Lititz, Pa. (September 22, 2020) — Defending Champion Alex Knoll, Glen Brook G.C., extended his lead in the 99th Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship, presented by Club Car and OMEGA, to two strokes after turning in a 3-under-par 69 at the C.C. of York. Knoll finds himself at 9-under-par going into the final round.

Pine Valley G.C.’s Tom Cooper, PGA, is in solo-second after he shot a 2-under-par 70, also at the C.C. of York, reaching 7-under-par for the championship.

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“It was a good day again; it’s always tough to follow a good round with another one,” said Knoll. “I was pretty proud that I came in with a 3-under score today, birdieing the last hole.”

Knoll joked that his front nine score could have been a 28, as he said he hit it “beyond excellent,” but didn’t make many putts. Knoll carded 33 strokes on the front. To hear Knoll’s full remarks following his round, click here.

Cooper, held his position in second-place, yet fell a stroke further behind after 36 holes. While Cooper had a couple of three-putts during his round, he did acknowledge he had a few longer putts drop.

“It is always nice when the long putts fall in the hole,” he said.

For Cooper’s full remarks, click here.

Spring Ford C.C.’s Rich Steinmetz, PGA, turned in the day’s lowest round, a 4-under-par 67 at Bent Creek C.C., which places him in third place at 5-under-par, four back of Knoll. Brett Walker tied Steinmetz with his 3-under-par 68 at Bent Creek C.C.

Sixty-one of the 144 Philadelphia PGA Professionals in the field made the cut to the final round to continue their quest for the William B. Packer Trophy and a berth into the 54th PGA Professional Championship, April 25-28, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Along with the trophy, the winner will earn a $9,000 first-prize out of the $72,000 purse.

The final round is scheduled for tomorrow, Sept. 23, at Bent Creek C.C. Follow the action via our live scoring by visiting golfgenius.com/pages/2420290 and our social media channels: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

For more information on the championship, including the week’s schedule, pairings, and more, visit the championship’s official e-publication.

Members of the media are welcome onsite to cover the championship.

The 99th Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship is presented by Club Car and OMEGA, and supported by Titleist / FootJoy, Nike, TaylorMade, Golf Channel, and the PGA Tour.

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

Lititz, Pa. (September 21, 2020) — Defending Champion Alex Knoll, Glen Brook G.C., leads the 99th Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship, presented by Club Car and OMEGA, by one stroke after firing a 6-under-par 65 in the opening round at Bent Creek C.C., fueled by two eagles on Nos. 9 and 12, both par-5s.

Two PGA Members, Mark Sheftic, Merion G.C.; and Tom Cooper, Pine Valley G.C.; are tied for second place, one stroke behind Knoll.

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“I hit it excellent off the tee and gave myself a lot of opportunities,” Knoll said of his opening round. “I made some nice putts today and really played the par-5s excellent; I was 5-under on those holes, so that really helped my score today.”

To hear Knoll’s full remarks following his round, click here.

Sheftic, who played his opening round at the C.C. of York and made five birdies and an eagle, said that the course played outstanding.

“My game plan going into today was to stay below the hole, and I did putt well.” For Sheftic’s full comments, click here.

Cooper, like Knoll, played Bent Creek C.C. for his first round, and said he hit the ball consistently throughout the day, following a good stretch of ball-striking.

“I was hovering around even-par and 1-under for most of the front nine, thinking ‘just keep hitting fairways and greens and see if we can make some more birdies,” Cooper said. “I was able to make some long putts and hit some good shots coming in.”

Cooper made eight birdies during his round. For his full remarks, click here.

One-hundredd-forty-four of the Philadelphia PGA Section’s best players are competing for the William B. Packer Trophy and a berth into the 54rd PGA Professional Championship, April 25-28, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Along with the trophy, the winner will earn a $9,000 first-prize out of the $72,000 purse.

The second round continues tomorrow, Sept. 22, at 8:30 a.m. at both Bent Creek C.C. and the C.C. of York. Follow the action via our live scoring by visiting golfgenius.com/pages/2420290 and our social media channels: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

For more information on the championship, including the week’s schedule, pairings, and more, visit the championship’s official e-publication.

Members of the media are welcome onsite to cover the championship.

The 99th Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship is presented by Club Car and OMEGA, and supported by Titleist / FootJoy, Nike, TaylorMade, Golf Channel, and the PGA Tour.

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

Fleetwood, Pa. (September 17, 2020) — PGA Member George Forster, Radnor Valley C.C., and his amateur teammate Anthony Pigott won the 2020 Philadelphia PGA Pro-Scratch Championship at Moselem Springs G.C. with a team score of 9-under-par 61. Forster carded a 66 with his own ball.

Forster and Pigott’s margin of victory was two strokes over the team of PGA Member Steve Swartz, West Shore C.C., and his amateur partner David Herbst.

Commonwealth National G.C.’s Patrick Shine, PGA, and his amateur partner Michael Valentine, who were paired with Forster and Pigott, said the winning team was making putts from everywhere, including some with significant break.

Three teams finished tied for third place at 6-under-par, including: PGA Associate Brian Bergstol, Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort, and Ryan Orcutt; PGA Member Mike Molino, C.C. of Scranton, and Cory Calvert; and PGA Member Jeff Fick, Moselem Springs G.C., and Tucker Sandercock.

To view the full 2020 Pro-Scratch Championship leaderboard, click here.

The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank Moselem Springs G.C., its membership, management, 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 Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

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

Wayne, Pa. (August 3, 2020) — Mike Tobiason of Deerfield C.C. in Newark, Del., winner of the 2020 National Car Rental Philadelphia Assistant PGA Professional Championship at St. Davids G.C. will lead six Section PGA Professionals to compete Nov. 12-15, in the 44th National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship.

The national Championship, supported by Srixon, Cleveland Golf, XXIO, Asics and John Deere will be held at PGA Golf Club, Port St. Luce, Fla.

Tobiason turned in a winning total of 8-under-par 68-62—130 to capture the National Car Rental Philadelphia Assistant PGA Professional Championship. Ashley Grier of Overbrook G.C. in Villanova, Pa.; Brett Walker of Sunnybrook G.C. in Plymouth Meeting, Pa.; Trevor Bensel of Overbrook G.C. in Villanova, Pa.; and Steve Swartz of West Shore C.C. in Camp Hill, Pa., and  finished four strokes back at 4-under-par 134. They are joined by Ross Seaman of Manufacturer’s G. & C.C. in Fort Washington, Pa. Grier had already earned her spot in the national Championship for having been a member of the inaugural Women’s PGA Cup in 2019.

The National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship brings together a field of 132 contestants representing the PGA of America’s 41 nationwide Sections and features a total purse of $150,000. 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 54th PGA Professional Championship to be conducted April 25-28, 2021, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank the St. Davids G.C., its membership, management, and staff, as well as our partners, as the championship would not have been possible without their support.

To view the full tournament leaderboard, click here.

About the PGA of America
The PGA of America represents the very best in golf. For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.org and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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, Philadelphia PGA Section, mfrey@pgahq.com

Bethlehem, Pa. (July 27, 2020) — The team representing Lebanon (Pa.) C.C., PGA Associate Bobby Farnham and his amateur partner Brian Blalock won the 2020 Philadelphia PGA Pro-Scratch Championship on Saucon Valley C.C.’s Old Course.

Farnham, an assistant professional at Lebanon C.C., and Blalock, who was eligible for the event with a handicap less than 5.0, finished with a score of 8-under-par 63, one stroke better than the team from Lancaster (Pa.) C.C., PGA Assistant Professional Matt Goudie and his amateur partner Ken Phillips. Gulph Mills G.C.’s Alec Brown, PGA, and partner Kevin Cahill finished in third with a 65. Two teams tied for fourth place.

The Farnham / Blalock Four-Ball score is impressive on a layout such as Saucon Valley C.C.’s Old Course, which  has played host to the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open, two U.S. Senior Opens (1992, 2000) and a U.S. Amateur Championship (1951).

The 2020 Pro-Scratch Championship is supported by Criquet. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank Saucon Valley C.C., its membership, management, and staff, as well as our partners, as the event would not have been possible without their support.

To view the full tournament 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, Philadelphia PGA Section, mfrey@pgahq.com

The tournament is the Philadelphia PGA Section’s first since golf facilities reopened

North Hills, Pa. (June 2, 2020) — Hugo Mazzalupi bested a field of nearly 50 PGA Professionals to win the 2020 Connelly Cup PGA Head Professional Championship at North Hills C.C. The Connelly Cup is named in honor of Jack Connelly, a Past President of both the PGA of America (2001-02) and Philadelphia PGA Section (1983-84).

Hugo Mazzalupi, Patriots Glen National G.C., Elkton, Md.; posted a 4-under-par score of 67 for a four-stroke victory over second place finisher Michael Little, Lookaway G.C., Buckingham, Pa. Little played in the first group out and held the clubhouse lead for a short time, only to be overtaken shortly thereafter by Mazzalupi, who played in the championship’s third grouping. Mazzalupi’s digital scorecard was nearly blemish-free, with five birdies (including three in a row on hole Nos. 11-13) and only one bogey.

PGA Professionals rounding out the top 10 included: T3 Josef Pohle, Blue Bell C.C.; John Pillar, C.C. at Woodloch Springs; T5 Eric Kennedy, Overbrook G.C.; Scott Chisholm, Rolling Green G.C.; Michael Tobiason, Deerfield; T8 Robert Hennefer, Indian Spring C.C.; George Frake, Moorestown Field Club; and William Scarborough, the Peninsula G. & C.C.

The event marked the first Philadelphia PGA Section tournament since golf facilities reopened amid the COVID-19 pandemic quarantines and was conducted in strict compliance with state and federal regulations and guidance.

The 2020 Connelly Cup PGA Head Professional Championship is supported by Bushnell Golf, Earth Networks, NFP Hole-in-One U.S.A., Pukka Inc., SCNS Sports Foods, and the PGA Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our partners as the event would not have been possible without their support.

To view the full tournament 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, Philadelphia PGA Section, mfrey@pgahq.com