Clarks Summit, Pa.. (September 13, 2023) — Zac Oakley of Bidermann Golf Club in Wilmington, Del., winner of the 102nd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship, presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial, and Rolex, at the Country Club of Scranton and Elmhurst Country Club, will lead 11 Section PGA Professionals to compete in the 2024 PGA Professional Championship, April 28 – May 1, at Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco in Texas.
Oakley, the 36-hole leader, was declared the champion after the final round was cancelled due to significant rainfall at the C.C. of Scranton. He finished his week at 10-under-par, with rounds 67-67–134, to better Braden Shattuck of Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa., by one stroke.
“I am super excited and happy to have won this championship,” Oakley said of his victory. “I played great. This is our Section’s most important championship of the year; it’s our major.”
Oakley said that he loves to play in multi-day events, as there is more strategy involved in the competition. He also remarked how special it is to have won the Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship and the National Car Rental Philadelphia Assistant PGA Professional Championship in the same season.
“I put in a lot of work at the end of the summer, as I struggled at the beginning of the year. This validates putting in the practice and the time.
“I wasn’t putting well, and my speed was off. I switched to a more face-balanced putter, and I made everything inside six feet this week at the Country Club of Scranton and Elmhurst Country Club.”
He went on to thank God, as this was an emotional win considering his close calls with victories in 2020 and 2021, everyone at Bidermann Golf Club, his wife, friends, family, the Section staff, and our host clubs and their staffs. He said that the PGA Professionals, superintendents, and grounds crews at both clubs did an excellent job prepping the facilities for the event. To watch him deliver his full comments, click here.
In addition to having his name engraved on the William B. Packer Trophy, Oakley earned $9,000 for his win, coming from the $72,000 purse.
Oakley (1), Shattuck (2), will be joined at the 2024 PGA Professional Championship in Texas by 2023 Philadelphia Senior PGA Professional Champion Rich Steinmetz of Spring Ford Country Club in Royersford, Pa.; Michael Meisenzahl of Little Mill Country Club in Marlton, N.J.; Billy Stewart of Union League Liberty Hill in Lafayette Hill, Pa.; Alex Knoll of Glen Brook Golf Club in Stroudsburg, Pa.; Robert Fenton of Sunnybrook Golf Club in Plymouth Meeting, Pa.; Trevor Bensel of Sandy Run Country Club in Oreland, Pa.; Dave Pagett of Whitemarsh Valley Country Club in Lafayette Hill, Pa.; Chris Krueger of Kings Creek Country Club in Rehoboth Beach, Del.; Michael Little of Clubhouse 54 in North Wales, Pa.; and Caleb Wittig of Elmhurst Country Club in Moscow, Pa.
As reigning PGA Professional Champion, Shattuck had already clinched his exemption into the 2024 championship. Brian Kelly of Bucknell Golf Club in Lewisburg, Pa., finished in ninth place, but is not eligible to advance due to his PGA Life Member classification.
Brian Bergstol of Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort in Shawnee on Delaware, Pa., is the first alternate, followed by Mark Sheftic of Sunnybrook Golf Club in Plymouth Meeting, Pa.; Terry Hertzog of Bent Creek Country Club in Lititz, Pa.; Rusty Harbold of Philadelphia Cricket Club in Flourtown, Pa.; and Joanna Coe of Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.
If eligibility is met and maintained, the low 20 scorers in 2024 will earn berths into the 106th PGA Championship, May 13-19, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., as part of the Corebridge Financial PGA Team. Established in 1968, the PGA Professional Championship roster of Champions includes the following premier tour professionals: Sam Snead, Bob Rosburg, Don Massengale, Ed Dougherty, Larry Gilbert, and Bruce Fleisher.
To view the full 102nd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship leaderboard, click here.
The 102nd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship is presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial, and Rolex, and is supported by Golf Channel, Gallagher, the PGA Tour, Titleist, FootJoy, Callaway, Nike, TaylorMade Golf, and SCNS Sports Foods. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our hosts, the Country Club of Scranton and Elmhurst Country Club, its members, management, host PGA Professionals, and staff, as well as our partners, as the event would not have been possible without their support.
The next Philadelphia PGA Rolex / The Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year tournament on the schedule is the Philadelphia Players Championship on Monday, September 18, at Lookaway Golf Club.
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
Steinmetz is tied for third place with Michael Meisenzahl, Little Mill C.C., three strokes behind Oakley. Union League Liberty Hill’s Billy Stewart, PGA, is at 5-under-par in fifth place, and delivered one of the highlights of the championship today, holing his second shot on the par-5 18th hole (his ninth of the round) for a double eagle. Stewart hit a 3-wood from 240 yards.
