, Philadelphia Cricket Club; Trevor Bensel, Sandy Run C.C., and Andrew Turner, Whitford C.C. Jeff Fick, Moselem Springs G.C., is first alternate, while Kyle Early,  is second alternate.

(1) Barbin, (4) Sebastianelli, and (5) Chanaud, (6) Ryan Rucinski, Wilmington C.C.; (T7) Rocco Sgrillo, John F. Byrne G.C.; (T7) Zach Miller, Sunnybrook G.C.; are PGA Associates and are not eligible to compete in Florida.

The National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship brings together a field of 132 contestants representing the PGA of America’s 41 nationwide Sections. All rounds will be played on the Wanamaker Course. A cut after 36 holes of play to the low 70 scorers and ties will be made.

Begun in 1977, the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship is modeled after the PGA Professional Championship, with a field of PGA Professionals and PGA Associates who advanced through 41 Section Championships conducted from May through October this year.

If eligibility is met and maintained, the champion earns a berth in the 2025 PGA Professional Championship, April 27-30, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

To view the full 2024 National Car Rental Philadelphia Assistant PGA Professional Championship leaderboard, click here.

The 2024 Philadelphia Assistant PGA Professional Championship honors the late Dick Smith Sr., PGA, is presented by National Car Rental, and supported by Srixon | Cleveland Golf | Asics, Ohana Farm LLC, Payntr Golf, and the PGA Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA of America Golf Professionals thank our partners, White Manor Country Club, its membership, management, staff, and host PGA of America Golf Professionals, 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. (July 23, 2024) — Inside Golf, a Philadelphia PGA Section partner, will air a television special highlighting the 26th Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic, won by PGA of America Golf Professional John Pillar, premiering on NBC Sports Philadelphia on Thursday, July 25 at 7:00 p.m. ET. The special will be rebroadcast throughout July and August on NBC Sports Philadelphia and NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus.

The special will feature all of the major highlights from May’s electrifying golf tournament at Sunnybrook Golf Club, where Pillar walked away with a winner’s check of $100,000, the largest first-place prize available from any event across the PGA of America’s 41 nationwide Sections, following a sudden-death playoff with PGA Professionals Kyle Early and Braden Shattuck.

Elverson, Pa. (July 17, 2024) — After three severe weather delays, teams from Yardley (Pa.) Country Club Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa., tied for the top prize in the 2024 Philadelphia PGA Pro-Junior Team Championship at French Creek Golf Club. Following the lengthy delays, the event was cut to nine holes.

Yardley’s team consisted of PGA of America Golf Professional J.T. Wambold, Sabrina Swope, Naaz Mehta, and Noor Mehta, while Aronimink’s featured PGA Member John Bierkan, Hunter Setson, Jack Crowley, and Liam Crowley. Both teams finished their nine-hole rounds at 8-under-par.

Cedarbrook C.C.’s Jim Parella, PGA, Tristan Smith, Diego Yanez, and Nolan Corcoran; tied for third place with Kennett Square G. & C.C.’s Lamar Saxon, Holden Stephenson, Grant Burkhart, and Paul Sanfrancesco at 7-under-par. Wild Quail G. & C.C.’s Tyler Spielberger, PGA, Reagan Garnsey, Evan Gebhart, and Gavin Garrison, tied for fifth place with DuPont C.C.’s Matt Finger, Hannah Webb, Meredith Finger, and Joseph Kelly at 6-under-par.

To view the full 2024 Philadelphia PGA Pro-Junior Team Championship leaderboard, click here.

The 2024 Philadelphia PGA Pro-Junior Team Championshipis supported by the PGA Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, French Creek Golf Club, their members, management, host PGA Professionals, and staff, as well as our partners, as the event https://www.frenchcreekgolf.com/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.

Mohnton, Pa. (July 16, 2024) — The team from Philadelphia Cricket Club, led by PGA of America Golf Professional Jim Smith, and his amateur partners Scott Storck, Tyler Stahle, and Justin Smith, took first place in the Net Division in the 2024 Philadelphia PGA Stableford Team Championship Presented by Parx Casino® at LedgeRock Golf Club. After two weather delays, the event was cut to 10 holes due to severe weather. The event is also supported by Ohana Farm.

Each team consisted of one PGA Professional and three amateurs, while the event’s Stableford format was two Better Balls of four. The Stableford points were awarded as follows: Bogey or higher, 1 point; Par, 2 points; Birdie, 3 points; Eagle, 4 points; and Double Eagle, 5 points.

Smith’s team finished with net 53 Stableford points, topping host LedgeRock G.C.’s Bill Kindoll, PGA, Chris Storck, Greg Giles, and Brad White by one point. PGA Member Chad Halvonik and his team from Lookaway G.C., Lisa Kozak, Beth Thompson, and Linda Davis, finished in third place with net 50 Stableford points. The Philadelphia PGA Section’s Geoff Surrette, PGA, Scott Hutchinson, Doug Zadow, and Tate Oakley took fourth with 49 points. Eight teams tied for fifth place with 48 points.

Smith’s Philadelphia Cricket Club team also topped the Gross Division with gross 53 Stableford points. The team found their round highlighted by the performance of amateur Tyler Stahle, who finished through 10 holes with five birdies and an impressive eagle on hole 8.

To view the full 2024 Philadelphia PGA Stableford Team Championship Presented by Parx Casino® leaderboard, click here.

The 2024 Philadelphia PGA Stableford Team Championship is presented by Parx Casino®, and is supported by Ohana Farm. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, LedgeRock 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