Category: PPGA

Two Teams Share 50th Pro-Am for Wishes Title

West Chester, Pennsylvania (August 2, 2026) — PGA of America Golf Professionals Zachary Oakley of Bidermann Golf Club, and Bill Sautter of Philadelphia Cricket Club alongside amateurs, Anthony Diver and Dan Missar, shared the 50th Pro-Am for Wishes title with PGA of America Golf Professionals Braden Shattuck of Rolling Green Golf Club and Bill Smith of Berkleigh Golf Club, alongside amateurs Jimmy O’Connor Sr. and Joe Partis, after both teams finished at 15-under-par in the two Best Balls of Four net competition at Penn Oaks Golf Club.

The Pro-Am for Wishes first started in 1976 at Whitford Country Club, and has been held annually at Penn Oaks Golf Club since 2008 (excluding 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) to benefit Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley. Since the event moved to Penn Oaks, it has raised more than $700,000 for the Make-A-Wish foundation.

Parks Price of Bent Creek Country Club, Justin Partis of The Philadelphia Cricket Club, Tony Houser, and Paul Dittmer finished third at 13-under-par. Brett Walker of Chester Valley Golf Club, Patrick Butkus of Whitford Country Club, Artie Schenck, and Brad Fahnestock placed fourth at 12-under-par, while Kyle Early of Wynnewood Country Club, Danny Lewis of Trout National, Tom Gaffney, and Doug Dockery rounded out the top five at 10-under-par.

In the 36-hole PGA Professional event Anthony Sebastianelli of Whitford Country Club leads the field at 5-under-par following an opening-round 66. Trevor Bensel of LuLu Country Club sits one stroke back at 4-under-par, while Zachary Barbin of Chesapeake Bay Golf Club and Braden Shattuck of Rolling Green Golf Club are tied for third at 3-under-par. Zachary Oakley of Bidermann Golf Club rounds out the top five at 2-under-par. The final round is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, August 3.


Mark Sheftic of Sunnybrook Golf Club and Robert Lennon of Wilmington Country Club share the Senior Division lead after the opening round at 2-over-par 73. David Quinn of Laurel Creek Country Club, Stephen Swartz of Carlisle Country Club, and Jason Wilson of Bethlehem Golf Club are tied for third place at 3-over-par, one stroke off the lead.

One of the day’s highlights came when PGA of America Golf Professional Danny Lewis of Trout National recorded a hole-in-one on the sixth hole using a 9-iron! Congrats on an amazing shot, Danny!

View the full 2026 Pro-Am for Wishes leaderboard by clicking here.

The Philadelphia PGA Section extends its sincere appreciation to The Delaware Valley Rare Coin CompanyCavan Construction Co. Inc.Tamora GroupDucklings Early Learning Franchise, and the following supporting sponsors for their generous support of the 50th Pro-Am for Wishes: Ambler Surgical LLCBlue Mountain ConstructionBuchanan Law – Vince Barbera; Carmen Ford; CDTI – Kevin O’Hara; Dalesio and Lee Families; Equity CRE, Inc.Fenstermacher & Company, PCFive Star Inc.H&W MechanicalHousers AutomotiveItaliano Commercial Real Estate Services LLC; Joann Finegan; Land Services USALyons & HohlMAI DesignMalany ElectricMartarano Engineering, Inc.Meridian Bank – Geoff Sheehan; O’Connor Family; Riggs Distler CompanyRiley Riper Hollin and ColagrecoScull ArchitectureSharon BankSSH Facilities; Syd and Gina Tyson Foundation; and WSFS Bank.

The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA of America Golf Professionals also thank our host Penn Oaks Golf Club, their owners, 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 of America Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Director of Operations, mfrey@pgahq.com

U.S. Amateur Ticket Policy for PGA of America Members

The 126th U.S Amateur Championship returns to Merion Golf Club from August 10-16, 2026, and PGA of America Members encouraged to attend.

PGA of America Members are entitled to receive complimentary gallery admission to the U.S Amateur for all practice and championship rounds. The spouse or guest of a PGA of America member is also granted complimentary Gallery admission to the U.S. Amateur.

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, Director of Operations: mfrey@pgahq.com

Dave Pagett Wins Philadelphia PGA Connelly Cup Head Golf Professional Championship

Glenside, Pennsylvania, (July 28, 2026) — PGA of America Golf Professional Dave Pagett of Whitemarsh Valley Country Club in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, claimed the 2026 Philadelphia PGA Connelly Cup Head Golf Professional Championship at North Hills Country Club after carding a 2-under-par 69 to earn a one-stroke victory.

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). Connelly was also inducted into the Section’s Hall of Fame in 2000, and PGA of America Hall of Fame in 2005.

“I stayed patient, played my own game, and kept the ball in front of me,” said Pagett.

Pagett went on to thank Whitemarsh Valley Country Club, his family, and his caddie, Rob, for their support throughout the season, in addition to Jack Connelly and North Hills for hosting.

Michael Little, PGA, of Clubhouse 54 finished runner-up at 1-under-par 70. Four players tied for third at even-par 71: John Cooper, PGA, of Green Valley Country Club; George Forster, PGA, of Radnor Valley Country Club; Mike Meisenzahl, PGA, of Tavistock Country Club; and Tyler Spielberger of Wild Quail Golf & Country Club.

The Senior Division concluded with John Cooper, PGA, of Green Valley Country Club, and George Forster, PGA, of Radnor Valley Country Club, sharing the division title after each posted an even-par 71. Dave McNabb, PGA, of Applebrook Golf Club, and Jeff Kiddie, PGA, of Aronimink Golf Club tied for third at 3-over-par 74, while Mark Chlebek, PGA, of Steel Club, finsihed fifth at 5-over- par 76.

View the full 2026 Philadelphia PGA Connelly Cup Head Golf Professional Championship leaderboard by clicking here.

The 2026 Philadelphia PGA Connelly Cup Head Golf Professional Championship is supported by Bushnell Golf, WilsonEarth Networks, and SCNS Sports Food. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA of America Golf Professionals thank our partners, North Hills Country Club, 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 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

PGA of America Golf Professional Andrew CornishWins 2026 Doylestown Open in Sudden-Death Playoff 

Doylestown, Pa. (July 24, 2026) —PGA of America Golf Professional Andrew Cornish of Llanerch Country Club in Havertown, Pennsylvania, birdied the first sudden-death playoff hole to beat Zach Barbin of Chesapeake Bay Golf Club and Sam Ambrose of Chester Valley Golf Club and win the the 2026 Doylestown Open, a Rolex / Haverford Trust Company Philadelphia PGA Player of the Year event, at Doylestown Country Club. The three each turned in 6-under-par 66s in regulation to force the playoff.

Cornish carded seven birdies and one bogey en route to his 66.

“It was a very good round today,” Cornish said following the conclusion of the playoff. “I got off to a good start, and kept it rolling.

“I probably have 10,000 steps in the clubhouse today,” he continued. “It was a long wait between when we finished our round to the playoff, but it was worth the wait.” 

Cornish went on to thank the membership and staff at Llanerch, Titleist, his parents, Doylestown Country Club, the Section staff, and his fiancé Tessa Teachman, PGA.

Three PGA Professionals tied for fourth place at 4-under-par: Andrew Turner, Green Valley Country Club; Trevor Bensel, LuLu Country Club; and Braden Shattuck, Rolling Green Golf Club.

Sunnybrook Golf Club’s Mark Sheftic, PGA, took top honors in the Senior Division, finishing with a 3-under-par 69 to better Applebrook Golf Club’s Dave McNabb, PGA, and Laurel Creek Country Club’s Dave Quinn, PGA, by two strokes. Green Valley Country Club’s John Cooper, PGA, and Royal Oaks Golf Club’s Terry Hatch, PGA, tied for fourth place, three strokes behind Sheftic. 

Mountain View Country Club’s Jack Brennan, PGA, finished atop the Super Senior Division with a 1-under-par 71, bettering PGA Life Members Wayne Phillips, Lehigh Country Club, and Darryl Lock, Skippack Golf Club, by three strokes. Deerwood Country Club’s Greg Farrow finished in fourth place at 6-over-par.

The Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) held an event concurrently with the Doylestown Open, with Andrew Cornish walking away with the victory as a result of his playoff win over Zach Barbin. Andrew Turner and Trevor Bensel tied for third place at 4-under-par, followed by Zac Oakley, Bidermann Golf Club, at 3-under-par.

Doylestown Country Club member Russell Hartung finished at 4-over-par to earn Low Amateur honors, bettering fellow club member Neil Gordon by one stroke. Stefan Szygiel finished in third place at 7-over-par.

Rehoboth Beach Country Club’s Chris Gray made an albatross on the par-five 18th hole. Gray’s two marked the first double-eagle in a Philadelphia PGA event since 2022 (Brendon Post, Philadelphia Senior PGA Professional Championship, Medford Village Country Club).

Laurel Creek Country Club’s Dave Quinn, PGA, challenged Gray for shot of the tournament with his hole-in-one on the 162-yard par-3 17th hole. He used an 8-iron. Well played, Chris and Dave! 

View the full 2026 Doylestown Open leaderboard by clicking here.

The 2026 Doylestown Open is supported by Doylestown Country ClubKM Golf Sales / Kevin McClellanOhana Farm LLC, and the PGA Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA of America Golf Professionals thank our partners, host Doylestown Country Club, 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 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

Inside Golf to Air 28th Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic Special on NBC Sports Philadelphia and NBC Sports Philadelphia+

Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (July 24, 2026) — Inside Golf, a Philadelphia PGA Section partner, will air a television special highlighting the 28th Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic, won by PGA of America Golf Professional Billy Stewart, premiering on NBC Sports Philadelphia+ on Tuesday, July 28 at 10:00 p.m. ET. The special will be rebroadcast throughout August on NBC Sports Philadelphia and NBC Sports Philadelphia+.

The special will feature all of the major highlights from May’s electrifying golf tournament at Sunnybrook Golf Club, where Stewart walked away with a winner’s check of $100,000, the largest first-place prize available from any event across the PGA of America’s 41 nationwide Sections.

Inside Golf’s 28th Haverford Philadelphia
PGA Classic TV Special Broadcast Times

Tuesday, July 28: 10:00 p.m. on NBC Sports Philadelphia+
Sunday, August 2: 7:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Thursday, August 6: 9:00 p.m. on NBC Sports Philadelphia+
Wednesday, August 12: 10:00 p.m. on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The special will also be viewable on Inside Golf’s official YouTube channel, which may be accessed by clicking here.

The 28th Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic’s title partner is The Haverford Trust Company. The Inside Golf special features PGA of America Golf Professional Matt Frey in the booth alongside Inside Golf’s Jack Flanagan. 

About Haverford
The Haverford Trust Company was founded in 1979 on Philadelphia’s landmark Rittenhouse Square. Since our founding, one thing has remained unchanged…our commitment to quality. Haverford has prospered for more than 40 years in a finance industry dominated by giants through our passion and adaptability. With this solid framework and more than $16.8 billion in assets under management or consultation*, we have the flexibility to address the issues facing investors today while fostering close relationships across multiple generations. We have traditional and alternative asset portfolio offerings, OCIO solutions for institutional and ultra-high net worth clients, and experienced client support teams to ensure a robust client experience.  For more information, visit haverfordquality.com.

*Including assets under management or consultation for The Haverford Trust Company and Haverford Financial Services as of 6/30/2026.

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

PGA of America Golf Professional Lamar Saxon Leads Kennett Square Team toVictory in 2026 LedgeRock Stableford Championship

Mohnton, Pa. (July 21, 2026) — PGA of America Golf Professional Lamar Saxon of Kennett Square Golf and Country Club, led his team of amateurs, Paul Geary, Chris Sotiropolous, and Michael Sanfrancesco, to a victory in the Net Division of the 2026 LedgeRock Stableford Championship, presented by Parx Casino® and Moyer. The foursome totaled 87 Stableford points at LedgeRock Golf Club to win.

The event featured a Modified Stableford format, in which players received five points for an albatross / double eagle, four points for an eagle, three points for a birdie, two points for a par, and 1 point for a bogey or worse.

One point back, Mike Matson, PGA, of the RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve, alongside Steve Matson, Matt Seiple, and Chuck Faulkner, finished second at 86 points. Third place was shared at 85 points by Frank Palumbo, PGA, of Rolling Green Golf Club, and Pete Barton, Mike Ruggieri, and Mike Garvey, as well as Christian Simms, PGA, of Medford Village Country Club with Rich Lauer, Bill Mullens, and Kurt Muller.

PGA of America Golf Professional Jim Smith of Philadelphia Cricket Club alongside Scott Storck, Conrad Von Borsig, and Mark Miller, posted the day’s best gross total of 83 points to top the Gross Division. Golf Galaxy – Montgomeryville’s Eric McNamee, PGA, Fred Snow, Ryan Hoffner, and Walter Hoffner finished in second place, four points behind the winners.   Carlisle Country Club’s Stephen Swartz, Kobie Swartz, Jeff Frazier, and Mike Farlling finished in third place with 77 points. 

To view the 2026 LedgeRock Stableford Championship leaderboard, click here.

This event is presented by Parx Casino®  and Moyer. Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, LedgeRock Golf Club their members, management, host PGA Professionals, and staff, as well as our partners, 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, Director of Operations, mfrey@pgahq.com