Lower Gwynedd, Pa. (November 10, 2022) — The FDS Winter Tour has officially rebranded itself as the Johnny C Winter Tour, paying tribute to longtime tour supporter and competitor John “Johnny C” Carpineta, PGA, of Bensalem (Pa.) Township Country Club.

The tour can trace its roots back to 1990 when PGA Members Bob Sheppard and Gary Deetscreek hosted a few events in the fall and winter months. In 1991, Jamie Shaffer, PGA, launched a winter golf tour, ultimately naming it after his parents, Floyd and Dorsey: the FDS Winter Tour.

“Nobody is better than Johnny C,” Shaffer said, following the tour’s rebranding announcement. “We think it is the perfect time to rename the tour for Johnny, as he’s still competing in our events.”

John Carpineta, PGA, was named the 2019 Philadelphia PGA Golf Professional of the Year, the highest annual honor given to a Philadelphia PGA Professional, awarded for qualities of leadership, strong moral character and a substantial record of service to the Philadelphia PGA Section and the game of golf. Carpineta also was awarded the Philadelphia PGA Patriot Award three times, bestowing special recognition on a PGA Professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates an unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected our country. He is a military veteran himself and earned his PGA Membership in 2003. Along with serving on the Section’s Player Development and PGA REACH Philadelphia Committees, Carpineta co-chairs the PGA HOPE Philadelphia (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) program, along with the Wounded Warriors Project and Philly VA Amputee Swing endeavor.

To view the full 2022-23 Johnny C Winter Tour schedule, click here. For more information, contact Jamie Shaffer, PGA, at shaffer004@aol.com.

Andy Miller, PGA, a Philadelphia PGA Section Member and PGA Director of Instruction at LedgeRock Golf Club in Mohnton, Pennsylvania, is the 2021 PGA Youth Player Development Award winner. The honor is given to a PGA Member who has made extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of youth player development. He boasts an impressive record of serving his fellow PGA Members currently in the role of Section Chairman of Instruction and contributing to numerous committees, including Player Development. Miller is well known in his community for working with local businesses, charities and schools to grow the game of golf. He was an early adopter of PGA Jr. League and was Mid-Atlantic Captain of the Year in 2013. Miller has a passion for sharing his expertise with others, which he displayed on a large scale by presenting on junior golf at the CMAA World Conference in San Francisco back in 2018. He has received several awards from the Philadelphia PGA Section, including Teacher & Coach of the Year Award (2020); Youth Player Development Award (2013, 2018, 2019,); 5-Time Golf Range Magazine Growth of the Game Award, and one of Golf Digest “Best in PA” 2017-2022. Miller is a US Kids Master Coach and a certified PGA Coach.

Full Press Release: Orlando, Fla. (Jan. 26, 2022) – PGA Golf Professional of the Year Tom Wildenhaus, PGA Teacher & Coach of the Year Jamie Mulligan and PGA Golf Executive of the Year Joe Assell headline the PGA of America’s National Awards for 2021.

The 13 winners were unveiled during the 2022 PGA Show’s Opening Ceremony today at the Orange County Convention Center.

“This year’s outstanding class of National Awards recipients are inspiring those involved with the game of golf and the advancement of PGA Professionals throughout our industry,” said PGA President Jim Richerson. “The PGA of America is proud to recognize their accomplishments, as they reflect the incredible expertise and talent throughout our Association. From nearly 28,000 PGA Professionals, these 13 recipients are at the forefront, reflecting a standard of success for all of us to emulate and admire.”

2021 PGA of America National Awards Recipients

• PGA Golf Professional of the Year
  Tom Wildenhaus, PGA – Olde Florida Golf Club – Naples, Fla.

• PGA Teacher & Coach of the Year
  Jamie Mulligan, PGA – Virginia Country Club – Long Beach, Calif.

• PGA Golf Executive of the Year
  Joe Assell, PGA – GOLFTEC – Englewood, Colo.

• Bill Strausbaugh Award
  Tim Beckwith, PGA (posthumous) – Sarasota National Golf Club – Sarasota, Fla.

• PGA Professional Development Award
  Dr. Rich Ballinger, PGA – Sam Houston State PGA Golf Management University Program –
  Huntsville, Texas

• Deacon Palmer Award
  Bryan DeMarco, PGA – Pine Barrens Golf Club – Jackson, N.J.

• Patriot Award
  Joe Grohman, PGA – Old Ranch Country Club/PGA Hope National Trainer – Seal Beach, Calif.

• PGA Player Development Award
  Thomas Yost, PGA – First Tee – Four Corners – Kirtland, N.M.

• PGA Youth Player Development Award
  Andrew Miller, PGA – LedgeRock Golf Club – Mohnton, Pa.

• Herb Graffis Award
  Carolinas PGA Section

• PGA Merchandiser of the Year – Resort Category
  Caroline Basarab, PGA – Reynolds Lake Oconee – Greensboro, Ga.

• PGA Merchandiser of the Year – Public Category
  Brian Tolnar, PGA  – Mill Creek Park Golf Course – Canfield, Ohio

• PGA Merchandiser of the Year – Private Category
  Ian Brown, PGA – Butterfield Country Club – Oakbrook, Ill.

For bios and information on all of the PGA of America National Award winners, click here.

The 2021 PGA of America National Awards are scheduled to be presented on Nov. 1, as part of the 2022 PGA Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Herb Graffis Award will be presented during the Annual Meeting content that week as well.

About the PGA of America
The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of nearly 28,000 PGA Professionals who work daily to grow interest and inclusion in the game of golf. For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Media Contacts
Michael Abramowitz, PGA of America 561-389-4647  mabramowitz@pgahq.com
Jared Minski, Mastro Communications  732-469-5700 jared@mastrocomm.com

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of PGA Life Member Francis “Buzz” Garvin; he was 84. He was predeceased by his wife Suellen, and survived by his children Timothy Garvin (Kathryn Garvin) and Mary Kate DiNisio (Andrew DiNisio); and his grandchildren, Paige Garvin, Ella DiNisio, James Garvin and Connor DiNisio.

A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, November 26 at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Patrick Catholic Church (13591 Prosperity Farms Rd., Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410). A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 26 at 1:00 p.m. at the same location.

In lieu of flowers or cards please consider a donation in the name of Buzz Garvin to: South Florida PGA Foundation, 7201 South Georgia Ave, West Palm Beach, FL 33405.

Buzz Garvin was born at Garden City, N.Y., in 1938 and grew up in Colorado. He learned to play golf as a caddy at the Cherry Hills C.C., and attended the University of Colorado where he played on the basketball team. In 1959, Garvin turned professional, joining the PGA Tour with an “Approved Players Card.” For four years he was on and off the tour, and in 1962, he played in the U.S. Open at Oakmont C.C.

He was working for Sam Snead and Gary Nixon in Boca Raton in late 1962 when Nixon was hired as the PGA Professional at the Philmont C.C. In the spring of that next year Garvin came to the Philadelphia PGA Section as Nixon’s playing and teaching assistant at Philmont. Three years later when Nixon left Philmont, Garvin took over the PGA Head Professional position.

As a player in the Section, he qualified for the PGA Championship twice and finished second in the Philadelphia Open two straight years. In 1967, Garvin was a member of the first Schmidt Challenge Cup team. Late in 1971, he became involved in PGA politics when he was elected second vice president of the Section.

Garvin hosted the Section Championship in 1974. He served as the second vice president for three years, and in late 1974, Garvin became the 21st Section president. He was reelected twice, holding the office from 1975 through 1977. As the Section president, he created the Booster Pro-Am, which was used to thank the Section’s tournament sponsors and was instrumental in creating new ones. Also he formed an advisory committee composed of some of the region’s leading amateurs.

Garvin was a delegate to the PGA Annual Meeting three times. In 1977 he was the Section’s Golf Professional of the Year. He left Philmont in 1984 to be the PGA Professional at the Overbrook G.C., where he stayed four years before taking a PGA Head Professional position at a new club in Florida.

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. (October 31, 2021) — The Philadelphia PGA Section is proud to announce its 2022 Playing Awards Class, led by Rolex / The Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year Braden Shattuck, PGA, of Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa. With a scoring average of 69.06 over 16 rounds of golf, Shattuck also earned the F. Edward DeBaufre Trophy for Scoring Average.

The Player of the Year awards are given each year to the Philadelphia PGA Professional who has amassed the largest number of points through their play throughout the season.

Shattuck won three Section tournaments on his march to the Player of the Year title: the 36th Burlington Classic at Burlington Country Club, the Doylestown Open at Doylestown Country Club, and the Jack Jolly & Son Championship at Moselem Springs Golf Club. In addition to his victories, Shattuck has recorded eight more top 10s in 2022, and will compete in the 2023 PGA Professional Championship at Twin Warriors and Santa Ana Pueblo Golf Clubs in New Mexico.

Rich Steinmetz of Spring Ford Country Club in Royersford, Pa., was named the Robert “Skee” Riegel Senior Player of the Year and earned the Senior Scoring Average Award (70.31 over 16 rounds) in his first year of eligibility, having turned 50 at the end of 2021, while Merion Golf Club’s Joanna Coe, PGA, took home the Philadelphia PGA’s inaugural Women’s Player of the Year honors; it was Coe’s first year working and competing in the Section.

PGA Life Member Brian Kelly, who retired from Bucknell Golf Club earlier this season, successfully defended his title as Super Senior Player of the Year, while Trevor Bensel took the Player of the Year title for the Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO).

In the Central Counties PGA Chapter, 101st Philadelphia PGA Professional Champion Brian Bergstol of Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort, was named the Chapter’s Player of the Year, alongside Kelly, who also won their Senior Player of the Year prize.

Travis Deibert, PGA, of Doylestown Country Club was named the Section’s 2022 Comeback Player of the Year, while Sam Ambrose, PGA, of Chester Valley Golf Club, earned this year‘s Ike Turner Most Improved Player award. Section Comeback Players of the Year are past winners of the Ike Turner Most Improved Player award, and is based on their standings in the Player of the Year and Scoring Average races, and any wins they accumulate throughout the season. The Ike Turner Most Improve Player award criteria is also based on the Player of the Year and Scoring Average lists, and tournament finishes.

To learn more about the Philadelphia PGA Section’s playing awards and to view the full standings, click here.

2022 Playing Awards Class

• Rolex / The Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year: Braden Shattuck, PGA; Rolling Green Golf Club, Springfield, Pa.
• F. Edward DeBaufre Trophy for Scoring Average: Braden Shattuck, PGA; Rolling Green Golf Club, Springfield, Pa.
• Women’s Player of the Year: Joanna Coe, PGA; Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pa.
• Robert “Skee” Riegel Senior Player of the Year: Rich Steinmetz, PGA; Spring Ford Country Club, Royersford, Pa.
• Senior PGA Professional Scoring Average: Rich Steinmetz, PGA; Spring Ford Country Club, Royersford, Pa.
• Super Senior Player of the Year: Brian Kelly, PGA Life Member
• Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) Player of the Year: Trevor Bensel, PGA; Sandy Run Country Club, Oreland, Pa.
• Central Counties PGA Chapter Player of the Year: Brian Bergstol, PGA; Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort, Shawnee on Delaware, Pa.
• Central Counties PGA Chapter Senior Player of the Year: Brian Kelly, PGA Life Member
• Comeback Player of the Year: Travis Deibert, PGA; Doylestown (Pa.) Country Club
• Ike Turner Most Improved Player: Sam Ambrose, PGA; Chester Valley Golf Club, Malvern, Pa.

The Philadelphia PGA Section is pleased to invite you to our Awards and Hall of Fame Banquet on Sunday, December 11 at Union League Liberty Hill in Lafayette Hill, Pa., to honor our 2021 Awards Class, led by Philadelphia PGA Golf Professional of the Year Sean Palmer, and 2022 Hall of Fame Inductee, Charles Genter.

Guests are welcome to join our PGA Professionals! The banquet is $65 per person, which includes dinner and drinks. Cocktails begin at 5:30 p.m., with the program and dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m.

To register, click here.

• 2022 Philadelphia PGA Hall of Fame Inductee: Charles Genter, PGA
• PGA Golf Professional of the Year: Sean Palmer, PGA; The Union League of Philadelphia, Lafayette Hill, Pa.
• PGA Teacher & Coach of the Year: David Zimmaro, PGA; Overbrook Golf Club, Villanova, Pa.
• Bill Strausbaugh Award: Jeff Kiddie, PGA; Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Pa.
• PGA Professional Development Award: Lou Guzzi, PGA; Lou Guzzi Golf Academy, Ambler, Pa.
• PGA Patriot Award: Jeff Breiner, PGA; Country Club of Harrisburg, Harrisburg, Pa.
• PGA Player Development Award: Justin Rinas, PGA; The Skramble House of Golf, Horsham, Pa.
• PGA Youth Player Development Award: Chris Young, PGA; Philadelphia Cricket Club, Flourtown, Pa.
• PGA Merchandiser of the Year – Private Category: Mike Wood, PGA; Saucon Valley Country Club, Bethlehem, Pa.
• PGA Merchandiser of the Year – Resort Category: Eddie Perino, PGA; Eagle Rock Resort, Hazle Township, Pa.
• Justin Riegel PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year: Jeremy Marino, PGA; Applebrook Golf Club, Malvern, Pa.
• Salesperson of the Year: Jerry McGoey; Titleist, Glenside, 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

Havre De Grace, Md. (October 26, 2022) — PGA Life Member Jeb Boyle led his team of amateur golfers, Mike McKinney, Paul Nelson, and Sam Auker, to victory in the 2022 Philadelphia PGA Fall Finale Presented by Parx Casino at Bulle Rock Golf Course, with a net team score of 60.

The Section traveled outside its boundaries for this year’s Fall Finale, visiting our neighbors in the Middle Atlantic PGA Section at Bulle Rock. The course, designed by Pete Dye, opened in 1998, and has hosted what is now known as the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship from 2005 through 2009.

Boyle’s team played very well in the one best of four format, winning the Net Division by three strokes over three teams: Bellewood C.C.’s Kyle Miller, PGA, George Griffaton, Scott Sucoloski, and Rick Custer; Ed Oliver G.C.’s Tommy Ellison, Mike Strasburg, Brian Stillman, and Joseph Spitaleri; and Glen Brook G.C.’s Dustin McCormick, PGA, Al McCormick, Steve Houloose, and Paul Rosetti. The victors made 10 net birdies and one net eagle to finish at 12-under-par.

Waynesborough C.C.’s Jeff Herb, PGA, and Workhorse Brewing Company’s Steven Moore, and Joshua Colbert; tied Stonewall Links’ Joe Missimer, PGA, Adam O’Dougherty, John Parham, and Glenn Hibler; for fifth place at 8-under-par.

In the Gross Division, the Berkshire C.C. team, including Tom Michaels, PGA, Brandon Lynch, Patrick Rutter, and John Gobright, finished atop the leaderboard with a 10-under-par 62, beating Running Deer G.C.’s Scott Dunn, PGA, Steve Barry, Andy Kerestesy, and Dan Keenan, by two strokes.

Rolling Green G.C.’s Frank Palumbo, PGA, Nick Verrecchio, Mark Hill, and Eric Palumbo, finished in third place at 6-under-par, while three teams rounded out the top five at 3-under-par: George Forster, PGA, Mark Mickles, Jason Colantonio, and Alex Epstein; Anthony Hoffman, John F. Byrne G.C., Corey McDonough, Liam O’Connor, Tom Faro; and Eric McNamee, PGA, Golf Galaxy – Montgomeryville, Joe Boyle, Walt Hoffner, and Jesse Brookreson.

The 2022 Philadelphia PGA Fall Finale is presented by Parx Casino and supported by Workhorse Brewing Company / Workhorse Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Bulle Rock Golf Course, 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 Fall Finale 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