Telford, Pa. (October 20, 2025) — PGA of America Member Bob Hennefer of Laurel Creek Country Club in Mount Laurel Township, N.J., was elected as the 46th Philadelphia PGA President in a room of nearly 150 of his peers at the Section’s 2025 Fall Membership Meeting at Indian Valley Country Club on Monday.
Fellow PGA of America Golf Professionals, Eric Kennedy of Overbrook Golf Club in Villanova, Pa., and Dustin McCormick of Glen Brook Golf Club in Stroudsburg, Pa., will join Hennefer as Section officers, being elected as vice president, and secretary, respectively. Chip Richter, PGA, of the Country Club of Harrisburg in Harrisburg, Pa., moves to the role of honorary president following his two-year stint as president.
The membership also selected Anthony Malizia of Bidermann Golf Club in Wilmington, Del., as director of Section affairs, and Michael Caldwell of DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Del., as director of tournaments. Section Districts 1, 3 and 5 also elected directors, with Curtis Kirkpatrick of Medford Lakes (N.J.) Country Club, Jeff Breiner of the Country Club of Harrisburg, and Tom Michaels of Berkshire Country Club in Reading, Pa., each being selected to serve second terms in those roles.
The Section honored most of its annual playing award winners during the meeting, highlighted by the 2025 Rolex Haverford Trust Player of the Year Braden Shattuck of Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa., and the 2025 Women’s Player of the Year Joanna Coe of Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. Both Shattuck and Coe have each earned their respective Player of the Year titles four years in a row.
The Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Bill Sautter, PGA, was named the Section’s Super Senior Player of the Year, while Zach Barbin of Chesapeake Bay Golf Club in Rising Sun, Md., was named the Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization Player of the Year. Brian Bergstol of Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort in Shawnee on Delaware, Pa., earned Player of the Year honors for the Central Counties Chapter.
The 2025 Rolex Haverford Trust Robert “Skee” Riegel Senior Player of the Year will be declared following the conclusion of this week’s Senior PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
With a season-long scoring average of 67.93, Braden Shattuck also won the 2025 F. Edward DeBaufre Trophy, his third such title (2022, 2024). He broke the scoring average record he set in 2024. Tom Michaels was named the 2025 Ike Turner Most Improved Player.
Philadelphia PGA Executive Director Geoffrey Surrette, PGA, proudly announced that the Philadelphia PGA Board of Directors recently granted an honorary Section membership to Mr. George Connell, the founder of the Haverford Trust Company. For 29 years, Mr. Connell has shown an unwavering commitment to our mission and to the men and women who make up this Section. His generous support has not only helped us grow as an organization but has also significantly impacted the lives of Philadelphia PGA Professionals and Associates. Most notably, he has been the driving force behind the annual Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic at Sunnybrook Golf Club. This event has been a game-changer, providing a premier platform that has raised the profile of PGA Professionals and created life-changing opportunities for countless members. Mr. Connell’s dedication to the Philadelphia PGA goes beyond financial support; it’s a testament to his belief in the value of the profession. His partnership has elevated the game and helped the Section showcase the incredible talent and dedication within the ranks.
Surrette went on to thank outgoing Independent Director Ellie Good for her service to the Section.
The Section also acknowledged this year’s recipients of the Bud Jennings PGA Golf Management Scholarship: PGA of America Associates Tyler Armstrong of the Philadelphia Cricket Club in Flourtown, Pa., and Tessa Henderson of Stonewall in Elverson, Pa. The scholarship was developed by the Jennings family to honor Bud Jennings, a lifelong golfer and longtime Chester Valley Golf Club member. Given Bud’s love for the game of golf, and his willingness to give back and help others, the Jennings family says that this award is the perfect way to remember his legacy.
Prior to being confirmed as president, Bob Hennefer announced the Philadelphia PGA Playing Legends Class of 2025: John D. “Jack” Campbell, Bruce P. Coltart, Ronald “Rod” Munday, Theodore R. “Ted” Turner, and Joe Zarhardt.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Surrette paid tribute to the Section’s longtime assistant executive director, Barb Creveling, who has dutifully served our PGA Membership for nearly 25 years. Creveling recently made it known her retirement is impending. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication, Barb, and enjoy your retirement…you will be missed!
With the PGA Championship returning to Aronimink Golf Club in May 2026, the Section has been soliciting its PGA Professionals to volunteer for the major championship. As part of the promotion, the PGA of America brought the original Wanamaker Trophy to Indian Valley on Monday for the meeting.
Meeting attendees were also treated to Rules of Golf education as presented by PGA Tour Champions Tournament Official Tom Carpus, PGA.
Following the business meeting, 96 PGA Professionals teed it up for a pro-pro tournament, and Trout National’s David Altemus and Danny Lewis teamed to win the event at 12-under-par, bettering two teams by one stroke: Brian Bergstol and Trevor Bensel, LuLu Country Club; and Joanna Coe and Megan Leineweber, Stonewall. Dustin McCormick and Mike Molino, Elmhurst Country Club, finished in fourth place at 10-under-par, followed by and two over Tony Perla, Huntingdon Valley Country Club, and PGA Life Member George Forster in fifth place at 9-under.
To view the full 2025 Philadelphia PGA Fall Meeting golf event leaderboard, click here.
The 2025 Philadelphia PGA Fall Membership Meeting is supported by Antigua, Bethany Travel, Evolve Golf, 1st Phorm, Motocaddy, and Signature Golf. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Indian Valley Country Club, their members, management, host PGA Professionals, and staff, 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
