Mt Laurel, N.J. – The annual TaylorMade Classic, was played on Monday, September 9 at Laurel Creek Country Club in Mount Laurel, NJ. The event featured over 100 players and was a combined event with the Section’s Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO).

Playing early in the day, Brian Kelly (Bucknell Golf Club) posted a number for everyone to chase. Kelly made his way around the par-71 6700 yards long course relatively unscathed finishing with a score of 5-under (66). Kelly carded four birdies and one bogey on his outward along with three birdies and one bogey on the inward nine to reach his final number. Kelly’ seven birdies were the most of any player in the field. However, with much of the field still to play, Kelly needed to watch the leaderboard throughout the afternoon to see if his number would hold.

The first player to make a run at Kelly was Rich Steinmetz (Spring Ford Country Club). Steinmetz was able to overcome an early bogey on the par-4 second hole, his only blemish on the day, by scattering five birdies throughout his round. Unfortunately for Steinmetz, he fell one shot shy of Kelly finishing with a final score of 4-under (67).

Throughout the afternoon several additional players made a run at Kelly and the top of the leaderboard. Billy Stewart (The ACE Club), Brian Bergstol (Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort), and Michael Tobiason (Deerfield Country Club) all tried to earn a victory at Laurel Creek but unfortunately for the trio they all came up one shot short with a score of 4-under (67).

With no players able to match Kelly at 5-under, he earned his first win of the 2019 season as well as his first TaylorMade Classic win. The victory was twice as nice for Kelly as he also took home the top spot in the tournament’s senior division. Finishing in solo second place with a score of 3-under (68) was Greg Farrow (Deerwood Country Club). Four players finished tied for third after posting a score of 1-under (70). Included in that group was Rick Flesher (Phila PGA), Eddie Perrino (Eagle Rock Resort), John Appleget (The Shore Club), and George Forster (Radnor Valley Country Club).

Despite falling just short in the overall tournament, Don DeAngelis (Spring Ford Country Club) took home the top spot in the Super Senior division after posting a 4-under (67).

Played in conjunction with the TaylorMade Classic, the Section’s Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) also held their own tournament. With most players playing in both events, the PAO field was one of the largest of the 2019 season. At the end of regulation, three players found themselves tied at the top of the PAO leaderboard with matching scores of 4-under (67). However, only two players remained at the course at the end of the day to compete in the payoff. After two holes of a sudden death playoff, Michael Tobiason (Deerfield Country Club) defeated Brain Bergstol (Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort) with an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole. Finishing in third place in the PAO tournament was Billy Stewart (The ACE Club).

The Section would like to thank our tournament sponsors TaylorMade Golf and our Section representatives Mike Zupi and Jay Junkin as well as our supporting sponsor BagBoy.

The next event on the Philadelphia PGA tournament calendar is the 98^th Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship set to be played September 16-18 at Union League Golf Club – Torresdale and Riverton Country Club.

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