Philadelphia PGA of America Golf Professional Braden Shattuck Earns Low Club Professional Honors at 2024 PGA Championship
Shattuck, Wells head home with a trove of highlights and memories
By Jeff Babineau, PGA Pool Reporter
PGA of America Golf Professional Braden Shattuck expects the usual barrage of questions when he gets back on the practice tee at Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pennsylvania, where he is PGA Director of Instruction.
With Shattuck, 29, having just played in his second PGA Championship, his students will want to know what his nerves were like; who he played with; and what he did to keep himself calm. This time, he will have a new question to answer: What was it like to play on the weekend at a major?
He and Jeremy Wells, a 33-year-old Director of Instruction at Cypress Lake Golf Club in Fort Myers, Florida, were the two PGA Golf Professionals from the 21-man Corebridge Financial Team who made the 36-hole cut at the 106th PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. Wells and Shattuck each were competing in their second PGA Championship, having made it to Oak Hill a year ago, and this time they saw the championship all the way through.
Both experienced highs and lows at Valhalla, but were departing Kentucky far richer for their experience. Who might benefit the most? Those lucky golfers that they teach back home.
Shattuck, winner of the 2023 PGA Professional Championship, shot a closing 3-over 74 on Sunday, managing to close out his week with three hard-earned pars to finish 72 holes in red numbers. At 1-under 283, he earned honors as the Low PGA of America Golf Professional.
“This week has been obviously awesome,” said Shattuck, whose golf career was put on hold five years ago when he was involved in a terrible car accident that herniated two disks and took him out of golf for two years. “This is the first cut I’ve made [in a big pro event], and I just happened to do it at a major.”
Wells finished on a tough note, making a triple-bogey 8 at the par-5 18th early Sunday, but it did little to dampen his memorable week-long experience. Competing elbow to elbow with the best players in the world is something he had dreamed about since starting the game at 5 years old back in Virginia. He tried the pro game for a bit, but discovered what others who try it find out: Golf is really, really hard.
Making the cut at Valhalla was something that two-time major champion Jon Rahm did not do, that U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick did not do, that six-time major champion Phil Mickelson did not do. That is, perform well enough to make it to the third round of the championship.
“What did it look like?” asked Wells Sunday afternoon, when asked to recount those starry aspirations of his youth. “It looks like this. Beautiful days playing great golf courses in front of hundreds, thousands of people. Lots of fun.”
Wells has three children 7 and under, and two of them were in Kentucky to watch their dad play. He had quite a week, sharing it with his former roommate and teammate from the College of William & Mary, Spencer Kushner, who caddied for him. His parents were at Valhalla, too. One highlight came on Wednesday, when Wells was looking to play nine holes and then get some rest. As he stood waiting to hit on the 10th tee, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Scheffler’s Ryder Cup teammate, Max Homa, stepped up to join him.
Wells’ dad, Leigh Wells, said that did wonders to relax his son for Thursday’s first round, when he shot 69.
Wells said he drew inspiration, as many PGA of America Golf Professionals have, from the T-15 performance of PGA Professional Michael Block last May at Oak Hill. One thing he will take with him home to Florida is the desire to play more golf with his students, and not just watch them hit balls on a practice tee.
He also hoped that a great week in Kentucky leaves a lasting impression on his son, Mason, and daughter, Chloe, who were troopers all week, joining their mom, Melissa, in watching their father play his rounds.
“I hope they learn, my kids especially, just the amount of hard work that goes into this,” Wells said. “Got to hang in there, whatever it is in life. If you continue to stay focused and refine it through time, you can always get better. And we’re going to do that again for next year, or for the next opportunity.”
Shattuck wore a ribbon to honor his friend Dustin Wallis, member of the Philadelphia PGA Section whose life ended unexpectedly, and much too soon, at age 45 last month. Asked if Wallis would have approved of his showing at Valhalla, Shattuck said, “I think so… I think so. Hopefully he’s proud.”
For both Shattuck and Wells there will be plenty of time down the road to savor their great week, but on Monday, there was golf to play. Wells was trying to get back for a South Florida PGA Section event on Monday; Shattuck faced driving 10 hours home to Pennsylvania, hoping to make a time for a Section event at Bellwood, which is a Silver Crest Cup qualifier.
As the 2023 PPC champion, Shattuck still has three PGA Tour exemptions upcoming in 2024. He hopes to play Rocket Mortgage, John Deere and Barracuda. In challenging times, he can just harken back to his play at Valhalla.
About PGA of America
The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who love the game, are expert coaches, operators and business leaders, and work daily to drive interest, inclusion and participation in the sport. The PGA of America owns and operates numerous championships and events, including major championships for men, women, seniors and the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s foremost sporting events. For more information, visit PGA.com and follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Media Contacts
Jesse Dodson, PGA of America, jdodson@pgahq.com
Jared Minski, Mastro Communications, jared@mastrocomm.com
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
Both, along with 19 other PGA of America Golf Professionals, earned their place on the Corebridge Financial Team at the PGA Professional Championship last month in Frisco, Texas. Oakley played in his first major championship at the 2022 PGA Championship, while Shattuck led the team as the 2023 PGA Professional Champion at the 2023 PGA Championship.
Zac Oakley, PGA: Club/Facility: Bidermann Golf Club, Wilmington, Del.; PGA Championship appearance: 2nd; Philadelphia PGA Section. PGA Assistant and Teaching Professional at Bidermann Golf Club…Playing in his second PGA Championship…T-16 finish in the 2024 PGA Professional Championship clinched a spot on the Corebridge Financial Team in the PGA Championship…Finished T-6 in the 2022 PGA Professional Championship despite coming off a partially torn tendon in his left foot that put him in a cast for about seven weeks. Had just a few weeks to rehab before the Championship began…Earned a start in the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills…Winner, 2023 Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship; 2023 Philadelphia PGA Assistant Championship; 2021, ’19 Philadelphia PGA Section Match Play Championship…Won twice during both the 2021 and 2017 PGA Tournament Series at PGA Golf Club…Winner, 2021 Philadelphia PGA Section Player of the Year…Won the 2021 DeBaufre low scoring average title and set the all time lowest Philadelphia PGA Section scoring average of 68.9 for the season…Three-time All-America golfer at Wesley College…Son of Pete Oakley, a PGA life member who won the 2004 Senior British Open and played in six PGA Championships and 11 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championships.
Braden Shattuck, PGA: Club/Facility: Rolling Green Golf Club, Springfield, Pa.; PGA Championship appearance: 2nd; Philadelphia PGA Section. PGA Director of Instruction at Rolling Green Golf Club…He is set to make his debut in the PGA Championship…Winner, 2023 PGA Professional Championship; 2022 Philadelphia PGA Player of the Year…Winner, 2022 Philadelphia PGA Doylestown Open…Winner, 2022, ‘21 Burlington Classic…Winner, 2022 Philadelphia PGA Jack Jolly & Son Championship…Winner, 2022 Philadelphia PGA F. Edward DeBaufre Trophy for Scoring Average…Winner, 2021 GALV Lehigh Valley Open…Winner, 2019 Philadelphia PGA William Hyndman III Memorial Classic…Winner, 2018 New England Open…Winner, 2018 Delaware Open…He is a former Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour member, where he won the 2011 and 2012 Boys 16-18 Player of the Year…Played college golf at the University of Delaware…Named the 2011-12 Daily Times Player of the Year in high school.About the Philadelphia PGA Section
Dave McNabb, PGA: PGA Head Golf Professional at Applebrook Golf Club… Finished T-26 at the 2022 Senior PGA Professional Championship to earn a spot on the Corebridge Financial PGA Team… Finished runner-up in the 2017 PGA Professional Championship, losing a two-hole playoff to Omar Uresti at Crosswater Club in Sunriver, Oregon… Also finished in the top 20 at the PGA Professional Championship in 2013 (T-9) and 2014 (T-12)… Earned spots in the PGA Championship in 2013, ‘14, and ‘17… Also played in four KitchenAid Senior PGA Championships (2017, ‘19, ‘21, ‘22)… Played in the 2017 and ‘22 U.S. Senior Opens… Member of the 2017 U.S. PGA Cup Team… Played in the Senior PGA Professional Championship in 2022 (T-26), 2021 (T- 14), 2020 (T-16), 2018 (T-11), and 2016 (T-28)… Winner, 2021 Philadelphia PGA Skee Riegel Senior Open… Winner, 2021, ‘18 Philadelphia PGA Senior Professional Championship… Winner, 2015 Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship… Winner, 2018, ‘13 Callaway TPD Championship… Winner, 2012, ‘05 Delaware State Open… Winner, 2016, ‘05, ‘04, ‘97 Philadelphia PGA Section Head Professional Championships… Winner, 2013 Philadelphia PGA Golf Professional of the Year… Winner, 2021, ‘20, ‘18 Philadelphia PGA Section Senior Player of the Year… Held top Philadelphia PGA Section DeBaufre Scoring Average in 2016 (70.90)… Led Philadelphia PGA Section Senior Scor- ing Average in 2016 (70.90) and 2021 (70.93)… Did not play competitive golf from a young age, including high school and college… In 1993, he left his hometown Mount Clemens, Michigan, and moved to Delaware, where he began his career in the golf profession… A nine-year member of the Philadelphia PGA Board of Directors.
Rich Steinmetz, PGA: PGA Head Golf Professional at Spring Ford Country Club… Finished T-24 at the 2022 Senior PGA Professional Championship to earn a spot on the Corebridge Financial PGA Team… Finished T-9 in the 2005 PGA Professional Championship and T-15 in 2010… Earned starts in the 2005 PGA Championship at Baltusrol and the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits… Member of the 2005 U.S. PGA Cup team… Winner, 2022 Philadelphia PGA Section Senior Professional Championship… Winner, 2011, ‘10, ‘07 Philadelphia PGA Section Championship… Winner, 2009 Philadelphia Open… Winner, 2006 Philadelphia PGA Section Match Play Championship… Winner, 2022 Philadelphia PGA Senior Player of the Year… Winner, 2006 Phila- delphia PGA Player of the Year… Winner, 2004 Philadelphia PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year… Winner, 2004 Philadelphia PGA DeBaufre Scoring Average… At age of 16, played in the Optimist Jr. World Championships at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California… As a junior golfer, he twice won the Philadelphia Jr. PGA… He was a two-time PAC 10 Champion and qualified three times for the PIAA State Championships during high school.
