It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of John Rogers, the 42nd Philadelphia PGA Section President; he was 62. John is survived by wife Christine, and children Kyle, Taylor, and Molly.

A longtime member of the PGA of America, Rogers pursued a career at various golf courses and clubs throughout Pennsylvania. Following a stint as a head golf professional in Cross Junction, Va., Rogers became the head professional at The Majestic Ridge Golf Club in Chambersburg in 1993 where he spent nearly 20 years devoted to teaching others the art of the game. Among several accolades and recognitions throughout his career, Rogers received a national award in 2011 from the PGA of America which honors a member for outstanding contributions to professional education. He also served as President of the Philadelphia PGA Section. To read more about John’s service to the game, see below.

In addition to his wife and children, Rogers is survived by his sisters Barbara (Gregory) Torrence and Kim Jagaczewski. He’s known as Uncle John to several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 6 in Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 320 Philadelphia Ave., Chambersburg, Pa. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the service Saturday afternoon in the new church narthex. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his honor may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.

To read John’s full obituary, click here.

John’s dedication to the PGA of America, Philadelphia PGA Section, and the game of golf was impressive:

• PGA of America Professional Development Award: 2011
• 42nd Philadelphia PGA Section President: 2017-2019
• Central Counties Chapter President: 2005-2007
• Section Professional Development Award: 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010
• Central Counties Chapter PGA Golf Professional of the Year
• Section Education Committee Chair
• Elected to PGA Membership: September 1, 1992

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.

Buckingham, Pa. (August 1, 2022) — Philadelphia PGA Member Andrew Turner of Berkshire Country Club in Reading, Pa., turned in a 5-under-par 67 at Lookaway Golf Club to win the 2022 Philadelphia Players Championship by one stroke over Brian Bergstol of Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort, and Zac Oakley of Bidermann Golf Club. The Philadelphia Players Championship is a Philadelphia PGA Rolex / The Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year event.

Turner made pars on his first seven holes, until his eagle on the par-5 eighth hole opened up his round. He followed his eagle with three more birdies on the back nine to secure an early clubhouse lead over Bergstol. While Oakley, and others, made moves later in the day, Turner’s 67 was ultimately good enough to walk away with the $5,000 winner’s check.

“I have been hitting the ball well this season, and have been working on my putting, so it was nice to see some putts finally go in,” Turner said of his round at Lookaway. “I haven’t won since 2017 (Philadelphia PGA Haverford Trust Classic); it’s great to get another one.”

Turner went on to thank Scott & Karen Hutchinson, Lookaway Golf Club, its members, PGA Professional staff, superintendent, and grounds crew, in addition to Berkshire Country Club and its membership for allowing him to compete in Section events. He finished by thanking his wife for all the support she provides.

Rich Steinmetz, Spring Ford C.C., and Braden Shattuck, Rolling Green G.C., tied for fourth place to round out the top five at 3-under-par.

Logan Paczewski, Huntsville G.C., earned Low Amateur honors for his 2-over-par 74, topping Lookaway’s Robert Majczan by six strokes.

In addition to his T4 finish, Steinmetz also took home the top prize in the Senior Division, beating Eddie Perrino, C.C. of York, by two strokes. Dave McNabb, Applebrook G.C.; Jeff Kiddie, Aronimink G.C.; and John Pillar, C.C. at Woodloch Springs; tied for third place at even-par.

The 2022 Philadelphia Players Championship is supported by Scott & Karen Hutchinson, and Makefield Putters. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Lookaway Golf 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.

To view the full 2022 Philadelphia Players Championship leaderboard, click here.

The next Philadelphia PGA Rolex / The Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year tournament on the schedule is the Pro-Am for Wishes on Sunday, August 14 – Monday. August 15 at Penn Oaks Golf Club in West Chester, Pa.

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

Doylestown, Pa. (July 29, 2022) — Philadelphia PGA Member Braden Shattuck of Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa., turned in a 5-under-par 67 at Doylestown Country Club to win the 2022 Doylestown Open  by one stroke over Billy Stewart of Union League Liberty Hill in Lafayette Hill, Pa.

Braden made six birdies and only one bogey en route to his second victory of the season (he also won the 2022 Burlington Classic last month). Shattuck clinched his win by making a 10-foot birdie putt on his final hole, the 510-yard 18th hole, a par-5.

After Doylestown C.C. PGA Head Professional Travis Deibert presented the trophy and winner’s check, Shattuck thanked Titleist, Makefield Putters and Michael Little, PGA, Doylestown C.C., its membership, and Travis Deibert, Rolling Green G.C. PGA Head Professional Scott Chisolm, Rolling Green G.C., and its membership.

Five other PGA Members, Eric Kennedy, Overbrook G.C.; Trevor Bensel, Sandy Run G.C.; Nick Iacono, Chester Valley G.C.; Joanna Coe, Merion G.C.; and Anthony Bonargo, Doylestown C.C.; rounded out the top five at 3-under-par, two strokes behind Shattuck.

The event is a Philadelphia PGA Rolex / The Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year tournament and the fourth and final Silvercrest Cup qualifier of the year. Beginning this season, the Silvercrest Cup series will include four qualifying events for Philadelphia PGA Professionals, and will culminate in a $30,000 Silvercrest Cup final, hosted at Gulph Mills Golf Club in King of Prussia, Pa. For more information on the season-long race to the Silvercrest Cup, click here. In addition to receiving the winner’s share of the purse, Shattuck also took home an additional $3,000 from the Silvercrest Cup qualifier bonus pool; Stewart receives $2,000 for the second place bonus pool. The Section will publish final Silvercrest Cup points standings next week.

Doylestown C.C.’s own Neil Gordon finished as low amateur with an even-par round of 72 to top fellow club members Sean Torpey and Ryan Rigby by eight strokes.

In the Senior Division, Jeff Haas, Golf Cart Services Inc., finished with a score of 2-under-par, 70, to win the division by one stroke over John Spina, Philadelphia Cricket Club; Dave McNabb, Applebrook G.C.; and Dom DiJulia, DiJulia School of Golf. Amateur Neil Gordon, and PGA Members Bill Walker, Riverton C.C.; and Terry Hertzog, finished tied for fifth place at even par.

There was a three-way tie atop the Super Senior Division, with three PGA Members tying at 2-over-par: Bob Lennon, Wilmington C.C.; George Forster, Radnor Valley C.C.; and Greg Farrow, Deerwood C.C. Darryl Lock, Skippack G.C., John DiMarco, the Legacy Club at Woodcrest; and Jeb Boyle tied for fourth place two behind the leaders.

Trevor Bensel’s 3-under-par round was good enough for a one-stroke win in the Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) event. Andrew Barbin, Chesapeake Bay G.C. at Rising Sun, finished in second place. Third place finishers included Rob Singer, Union League Liberty Hill; Zac Oakley, Bidermann G.C.; and Michael Young, Brookside C.C.

The 2022 Doylestown Open is supported by Doylestown Country Club, Ohana Farm LLC, Jani-King, Silvercrest Asset Management Group, and the PGA Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Doylestown 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.

To view the full 2022 Doylestown Open leaderboard, click here.

The next Philadelphia PGA Rolex / The Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year tournament on the schedule is the Philadelphia Players Championship on Monday, August 1 at Lookaway Golf Club in Buckingham, Pa. The Silvercrest Cup finals are scheduled for Monday, September 26 at Gulph Mills Golf Club in King of Prussia, Pa.

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

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of PGA Life Member Craig Dear; he was 76. Craig is survived by daughter Meredith Leigh Dear Riedel, son Barry Wayne Dear, PGA, and son José Bento Ntenvo.

He was a 1963 graduate of  Highland High School in Albuquerque, N.M., and University of Texas at El Paso in 1966 where he majored in physics and was a member of the varsity golf team. There he met and married Julie Ann Elkins. After a year in Socorro, N.M., on the faculty of New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, they moved to Orlando FL where he worked at Winter Park Pines Golf Club and qualified for the PGA Tour. He won four tour events in four years and retired at 28, accepting a position at a private club in Sapphire Valley, N.C. He was named director of golf at Beckett NJ and moved to Woodbury in 1979. Eventually he leased two golf clubs in South Jersey – Blackwood and Pinecrest – and for years conducted leasing and management seminars at the annual PGA Show in Orlando.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 24, 2022, with visitation from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., at Budd Funeral Home, 522 Salem Avenue, Woodbury NJ 08096. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his name to Special Olympics, Blind Golfers Association, Disabled Veterans of America, or the National Rifle Association.

To read Craig’s full obituary, 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.

Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (July 27, 2022) — PGA Member Joanna Coe of Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., has qualified for the 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, to be hosted at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, on June 21-25, 2023. Coe earned her spot on in the major championship via her second place finish in the 2022 LPGA Professionals National Championship at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va.

Coe, the inaugural (2020) Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year, has already racked up two Philadelphia PGA Section tournament wins this season: the Conestoga Classic, where she won in a playoff, and the second annual Women’s Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship, where she won by seven strokes. In both events, Coe made nine birdies in each round.

While tickets for the 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship are not on sale quite yet, the Section will send another message when they become available. PGA Members, Associates and PGM University Students and their accompanying spouse/partner or guest received complimentary general admission access to the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

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

North Coventry, Pa. (July 26, 2022) — PGA Associate Tyler Spielberger of Wild Quail Golf & County in Wyoming, Del., and his team of youth golfers, Evan Gebhart, Matt Reed, and Reagan Garnsey, tied Radley Run Country Club’s Michael Wolf, PGA, Jason Jones, Rex Opdahl, and Johan Tuerff, in the 2022 Philadelphia PGA Professional-Junior Team Championship at Bellewood Country Club. Each team finished rounds of 57, 14-under-par, in the one best of four format; PGA Professionals played their own golf ball throughout the round, while the youth golfers played a scramble, with the best between the two counting.

Spielberger’s team made 12 birdies and an eagle, while Wolf’s pairing made 10 birdies and two eagles. Finishing in third place, one stroke behind was the team from DuPont C.C., featuring Matt Finger, Meredith Finger, Nick Belgrade, and Landon Fox. PGA Member Rich Steinmetz, Spring Ford C.C., and his team, Lucas Steinmetz, Morgan Kunze, and Nicole Yun, finished at 12-under-par, and Kevin Edwards, PGA, of Olde Homestead G.C., and his team of Justin Edwards, Trent Moyer, and Austin Zweizig, finished in fifth place at 11-under-par.

The 2022 Philadelphia PGA Professional-Junior Team Championship is supported by Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Bellewood 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.

To view the full 2022 Philadelphia PGA Professional-Junior Team Championship 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, mfrey@pgahq.com

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of PGA Member Jason Martonick; he was 43. He is survived by mother Lucille (Carsia) Martonick, sister Corrine Wilson, brother Steve Potochney, nephew Jeremy Corra, niece Devin Wison, all of Drums, several aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends.

His funeral will be held Saturday, July 30 at 8:00 p.m. at Harman Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc. (East) on 669 W. Butler Drive in Drums, Pa. Friends may call Saturday evening from 6:00 p.m. until the time of the service. Interment will take place privately in Calvary Cemetery, next to his father.

Jason was the golf coach at Penn State Hazleton, and was a member at Valley C.C. in Sugarloaf, Pa. Prior to working for Penn State Hazleton, Martonick worked at Sugarloaf G.C., Silver Spring C.C., and Deal G. & C.C.

Online condolences can be entered here; to read Jason’s full obituary, 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.

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of PGA Master Professional and Past Section President George McNamara; he was 74. He was survived by his wife Nancy, sister, Barbara Foley, nieces Kristen, Jennifer, and Nicole, and nephews Will and Tucker.

A Celebration of George’s life will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 24, at Penn Oaks Golf Club, 150 Penn Oaks Dr., West Chester, PA. Visitors are encouraged to bring a favorite picture or memory of George to leave with the family after the celebration.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in memory of George to PGA REACH or Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley. You may click on your chosen organization’s name to make a donation.

McNamara, born in Philadelphia in 1948, learned to play golf as a caddie at the 1921 Club (then known as Plymouth C.C.) under the tutelage of the PGA Professional Pete DeAngelis. When McNamara turned professional in 1966, he became an assistant professional for Terry McCoy at Chester Valley Golf Club, followed by stints at the now defunct Cedarbrook Hill C.C., Whitemarsh Valley C.C., Cedarbrook C.C., and Aronimink G.C.

In 1974, he became the PGA Head Professional at Downingtown Inn & G.C., now known as Downingtown C.C., where he hosted the first four Philadelphia PGA Junior Golf Academies. After 12 years at Downingtown, he accepted the PGA Head Professional position at Brandywine C.C., where he stayed over 25 years. In 1985, McNamara built a golf range and miniature golf course, which he operated for 14 years, in addition to serving as PGA head professional at a private club. In 2015, he left Brandywine to become part owner and managing partner of the Golf Zone Family Fun Center, where his hard work and keen interest in cutting-edge technology made the facility a huge success.

McNamara’s first involvement in Philadelphia PGA Section affairs came when he was asked to be on the Membership Committee. As he was one of the first PGA Professionals to make computers an integral part of his golf shop, the Section appointed him the chair of their new Computer Committee in 1988. The committee advised the Section officers and PGA Members on computer hardware and software. McNamara went on to serve as Section treasurer for two years in the 1980s, vice president of Section affairs for two years in the 1990s, and another two years as secretary. In 1997, McNamara became the Section’s first vice president, following the Association’s terminology adjustments. Following his term, he was elected as the Section’s 32nd president.

Over a period of 25 years, he served on nearly every Section committee. He represented the Section as a delegate to the national meeting three times. McNamara hosted numerous Section meetings, tournaments, and events, as he was always willing and ready to support the Section’s activities. Along with assisting the Section, he was active in raising funds for various charities through the game of golf. He was named the Section’s Merchandiser of the Year on three different occasions, and in 1988, McNamara became just the second Section PGA Member to earn PGA Master Professional status. The following year in 1989, McNamara was named the Section’s PGA Golf Professional of the Year, the highest honor a Section PGA Member may receive, and was inducted into the Philadelphia PGA Section Hall of Fame in 2012.

To read George’s full obituary, 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.

Exton, Pa. (July 21, 2022) — Philadelphia PGA Member Joanna Coe of Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., endured high temperatures and humidity to win the 2022 Women’s Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship at Whitford Country Club by seven strokes over Britt Weddell of Stonewall Links in Elverson, Pa., and Patty Post of the University of Delaware in Newark, Del.

Coe, the inaugural (2020) Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year, birdied half of her holes, nine in all, finishing with a 5-under-par 67. Coe also made nine birdies in her previous 2022 win, the Conestoga Classic.

“I struck it really well today, and was able to practice between events over the past couple of weeks,” Coe said of her round. “I’ve been putting well too, for probably over a year now, so I feel as if I give myself chances, I can make them.”

Coe said she was pleased the way she played, especially considering the LPGA Professionals National Championship, a qualifying event for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, is coming up next month.

Abby Mann, Aronimink G.C., finished in fourth place at 8-over-par, while Andrea Grier finished at 9-over in fifth place.

Fifteen women PGA Professionals competed at Whitford, approximately 50 percent of the Philadelphia PGA’s women’s membership. The Section’s tournament and women’s committees and staff worked hard over the past two years months to create this championship for its women PGA Members and Associates.

The 2022 Women’s Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship is supported by Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, KM Golf Sales, and the PGA Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Whitford 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.

To view the full 2022 Women’s Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship 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, mfrey@pgahq.com

Telford, Pa. (July 18, 2022) — PGA Professional Nick Corper of Skippack (Pa.) Golf Club led his team of amateurs, Billy Beisel, Bob Oswald, and Aaron Roland, to a net victory in the 2022 Philadelphia PGA Indian Valley Team Stableford Pro-Am at Indian Valley Country Club, finishing before inclement weather interrupted play.

While the competition was paused twice for severe weather in the area, totaling two hours and eight minutes, the team from Skippack finished ahead of the delays with 89 points, one more than Blue Bell (Pa.) C.C.’s Joey Pohle, PGA, Jim Ravina, Joe Fields, and Roger Cohn. In the event’s modified Stableford format, teams earned points as follows: Bogey or higher, 1 point; Par, 2 points; Birdie, 3 points; Eagle, 4 points; and Double Eagle, 5 points.

Eric McNamee, Golf Galaxy – Montgomeryville, and his team of Joe Boyle, Brian Murphy, and Walt Hoffner finished in third place with 87 points. Makefield Putters’ Michael Little, PGA, Chris Salvatico, Tom Holmes, and David Sheerr ended their round with 86 points in fourth, while two teams tied for fifth with 85 points each: Steven Farrell, PGA, Garrisons Lake G.C., Mike Forsyth, Richard Karolczak, and Chris Birch; and Dan Hoban, PGA, Middletown C.C., Brian Sacharczyk, WD Horan, and Keith Lewis.

PGA Professional John Roche of Elmhurst Country Club in Moscow, Pa., led his team of amateurs, Jim Lanza, Mike Bonavoglia, and JT Coyne, to victory in the event’s Gross Division, with 75 points. Roche’s team won the division by one stroke over Green Pond G.C.’s John Kulhamer, PGA, Charlie Leon, John Mace, and Ryan Orcutt. Bala G.C.’s Chris Barletta, PGA, Wesley Davis, Lars Beck, and Steve Minnick, and Whitford C.C.’s Evan Mitchel, Matt Dietrich, Matt Weist, and Bill Penney tied for third with 73 points each, while Blue Bell C.C’s Rick Pohle, PGA, Brian Alling, Jeremy Arner, and Dick Beck finished in fifth with 71 points.

The 2022 Philadelphia PGA Indian Valley Team Stableford Pro-Am is supported by Ohana Farm LLC, Parx Casino, Precision Pro Golf, Swannies, Trinity Flavors, Workhorse Brewing Company / Workhorse Tour, and Imperial Headwear. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Indian Velley 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.

To view the full 2022 Philadelphia PGA Indian Valley Team Stableford Pro-Am 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, mfrey@pgahq.com