Springfield, Pa. (March 29, 2021) — Three teams tied for first place in the 2021 Philadelphia PGA Spring Meeting Golf Event at Rolling Green G.C. on a cool and blustery spring day.

The winning teams each finished with scores of 63, 8-under-par, and included PGA Professionals Will Scarborough and Jesse Williams, both representing the Peninsula G. & C.C.; Bob Hennefer, Laurel Creek C.C, and Curtis Kirkpatrick, Indian Spring C.C.; and Michael Little, Lookaway G.C., and Dave Quinn, Laurel Creek C.C.

Historically, the two-professional scramble event is held in conjunction with the Philadelphia PGA Section’s in-person Spring Membership Meeting. However, in order to conduct the meeting in a responsible fashion, the Section optioned the business meeting to a virtual format for 2021, scheduled for April 7 at 6:00 p.m. PGA Professionals may register for the virtual Spring Meeting by clicking here.

While the business meeting will take place next month, the Section still provided a playing and networking opportunity for its members, with the golf event held at Rolling Green. Each winning team finished with a flurry of birdies and eagles, with Scarborough / Williams eagling both Nos. 17 and 18, Hennefer / Kirkpatrick birdieing each of their last four holes, and Little / Quinn birdieing Nos. 15-17 and eagling No. 18.

The PGA Professional teams of Brian Kelly, Bucknell G.C., and John Pillar, C.C. of Woodloch Springs; Brian Bergstol, Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort, and Joe Kogelman, GOLFTEC – Moorestown; and Dustin Wallis, Dustin Wallis Golf and Steve Swartz, West Shore C.C.; each finished tied for fourth place, one stroke behind the winning teams.

To view the full 2021 Philadelphia PGA Spring Meeting Golf Event leaderboard, 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 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. (March 25, 2021) — The Philadelphia PGA Section today announced a partnership with Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB), a non-profit membership sales and marketing organization which actively promotes the Valley Forge area and Montgomery County, Pa.

As part of the agreement, Valley Forge and Montgomery County becomes a Presenting Partner of the Philadelphia PGA’s Centennial Celebration, Women’s Initiative, and the 2021 PGA REACH Philadelphia Pro-Am.

“The Philadelphia PGA is excited to partner with Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, an organization that promotes all types of businesses in southeastern Pennsylvania, including our PGA Professionals’ golf facilities,” said Section Executive Director Geoff Surrette, PGA. “Having Valley Forge on board to help tell the story of our golf courses will not just be a win for our PGA Professionals and their businesses, but a win for the entire region.”

“It is such an honor to work with the Philadelphia PGA, an organization that represents the class, respect, and integrity of the sport of golf,” said Mike Bowman, President & CEO of the VFTCB. “Supporting such high-quality caliber events that have a positive economic impact on the region only helps to highlight our 50 historic and top-ranked courses as part of our Montco Golf initiative, and puts the spotlight on the county as a true golf destination.”

This partnership is designed to maximize exposure to area golf courses and their PGA Professionals, while stimulating local businesses. A key portion of the agreement centers around the Philadelphia PGA’s centennial celebration, which will highlight the importance of PGA Professionals to the area, both past and present.

Additionally, with the game of golf seeing increased levels of participation, Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board will also be working with the Section to support events to nurture an environment for girls, women and PGA Professionals to have fun, grow and find their place in this great game and business of golf. VFTCB will also support PGA REACH Philadelphia, the Section’s 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to positively impacting lives through golf via three key pillars: Youth, Military, and Diversity, via its annual pro-am championship.

For those looking to learn more about the Section’s partnership with Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, please contact Section Communications Director Matt Frey, PGA, at mfrey@pgahq.com.

About Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board
The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board is a private, non-profit membership sales and marketing organization which actively promotes the Valley Forge area and Montgomery County as a convention site and leisure visitor destination by promoting patronage of its member hotels, restaurants, attractions and services. The Board represents more than 600 member businesses throughout Southeast Pennsylvania, and is funded from a combination of Pennsylvania grants, membership dues, and a tax imposed on visitors occupying the county’s more than 9,200 hotel rooms. For more information, visit valleyforge.org.

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.

Contacts: 

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

Justine Garbarino, Senior Director of Marketing & Business Development, Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, garbarino@valleyforge.org

Rachel Riley, Senior Director of Communications, Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, riley@valleyforge.org

The Philadelphia PGA Section, in coordination with its Women’s Committee, is proud to introduce its Women’s Series, a new initiative for 2021 designed to encourage networking and camaraderie among women PGA Professionals in the Section.

Each event will feature nine holes of golf and a post-round reception with food & beverage. The events are open to all women PGA Members, Associates, and Students and LPGA members; women amateurs are also invited to participate in select Women’s Series events.

The first four events have been scheduled and the Section is looking to add more events as the season progresses. To register, follow the below links. If you are interested in hosting a Women’s Series event at your facility, please contact Leila Mackie, PGA, at lmackie@pgahq.com.

Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (January 11, 2021) — The Philadelphia PGA Section today announced that it has renamed the award given to superlative PGA Assistant Professionals to the Justin Riegel Assistant Golf Professional of the Year. The award recognizes an individual who has displayed the qualities and attributes for what it takes to become an outstanding PGA Professional. Its new namesake, Justin Riegel, the 2015 recipient of the award, tragically passed away in a related accident in June 2020 while working as PGA Head Professional at Philmont Country Club in Huntingdon Valley, Pa.

“The Philadelphia PGA and its nearly 900 men and women PGA Professionals are still mourning the loss of Justin, who left us much too soon,” said Section Executive Director Geoff Surrette, PGA. “He was a wonderful PGA Professional, but was an even better partner, son, and friend. While we will never be able to fill the void left after Justin’s untimely death, we hope this award will honor his name and legacy for future generations of PGA Professionals.”

Justin’s family, including his mother Evette and girlfriend Kate, gave the Section their blessing to rename the award: “It is with genuine gratitude and bittersweet hearts that we, his family, accept this honor on Justin’s behalf. Thank you for celebrating his memory and commitment to the sport. He always encouraged excellence, while eager to share his knowledge and skills. Thank you for providing a way that his life long passion will carry on through his recognition.”

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help support Justin and Kate’s newborn son Harrison Kelly. You may access it by clicking here.

Justin Riegel PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Recipients

2020: Ron Pine, PGA
2019: Steve Frederick, PGA
2018: Ashley Grier, PGA
2017: Dan Mrozinski, PGA
2016: Bryan Kienke, PGA
2015: Justin Riegel, PGA
2014: Sean Palmer, PGA
2013: Ben Debski, PGA
2012: Mark Kelly, PGA
2011: Jeff Breiner, PGA
2010: Joey Pohle, PGA
2009: Rob Agresti, PGA
2008: Tom Byrne, PGA
2007: Ed Gibson, PGA
2006: Andy Watters, PGA
2005: Jack Sodoma, PGA
2004: Rich Steinmetz, PGA
2003: Andy Watters, PGA
2002: Jonathan Doctor, PGA
2002: Jamie Komancheck, PGA
2001: Brian Lee, PGA
2000: Andy Hinson, PGA
1999: Jamie Komancheck, PGA
1998: Eric Korpics, PGA

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. Founded in 1921, the Section celebrates its centennial in 2021.

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

The 2021 Philadelphia PGA Section tournament schedule has been released and will open for registration at 9 a.m. ET on Monday, February 15 by clicking here.  The calendar is highlighted by the 100th Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship at Aronimink Golf Club and Applebrook Golf Club on Monday, August 30 – Wednesday, September 1, 2021.  Most tournaments will be open for registration this Monday (2/15) and a couple more events will be added to the calendar as event dates are finalized.

The Tournament Committee has been hard at work this off season as they are always looking to find ways to improve our tournament program year after year.  To view updates on the information listed below, please click here.

• COVID-19 event protocols (more info to follow)
• New events, new formats and a new withdrawal policy
• New Philadelphia Players Championship eligibility
• New Senior and Super Senior Scoring Average
• New PAO combined event

Online Registration is also open for Philadelphia PGA Section Membership Programs listed below by clicking here:

• Tournament Players Division (TPD) membership (fees increase $25 on 4/1/21)
• Hole-in-One Club
• Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) membership
• Central Counties Chapter (CCC) membership
• CCC Hole-in-One Club

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.