Philadelphia, Pa. – The annual McQuiston Sr. Pro – Jr. Pro Championship was held at Bala Golf Club on Thursday, October 12. The event, named in honor of longtime PGA Professional and past Philadelphia PGA President Henry McQuiston, pairs one Sr. PGA Professional (age 50 and older) with one PGA Professional in a four-ball, better ball of partners, tournament. With a shotgun start all teams got their rounds underway at 12:00PM with teams battling tough fall-like weather throughout the day.
As teams began to finish, the pair of Jim Muschiltz (Southmoore Golf Club) and Sean Szerencsits (Southmoore Golf Club) quickly rose to the top of the leaderboard. The pair got off to a shaky start as they traded a birdie for a bogey on their opening holes. However, they turned things around quickly adding seven additional birdies including five on holes 1-9 to finish with a team score of 7-under (61).
Unfortunately for the pair their time alone at the top of the leaderboard did not last long. The duo of Dustin McCormick (Glen Brook Golf Club) and Dave Quinn (Philmont Country Club) managed an equally impressive score of 7-under (61) to join in the fun. McCormick and Quinn also got off to a slow start but in the end managed to card eight birdies, including a stretch of four consecutive on their last four holes, against one bogey to share the top spot.
With both teams tied at 7-under at the end of regulation they headed back out to the 18th tee for the first hole of the sudden death playoff. After their approach shots all four players found the green meaning each team had two putts for a birdie. The putts from both McCormick & Muschiltz came up just short before Quinn drained his 15 footer for birdie. Despite his best effort, Szerencsits’ birdie putt just missed as it rolled over the left edge giving McCormick & Quinn the title.
Rounding out the podium Stu Ingraham (M Golf Range) and Andy Watters (Talamore GC) finished two shots back in solo third place with a score of 5-under (63). The duo is a perennial favorite and with each player contributing to the overall team score it is no surprise that they have finished inside the top-5 each of the past three years.
The Section would like to thank the membership of Bala Golf Club for their support. Additionally, the Section thanks Vineyard Vines and Mr. Cory Creland for providing gifts to all participants. The Section will return to action on Tuesday, October 17 for the Match Play Championship at Concord Country Club.
The Fall Meeting on October 23rd will take place at Cedarbrook Country Club. Our Keynote speaker will be PGA of America President, Paul Levy. President Levy will discuss the past season and the upcoming PGA Annual meeting along with other Association and industry trends. Please be sure to join us as we close the 2017 Season, celebrate the great play of our Section and Junior Tour Members and hear from our Association’s Leadership.
The deadline to register for the Fall Meeting is Monday, October 16th at 5:00pm. The registration fee will increase by $25 after the deadline so if you are planning on attending please register as soon as you can.
Golf will follow the meeting and a light reception will follow golf. In addition, please see the 2017 Fall Meeting NEW Business Form (Download). If you would like anything to be discussed, please submit the form prior to the October 18th, 2017 deadline.
Please take this opportunity to register for the meeting on line:
Shawnee-on-Delaware, Pa. – The 2017 edition of the Shawnee Open was played at the historic Shawnee Inn & Resort. The Shawnee Open has been in existence since 1912, although not always run by the Philadelphia PGA. This year’s edition of the Shawnee Open was the 12th event in the race for the Omega Player of the Year presented by the Haverford Trust Company and was originally scheduled to be played as a 36-hole tournament. However, persistent rains ultimately shortened the tournament to an 18-hole event which still allowed the Section to crown a champion.
Playing early in the first round, past champion of the Shawnee Open Mark Sheftic (Merion Golf Club) set the pace. Sheftic played bogey-free carding five birdies along the way to post an impressive 5-under (67) and quickly positioned himself at the top of the leaderboard.
Not far behind Sheftic, Mike Furey (Mahoning Valley Country Club) also found some magic in the tournament’s opening round. Furey was able to overcome a bogey on the final hole of his outward nine by carding four birdies as he made his way back to the clubhouse. Those four birdies combined with two birdies on his opening nine holes got Furey to the 5-under (67) number allowing him to join Sheftic at the top of the leaderboard.
Unfortunately for both Sheftic and Furey there was another player in the field who played a near perfect round of golf. Brett Melton (Radley Run Country Club) was playing in his first Shawnee Open but his performance was that of a seasoned veteran. Melton made the turn at 1-under par but that is when things got exciting. Melton added five additional birdies on consecutive holes (12-16) and finished the opening round with a score of 6-under (66).
Although the tournament was shaping for an exciting day two finish, the work done by Melton in the tournament’s opening round ultimately allowed him to capture his second Philadelphia PGA title (Pro-Am for Wishes). The win also vaulted Melton into the top spot on the Omega Player of the Year leaderboard with only the Match Play Championship left to determine this year’s player of the year.
Although Stu Ingraham (M Golf Range) came up just short in the tournament’s main division after finishing at 4-under (68) he did manage to walk away with a two-shot victory over John Pillar (Country Club of Woodloch Springs) in the tournament senior division, further increasing his lead in the Robert “Skee” Riegel Senior Player of the Year race.
The Shawnee Open was the fourth and final event to feature a super senior division. The super senior division was sponsored by Jani-King and only Philadelphia PGA Professionals age 65 or older are eligible. Finishing in first place in the super senior division was Gary Hardin (Northampton Country Club) who finished at 2-over (74) one shot ahead of Bill Sautter (Philadelphia Cricket Club).
The Section would like to thank the staff of the Shawnee Inn and Resort for their support of the event as well as our event sponsor Golf Cart Specialties.
1 Brett Melton Radley Run CC 35-31--66 -6
T2 Mark Sheftic Merion GC 34-33--67 -5
T2 Mike Furey Mahoning Valley CC 35-32--67 -5
4 Stu Ingraham M Golf Range 35-33--68 -4
5 Zac Oakley Heritage Shores GC 33-36--69 -3
T6 Brian Bergstol Shawnee Inn and GR 36-34--70 -2
T6 Kevin Edwards Olde Homestead GC 35-35--70 -2
T6 John Pillar CC at Woodloch Springs 32-38--70 -2
T6 Kevin Kraft Bumble Bee Hollow 35-35--70 -2
T10 Michael Little Lookaway GC 35-36--71 -1
T10 Rick LeBeau Gulph Mills GC 33-38--71 -1
T12 Scott Reilly Philadelphia CC 34-38--72 E
T12 Don Allan Burlington CC 36-36--72 E
T14 John Spina Philadelphia Cricket Club 35-38--73 +1
T14 John Allen Huntingdon Valley CC 36-37--73 +1
T14 Eric Kennedy Overbrook GC 35-38--73 +1
T14 Jeff Fick Chapel Hill GC 37-36--73 +1
T14 Blake Hinckley (a) 38-35--73 +1
T14 Jordan Gibbs Gulph Mills GC 38-35--73 +1
T14 Pat Butkus Overbrook GC 37-36--73 +1
T14 Rich Steinmetz Spring Ford CC 34-39--73 +1
T14 Joe Kogelman GolfTEC Moorestown 35-38--73 +1
T23 Dave Quinn Philmont CC 34-40--74 +2
T23 Gary Hardin Northampton CC 34-40--74 +2
T23 John Roche CC at Woodloch Springs 39-35--74 +2
T23 Vincent Kabaso Cleveland Golf 39-35--74 +2
T27 Bill Sautter Philadelphia Cricket Club 37-38--75 +3
T27 Dustin McCormick Glen Brook GC 41-34--75 +3
T27 Evan Mitchell Spring Mill CC 38-37--75 +3
T30 Harvey Williams Philly PGA 34-42--76 +4
T30 Don DeAngelis Center Square GC 38-38--76 +4
T32 George Forster Radnor Valley CC 38-39--77 +5
T32 Hugh Reilly Twining Valley GC 36-41--77 +5
T32 Bill Smith Mahoning Valley CC 39-38--77 +5
T32 Bob Lennon Wilmington CC 37-40--77 +5
T36 Frank Palumbo Rolling Green GC 39-39--78 +6
T36 Tony Shields ACE Club 38-40--78 +6
T38 Anthony Napoletano GolfTEC-KoP 41-38--79 +7
T38 Paul Galczyk Westover CC 42-37--79 +7
40 Chris Atkins Riverton CC 40-40--80 +8
41 Dave Fields Brookside CC 41-41--82 +10
42 Andrew Pierson Camden County GA 40-43--83 +11
43 Patrick Spang Manor Valley CC 40-44--84 +12
44 Kevin Shaw Philly PGA 48-39--87 +15
For the 27th time teams from the Philadelphia PGA and the Golf Association of Philadelphia got together to compete in the Philadelphia Challenge Matches, a Ryder Cup style event that pits the top Philadelphia PGA Professionals against the top amateur golfers from Philadelphia. For the second consecutive year these matches were played at Saucon Valley Country Club.
The teams played 12 singles matches and 6 four-ball matches (better ball of partners) concurrently with a total of 18 points up for grabs. As the owners of the Cup, the Philadelphia PGA only needed 9 of the 18 points to retain the title while the Golf Association of Philadelphia needed to earn 9 ½ points to regain the title.
Both the individual matches and the four-ball matches were competitive but ultimately the Philadelphia PGA was able to win both sessions on their way to a fourth consecutive Challenge Match victory. The Philadelphia PGA won the singles matches 7-5 and the four ball matches 3.5-2.5 en route to a 10.5-7.5 victory. The is the 25th for the Philadelphia PGA bringing their record to 25 – 2.
Clarks Summit, Pa. – On a picture perfect fall afternoon, the Philadelphia PGA returned to the Country Club of Scranton for the annual Fall Pro-Pro Championship. This is the third consecutive year that the Section traveled above the Pocono Mountains to the Country Club of Scranton for the Pro-Pro Championship which paired two PGA Professionals together in a Four Ball or better ball of partners event.
Playing early in the day the team of Michael Little (Lookaway Golf Club) and Kevin Kraft (Bumble Bee Hollow Golf Center) looked to recapture the magic the propelled them to victory at the Spring Pro-Pro Championship. The pair got off to a slow start with bogeys on two of their first three holes but their fortunes changed quickly as they birdied eight of their next ten holes. After a bogey on the tough par-4 16th hole the pair finished strong after Kraft drained a 50 foot eagle putt from the back of the par-5 18th hole. When all was said and done the duo would finish with a 7-under (65).
Their time at the top of the leaderboard by themselves would not last long as they were quickly joined by the team of Pat Butkus (Overbrook Golf Club) and Jeff Herb (Waynesborough Country Club). Playing just two groups behind Kraft and Little the duo of Butkus and Herb also got off to a slow start. As a team they made the turn at 1-under, but as they made their way back to the clubhouse the turned things around. The pair made four birdies and also added an eagle on the par-5 12th hole to finish their round at 7-under (65).
As play went on no other team was able to join the two teams at 7-under and in the end they shared the first place crown. A pair of teams also shared third place with a score of 4-under (68). The first team to reach the number was Justin Alunni (Glen Oak Country Club) and his partner Darryl Lock (Skippack Golf Club). They were eventually joined by the team of Cleve Coldwater (Glenmaura National Golf Club) and his partner Harvey Williams.
Once again the Section would like to thank the membership and staff of the Country Club of Scranton for hosting the Fall Pro-Pro Championship. The Section also thanks our tournament sponsors Club Prophet Systems, Sun Mountain, and Morell Studios for their support of the tournament program.
The next event on the tournament calendar is the Philadelphia Challenge Cup Matches on Thursday, October 5 at Saucon Valley Country Club where the Philadelphia PGA professionals will try to defend their title against the top amateurs of the Golf Association of Philadelphia.
JoeSeptember 14, 2017Comments Off on Team USA makes its bid to win back Llandudno Trophy in showdown with Great Britain & Ireland in the 28th PGA CupUncategorized
By Bob Denney
PGA Historian
OTTERSHAW, Surrey, England (Sept. 14, 2017) – For those American players present two years ago, watching their Great Britain & Ireland counterparts taking turns leaping into a pond by the 18th green at CordeValle in San Martin, California, was unsettling.
The first U.S. loss on home soil in PGA Cup history stung, and now sets up a compelling weekend nearly 27 miles southwest of London. The 28th PGA Cup, the premier international event for PGA Club Professionals, opens Friday at Foxhills Club & Resort’s Longcross Course.
The U.S. owns a 17-6-4 series lead since the event began in 1973, and is 6-5-1 on the road in the chase for the Llandudno International Trophy.
To set the stage for Friday morning’s four-balls, the Americans got a heavy dose of encouragement following Thursday’s opening ceremony. They viewed a video in the Team Room featuring Jack Nicklaus, Paul Azinger, Dave Stockton, Lee Trevino, Ben Crenshaw, Maj. Dan Rooney, Golf Channel announcer/North Florida PGA Member Charlie Rymer and reigning PGA Champion Justin Thomas.
If that wasn’t enough, U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk dialed in from Florida, asking the team to “set the winning plate for us as we come over next year.” Furyk closed by saying, “Play your own game. I promise you it’s good enough.”
PGA of America President and U.S. Captain Paul Levy of Indian Wells, California, said he likes what’s he’s seen in his team during practice.
“We have five veterans that have played in these matches before and five who haven’t. But there are also a lot of mature guys,” said Levy. “It’s not like we have a team of 25-year-olds. We have got a lot of experienced players – even those who haven’t played in the match before – who have been top-notch club professionals, tour experienced-type players. So we are excited. We think we’ve got a great team.”
Among the veterans is a twosome who competed at CordeValle in 2015: reigning PGA Professional Champion Omar Uresti, a PGA Life Member from Austin, Texas; and Jamie Broce of Indianapolis, the new head men’s and women’s golf coach at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).
“I feel like I take a lot of responsibility for my singles match in 2015,” said Broce. “I played great, and the guy I played made two eagles and three birdies in the last eight holes on me. He won the match and he really played well. I think their whole team played well and they earned it. We didn’t give them anything. For us to come over here to reclaim the Cup, we’re going to have to earn it. We’re not going to be able to back into anything.”
This marks Uresti’s third international team event, having competed in the Japan Friendship Matches as a junior at the University of Texas. “We definitely want to win the Cup back. To be on the first team that lost the Cup on U.S. soil was disappointing,” he said. “They have good players on their team and we have good ones on ours. We’ll be playing a course that is narrower than the old U.S. Open courses we’ve played.”
The 6,751-yard, par-72 Longcross is deceptively inviting in length, but has been honed to the specifications of Great Britain & Ireland Captain Albert MacKenzie. The fairways, according to Foxhills Director of Golf Chris Fitt, “have been pinched to provide bottlenecks” as a defense to the longest hitters.
There are no par-4s over 400 yards on the back nine, which leads to a shotmaker’s course and ideal for match play.
Great Britain & Ireland’s original plan was to utilize the longer Bernard Hunt Course. Both courses are well known to PGA Members here, as they host the annual Senior PGA Professional Championship.
“We just felt the Longcross Course was a little bit more British in its nature, where precision may be par around that course,” said MacKenzie, who was vice captain to winning 2015 Captain Jon Bevan. “Aesthetically, it’s easier on the eye and would provide a great theater for match play and the opportunity for more birdies on the back nine.
“Having been here the last four years for the British Seniors Championship, and finishing runner-up here in 2014, I am very fond of Foxhills. It is a wonderful resort, and offers virtually anything you want.”
MacKenzie doesn’t hide the fact that planning two years ago was paramount to bringing momentum to Great Britain & Ireland. “That was a great week,” said MacKenzie, “Jon (Bevan) was an inspirational Captain. We prepared very thoroughly. I would say the year before the PGA Cup, Jon and I had spoken 250 of the 365 days. It was a fantastic journey. We put a lot of effort into it. We had a template that we studied very closely for what happened in CordeValle and I pretty much used my personal twists.”
For Levy and his team, the task was aligning compatible partners who could mount a challenge. He also will call upon veterans in two-time PGA Professional Champion Matt Dobyns of Glen Head, New York; Mark Brown of Oyster Bay, New York; and 2013 PGA Professional Champion Rod Perry of Port Orange, Florida.
“It’s really exciting to represent your country. It’s a great honor, It’s something that most people don’t get to do very often,” said Dobyns, a PGA Head Professional at Fresh Meadow Country Club in Lake Success, New York. “It’s also to be on a team, which in golf we don’t get to do very often. It brings back a lot of good memories from college. Being in England, adds another dimension to it, taking a special trip and kind of living the life of a tour player is really exciting and something we all cherish.”
Perry arrived Wednesday morning, having secured his family and home following the passing of Hurricane Irma. He was one of the fortunate to get early clearance for a flight from the nearby Orlando International Airport. The PGA Head Professional at Crane Lakes Golf & Country Club in Port Orange, who missed two days of practice here, was not using any excuses.
“I was ready to play and really enjoyed my time around the course. Playing with Jamie (Broce) was a lot of fun,” said Perry, who competed in 2013 at Slaley Hall in Northeast England, when the U.S. forged a tie to keep the Cup for two more years. “We know we are in for a tough match.”
Brown, a 51-year-old PGA Head Professional at Tam O’Shanter Club in Glen Head, New York, last competed in the PGA Cup in 2000. He’s a three-time runner-up in the PGA Professional Championship.
“When we get on the course, we’re pulling for each other,” said Brown. “When you see that flag on the back of your shirt, it is really a special honor. Hopefully, we’ll take care of business.”
Levy said that he is pleased with the pairings that have come together through the practice rounds.
“The most important things about putting people together are all about relationships. After three days, we have a good idea and two players and want to win a match,” said Levy. “The golf course is very narrow and some areas the rough is tough. When it’s all said and done it’s about getting the ball in the hole faster than the other.”
The U.S. PGA Cup “rookies” include 2016 PGA Professional Champion Rich Berberian Jr. of Hooksett, New Hampshire; Paul Claxton of Claxton, Georgia; Dave McNabb of Newark, Delaware; Adam Rainaud of Chester, Connecticut; and Josh Speight of Locust Hill, Virginia.
“When my brother and I found out that I had made the team, it was the most pumped up that I have been,” said Rainaud, a PGA Assistant Professional at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. “We get the camaraderie of the team and are friends forever.”
It’s been a season of major highs for McNabb, who competed in the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, was runner-up to Uresti in the PGA Professional Championship; and added appearances in the U.S. Senior Open and the PGA Championship.
“I think this would be one of the highlights of my career, to be one of the top 10 PGA Professionals in the country and to represent my country,” said McNabb, the PGA Head Professional at Applebrook Golf Club in Malvern, Pennsylvania. “I think we have to play good solid team golf and bond together as a unit to get the job done.”
28th PGA Cup
United States
Captain: Paul Levy, Indian Wells, Calif.
Rich Berberian Jr., Hooksett, N.H.
Jamie Broce, Indianapolis, Ind.
Mark Brown, Oyster Bay, N.Y.
Paul Claxton, Claxton, Ga.
Matt Dobyns, Glen Head, N.Y.
Dave McNabb, Newark, Del.
Rod Perry, Port Orange, Fla.
Adam Rainaud, Chester, Conn.
Josh Speight, Locust Hill, Va.
Omar Uresti, Austin, Texas
Great Britain & Ireland
Captain: Albert MacKenzie, Devon, England
Phillip Archer, Warrington, Cheshire, England
Robert Coles, Romford, Essex, England
Matthew Cort, Leicester, England
Christopher Currie, Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, Scotland
David Higgins, Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland
Gary Houston, Wrexham, Clwyd, Wales
Greig Hutcheon, Banchory, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Chris McDonnell, Chichester, West Sussex, England
Damien McGrane, Kells, County Meath, Ireland
Andrew Raitt, London, England
Friday Morning Four-Balls
7:30 a.m. (2:30 a.m. EDT)
Rod Perry, Port Orange, Fla. & Jamie Broce, Indianapolis, Ind. (USA) vs. Greig Hutcheon, Banchory, Aberdeenshire, Scotland & Damien McGrane, County Meath, Ireland (GB&I)
7:45 a.m. (2:45 a.m. EDT)
Rich Berberian Jr., Hooksett, N.H. & Adam Rainaud, Chester, Conn. (USA) vs. Robert Coles, Romford, Essex, England & Chris McDonnell, Chichester, England (GB&I)
8:00 a.m. (3:00 a.m. EDT)
Matt Dobyns, Glen Head, N.Y. & Mark Brown, Oyster Bay, N.Y. (USA) vs. Phillip Archer, Warrington, England & Andrew Raitt, London, England (GB&I)
8:15 a.m. (3:15 a.m. EDT)
Omar Uresti, Austin, Texas & Paul Claxton, Claxton, Ga. (USA) vs. Chris Currie, Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, Scotland & David Higgins, Killarney, Count Kerry, Ireland (GB&I)
Plymouth Meeting, Pa. – On Wednesday, August 30th, the Philadelphia PGA held the annual Summer Pro-Lady Team at Sunnybrook Golf Club. The event brought 43 teams together from around the Philadelphia Section; each made up of 1 professional and 3 female amateur players. The weather was perfect all day as the morning and afternoon waves made their way around the 18-hole golf course.
Finishing in first place in the Net division was the team from Huntingdon Valley Country Club. The team led by professional, Shawn Matthews playing with amateur partners Kelly Gregor, Trudy Horrocks, and Judy Leighton each contributed multiple birdies on their way to a final team score of 13-under-par (59). There were three teams finishing in second place at 11-under-par (61); the team from The Springhaven Club, Huntingdon Valley Country Club and Country Club of Harrisburg.
Taking first place in the Gross division was the team from Country Club of Harrisburg with a 6-under-par (66) led by professional Jeff Breiner playing with amateur partners Mauria Matthews, Karen May, and Jennifer Donnelly.
The Section would like to thank Synlawn for their support in sponsoring this event as well as the staff of Sunnybrook GC for hosting.
Our next event is the Philadelphia Section Championship on September 19-21st at Laurel Creek Country Club and Burlington Country Club.
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – On Monday, August 28th, the Philadelphia PGA returned to Penn Oaks Golf Club in West Chester for the second and final round of the 2017 Pro-Am Wishes. After yesterday’s Pro-Am, which also counted as the first round of the 36-hole tournament, two players held a 2-shot lead over the rest of the field.
Both Brett Melton (Radley Run CC) and Kevin Kraft (Bumble Bee Hollow GC) shot an opening round 5-under-par (66) earning themselves the overnight lead and the last pairing in the final round with Chris Krueger (King’s CreekCC) who stood one shot behind at 4-under 67 after the first round. With an outstanding group of Professionals chasing them both Melton and Kraft knew that they had to maintain their play from their opening round to bring home the win. Continue reading
West Chester, PA. – On a beautiful Thursday afternoon the Philadelphia PGA held the annual Pro-Junior Championship at Concord Country Club. The Championship pairs one PGA Professional with one amateur, male or female, 18 years of age or younger. In addition to being a competitive event that allows the junior golfer to experience a Philadelphia PGA Professional tournament, the Championship is also about camaraderie between PGA Professionals and the junior participants.
The Championship is played better ball of partner’s Net event (with amateurs getting 80% of their handicap), but a Gross division is also added, with teams only allowed to earn prizes in one division.
The tournament was a 1pm shotgun. As the scorecards were turned in, Mark Sheftic (Merion GC) and his amateur partner Kevin Smith posted the score to beat in the Net Division with 9-under par total of 62. After Sheftic thought all odds were in his favor Bob Lennon (Wilmington CC) and his amateur partner Ty Brinker managed a 10-under par 61 (29-32) to win the Net Division.
Although Bob Lennon and his amateur partner were first in the Net Divison they also finished on top in the Gross Division. With the teams ahead of them winning more in the Net Division, the team of Hugh Matthis (Tavistock CC) and partner Mary McGuinness won the top spot in the Gross division with a 6-under 65.
The Philadelphia PGA would like to thank the staff of Concord Country Club for helping make this event successful today. The next event on the Philadelphia PGA’s schedule is Philadelphia Senior PGA Championship on August 21-22 at Radnor Valley Country Club in Villanova, Pa.
