Ardmore, Pa. – The third and final day of the 2016 Match Play Championship was played at Merion Golf Club – West Course on Wednesday, October 19. After two exciting days of golf the field was whittled down from 64 players to just four all looking to capture the season’s final point’s event.

The first semifinal match featured Dave Quinn (Links Golf Club) versus Brendon Post (University of Delaware). Neither player was able to gain an advantage on the other and the match went the full 18 holes before Post was able to put away defending champion Quinn 1-up. The second semifinal match featured 2014 Match Play Champion Corey McAlarney (Sunnybrook Golf Club) and current Philadelphia PGA Professional Champion Jordan Gibbs (Gulph Mills Golf Club). Like the first match, neither player was able to gain a lead and the match went extra holes before McAlarney was able to put away Gibbs on the 19^th hole.

Post’s road featured wins over Gregg Gipp (3&2), Andrew Turner (3&2), Eric Figueroa (5&3), Jakob Gerney (19^th hole) before his win over Quinn in the semifinals. McAlarney had wins over Dave Roberts (6&5), Mike Meisenzhal (1-up), Stu Ingraham (1-up), Trevor Bensel (5&4) before his win over Gibbs gave him a spot in the finals.

After trading pars on the opening hole, McAlarney was able to strike first in the final match with a birdie on the second hole giving him a quick 1-up lead. McAlarney and Post would then trade pars over the next four holes before breaking the trend with a pair of birdies on the par-4 7^th hole. McAlarney would take his 1-up advantage into the driveable par-4 8^th hole and would capitalize on his excellent drive. After his tee shot found the green, McAlarney was able to two-putt for birdie to increase his lead to 2-up through nine holes. The duo would halve the par-4 9^th hole meaning McAlarney would take a 2-up lead into the back nine.

However as they made the turn, Post was able to turn the ship around and won both the 10^th and 11^th holes to get the match back to all square as they headed to the 12^th tee. Unfortunately for Post that was where the streak ended. McAlarney would go on to birdie both the 12^th and 13^th holes to bring his lead back to 2-up. The pair traded pars on the par-4 14^th hole before Post gave it one last charge. Post would win the par-3 15^th hole to put him only 1-down with three holes to play. However, after Post’s tee shot found trouble on the 16^th hole McAlarney would go on to win the hole putting the match dormie as they headed to the par-3 17^th hole. Unable to find the green, Post would go on to concede the hole to McAlarney giving him a 3&1 victory and his second Philadelphia PGA Match Play Championship.

The Section would like to thank the membership and staff at Merion Golf Club, especially host professional Scott Nye, for their hospitality during the week. The Section also thanks event sponsors Omega, the PGA Tour and Greg Norman for their continued support of our tournament program.

Full Tournament Leaderboard

Ardmore, Pa. – The 2016 Match Play Championship kicked off Monday morning on an unusually warm October day. It didn’t take long for the temperature to rise, and the 64-player field heated up as well.

The morning highlights included an ace on the 140-yard seventeenth hole by Dave Roberts (Cedarbrook Country Club), using a 9-iron to find the bottom of the cup. Jakob Gerney (Trump National – Philadelphia) added a highlight of his own on the par-4 eighteenth hole. His wedge landed 10 feet beyond the flagstick and spun back into the hole. Merion’s own, Robby Bruns, found the bottom of the cup on his second shot from about 170 on the par-4 fifth. Only three matches resulted in upsets in the morning wave, before the field was cut in half to 32.

After grabbing a quick lunch, the remaining players returned to the golf course to battle again. With many great match-ups on the course, it was anybody’s guess as to who would move on to day two. Eight matches in, and five lower seeds had advanced. As solid play continued, two players gave themselves a chance at the Section’s top prize – Omega Player of the Year. Jordan Gibbs (Gulph Mills Golf Club) and Stu Ingraham (M Golf Range) can still overtake Michael Little (Lookaway Golf Club), depending on their performances the remainder of the tournament.

Tomorrow’s third round will give 16 players a chance to earn a spot in the round of eight. With a picture perfect forecast, professionals will have the opportunity to move one step closer to having their names etched into Section history.

Match Play Bracket

Philadelphia, Pa. – The annual McQuiston Sr. Pro – Jr. Pro Championship was held at Bala Golf Club on Thursday, October 13. 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.

Periods of light rain could not spoil the fun for the 33 teams gathered at Bala GC, the only private facility within city limits, to compete in this annual event. At noon, teams proceeded to their starting holes to kick off the shotgun event.

As play got underway one team was able to separate themselves from the field. John DiMarco (Laurel Creek CC) and Joe Kogelman (GolfTEC Moorestown) began their first hole, (no. 11), with a bogey, but carded 8 birdies throughout their round to jump to the top of the leaderboard. As groups finished the duo was able to stay at the top of the leaderboard with a team score of 7-under (61) enabling them to capture the 2016 McQuiston Sr Pro – Jr. Pro Championship.

After an impressive showing in last year’s event (-6), Stu Ingraham (M Golf Range) and Andy Watters (Alamode GC) teamed up again this year to give it another shot. They matched last year’s score of 62 (-6) and earned themselves a runner-up finish again.

Rounding out the podium, four teams tied for third at four under par 64. The teams of John Appleget (Wildwood Golf & CC) and Mike Meisenzahl (Shore Gate CC), and JR Delich (Applebrook GC) and Robby Bruns (Merion GC) both carded five birdies and a bogey to shoot their rounds of 64, while the teams of Brian Kelly (Bucknell GC) and Judd Caruso (Belles Spring GC) and Mike Thompson (The Golf Zone @ Honeybrook) and Andy Fisher (AF Golf Ctr.) made the same number carding bogey free rounds.

The Section would like to thank the membership of Bala Golf Club for their support of this great event. Additionally, the Section thanks Vineyard Vines and Mr. Cory Creland for providing gifts to all participants. The Section will return to action on Monday, October 17 at the Match Play Championship at Merion Golf Club on the West Course.

Full Tournament Leaderboard

Pine Hill, N.J. – The 2016 edition of the Club Car, LLC and Golf Cars Inc. Pro-Official was played on a blustery afternoon at Trump National Golf Club – Philadelphia. However, despite the windy conditions the warm fall sunshine made all who participated appreciative of the picturesque scenery provided by our host club. The Pro-Official features one PGA Professional partnered with an officer from the club, in a Net Four-Ball competition (better ball of partners).

With all teams on the course as part of the shotgun event the scores came in fast and furious at the end of the day. Leading the way just as they did in the 2009 event was the team of Robert Kleckner (Linfield National Golf Club) and his partner Steve Byrne. The team posted seven Net birdies and a Net hole-in-one on the difficult par-3 16^th. The duo finished with three consecutive birdies to finish their day on holes 10-13. Their 7-under (64) put them just ahead of a pair of teams who finished the day at 6-under (65).

Finishing out of the top spot but still on the podium were the teams of Jamison Wallace (Chambersburg Country Club) and his partner Mike Jackson as well as Mickey Sokalski (Philmont Country Club) and his partner Scott Landsberg. Wallace and Jackson carded seven birdies but a bogey on 18^th hole, their fourth of the day, proved to be the costly stroke. The team of Sokalski and Landsberg had three birdies and two eagles but again a bogey on the 18^th hole, their ninth of the day, proved to be too much to overcome.

The Section would like to thank our generous tournament sponsors Club Car LLC. and Golf Cars Inc. Through their support, the Pro-Official Championship has become one of the premier events on the Philadelphia PGA tournament calendar.

The Philadelphia PGA will continue their busy tournament week with the annual Turnpike Cup against the New Jersey PGA on Wednesday, October 12 at Commonwealth National Golf Club. The week will wrap up with the McQuiston Sr. Pro-Jr. Pro at Bala Golf Club on Thursday, October 13.

Full Tournament Leaderboard

Clarks Summit, Pa. – The Philadelphia PGA returned to the Country Club of Scranton on Monday, October 3 for the Fall Pro-Pro Championship. It marked the second consecutive year that the Championship was held at the beautiful Pocono Mountain’s course. The Pro-Pro Championship pairs two PGA Professionals together in a Four Ball or better ball of partners event.

The first group of the day posted a score for all to chase. The duo of Brian Short and Steve Wager, both of Penn State University GC, carded an impressive 7-under (65). The pair had seven birdies on their day with each player contributing multiple birdies to the overall score.

As group after group finished it seemed as though no one would be able to reach them at the top of the leaderboard. The first group to make a charge was the team of Kevin Kraft and Geoffrey Morrison, both of Bumble Bee Hollow Golf Center, who reached 6-under (66). Also finishing at 6-under (66) were the teams of Jeff Breiner, Country Club of Harrisburg, and Chris Duckett, Saucon Valley Country Club as well as the team of Ashley Grier, Overbrook Golf Club and Anthony Napoletano, GolfTEC – King of Prussia.

However playing the late in the day the pair of Joe Kogelman, GolfTEC – Moorestown and Steve Swartz, Country Club of Harrisburg proved once again to be too much for the field. Kogelman and Swartz came into the event as defending champions and left the same way. As a team Kogelman and Swartz posted eight birdies of which Swartz carded seven en route to a 8-under (64), good enough for a one shot win. As it was at the 2015 event a birdie on the par5 18^th hole proved to be the deciding number in their winning score.

The Section thanks the members and staff of the Country Club of Scranton who provided an outstanding backdrop for this year’s Fall Pro-Pro Championship. The Section also thanks our event sponsors Club Prophet Systems and Ian Versaw as well as Sun Mountain and Andy Hyjek.

Full Tournament Leaderboard

The 26th edition of the Philadelphia Challenge Matches were played on Thursday, October 6 at Saucon Valley Country Club. It was the first time in the 26 year history of the Matches that the event was played at Saucon Valley. For the past five season the Matches were played at Applebrook Golf Club in Malvern, Pa.

The matches pit 12 of the top Philadelphia PGA Professionals against 12 of the top amateurs from the Golf Association of Philadelphia. The teams will play 12 singles matches and 6 four-ball matches (better ball of partners) simultaneously with a total of 18 points up for grabs. As the owners of the Cup, the Philadelphia PGA will only need 9 of the 18 points to retain the title while the Golf Association of Philadelphia will need to earn 9 ½ points to regain the title.

The teams split the 12 available points in the singles matches with each side winning five matches and halving two for a total of six points. However, the Philadelphia PGA was able to grab 5.5 of the six available points the the Four Ball Matches to win the cup for a third consecutive year. The final score was Philadelphia PGA 11.5 / GAP 6.5.

Complete Challenge Match Results

PGA of America President Derek Sprague and U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III Remember Arnold Palmer

Shawnee-on-Delaware, Pa. – The historic Shawnee Open returned to a 36-hole event and was played over two days in late September. The opening round was played at the Shawnee Resort’s Great Bear Golf Club before players moved to the course at the Shawnee Inn & Resort for the second and final round. The Shawnee Open has been in existence since 1912, although not always run by the Philadelphia PGA.

Heading into today’s final round Corey McAlarney (Sunnybrook Golf Club) held a slim one shot lead over the field. McAlarney carded an opening round 3-under (68) but sitting just behind him were five players tied for second at 2-under (69). That group included Michael Little (Lookaway Golf Club), Michael Rushin (Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club), Zac Oakley (Heritage Shores Golf Club), Bill Sautter (Philadelphia Cricket Club), and 2002 champion Rich Steinmetz (Spring Ford Country Club).

Early in the day players were treated to bright blue skies and near perfect fall weather, however as the day went on clouds blocked out the sun and winds rolled in making conditions in the afternoon very difficult.

As scores started to get posted the first player to make a move was Andrew Turner (Whitford Country Club). Turner carded an opening round 2-over (73) meaning he was five shots back of the leader heading into the final round. Turner quickly got things underway on day two with three birdies on his opening nine holes before his lone bogey on the tough par4 10^th hole. Turner would recover with an eagle on the par5 15^th bring his second round total to 4-under (68) and moving him to the top of the leaderboard with a 36-hole total of 2-under (141).

Unfortunately for Turner his lead would not last long. Playing a few groups behind him was George Forster (Radnor Valley Country Club). Forster came into the second round at 1-under after an opening round (70.). Like Turner, Forster got off to a quick start with three birdies through nine holes but a couple of untimely bogeys brought Forster back down. Forster was able to right the ship and added a birdie on the par5 15^th which gave him a one shot lead over Turner.

The leaderboard carousel would take another turn just one group later as Michael Little would jump into the first place position. As one of the players just one shot off the lead heading into today’s round, Little found himself in the penultimate pairing. Little got off to a dream start and found himself 5-under after five holes. Although the frantic pace would not last for Little the great start would help him finish tied with Turner for the best round of the day at 4-under (68) and brought his two-day total to 6-under (137).

Needing to wait just one group to find out his fate it would prove to be worthwhile. No one in the tournament’s final group was able to make a move meaning Little would go on for the win, his second of the 2016 season (DVO).

“I had been playing well for the last few weeks and my performance at last week’s Championship gave me a lot of confidence”, said Little on his win. “I made one small adjustment in my putting and that proved to be the difference today. I want to thank the membership and staff at Lookaway for their support as well as the teams at both Great Bear and Shawnee for an amazing venue.”

All was not lost for George Forster who managed to walk away with the senior division title finishing 2-shots ahead of second place finisher Don Allan.

The Section would like to thank the staffs of both Great Bear Golf Club and Shawnee Inn and Resort for their support of the event as well as our event sponsors Golf Cart Specialties.

 1   Michael Little     Lookaway GC               69-68-137 -6  
 T2  George Forster     Radnor Valley CC          70-70-140 -3  
 T2  Corey McAlarney    Sunnybrook GC             68-72-140 -3  
 T4  Andrew Turner      Whitford CC               73-68-141 -2  
 T4  John Pillar        CC at Woodloch Springs    70-71-141 -2  
 T4  Zac Oakley         Heritage Shores GC        69-72-141 -2  
 T7  Don Allan          Burlington CC             71-71-142 -1  
 T7  Rich Steinmetz     Spring Ford CC            69-73-142 -1  
 9   Stu Ingraham       M Golf Range              72-71-143 E   
 10  Bill Sautter       Philadelphia Cricket Club 69-75-144 +1  
 T11 Dave Quinn         Links GC                  75-70-145 +2  
 T11 John Spina         Philadelphia Cricket Club 71-74-145 +2  
 T13 Hugo Mazzalupi     Patriots Glen National GC 75-71-146 +3  
 T13 Rick Flesher       Applebrook GC             72-74-146 +3  
 T13 Mike Meisenzahl    Shore Gate CC             71-75-146 +3  
 T16 Brian Kelly        Bucknell GC               77-72-149 +6  
 T16 Ryan Shaughnessy   Wedgewood Golf Course     75-74-149 +6  
 T18 Gregg Gipp         Phoenixville CC           79-71-150 +7  
 T18 Alex Knoll         Bethlehem GC- Monacacy    77-73-150 +7  
 T18 Mike Paukovits     St. Davids GC             72-78-150 +7  
 21  Andrew Pierson     Camden County GA          76-75-151 +8  
 22  Michael Rushin     Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club 69-83-152 +9  
 23  Bill Walker        Riverton CC               78-75-153 +10 
 T24 John Roche         Elmhurst CC               79-75-154 +11 
 T24 Kevin Edwards      Woodstone CC              77-77-154 +11 
 T24 John Appleget      Wildwood Golf & CC        72-82-154 +11 
 T27 Joe Kogelman       GolfTEC Moorestown        82-74-156 +13 
 T27 Curtis Kirkpatrick Indian Springs GC         80-76-156 +13 
 T27 Mike Furey         Mahoning Valley CC        81-75-156 +13 
 T27 Harvey Williams    Philly PGA                76-80-156 +13 
 T31 Greyson Rossi      Bayside Resort            85-72-157 +14 
 T31 Dustin McCormick   Glen Brook GC             77-80-157 +14 
 T33 Bill Smith         Mahoning Valley CC        80-80-160 +17 
 T33 Joe Manley         Great Bear GC             79-81-160 +17 
 35  Jeremy Mangine     Glen Brook GC             78-83-161 +18 
 T36 Tom Moore          Applecross CC             82-83-165 +22 
 T36 Joe Ambrose        Paupack Hills G & CC      85-80-165 +22

Plymouth Meeting, Pa. – On a beautiful, sunny, summer day the second Pro-Lady Team Championship was held at Sunnybrook Golf Club. The event featured 52 teams, all featuring one PGA Professional and three female amateurs competing in both a Gross and Net division.

Playing early in the tournament the team from Waynesboro Municipal Golf Course proved too much for the rest field. The group, which featured PGA Professional Dan Baker and his partners Vicki Baker, Mickey Goyette, and Patty Gertzen, shot a combined score of 20-under (52). The group was lead in part by two Net holes-in-one from Gertzen and Vicki Baker who posted natural birdies on holes 5 & 8 respectively. However, each member of the group contributed multiple birdies leading to their 5-shot victory.

A pair of teams finished tied for second at 15-under (57). The first team to reach that number was George Frake (Little Mill Golf Club) and his partners Jacque Laird, Anne Conway, and Beth Smith. Matching them at the second place number was Chris Wilkinson (Llanerch Country Club) Janet Allman, Mary Ellen Pernice, and Arlene Del Pizzo.

In the Gross Division five teams tied for first place with a score of 7-under (65). The first team to post the magic number was Ryan Carfara (Golf Galaxy-Devon) and his partners Bonnie Yothers, Pat Carbone, and Laura Hammond. However they were quickly joined by the team from Philadelphia Cricket Club featuring Michael Ferguson and his partners Marji Goldman, Joanne Bidwell, and SooHee Lim. The third team to join the party was Tony Perla (Philadelphia Cricket Club) and his partners Kerry Rutan, Mary Schwartz, and Alison Shoemaker. The fourth and fifth teams to shoot 7-under (65) were the teams lead by Dan Baker and George Frake who also placed in the tournament’s Net Division.

The Section would like to thank the membership and staff at Sunnybrook Golf Club for their support of this event. The Philadelphia PGA will return to action on Monday, September 12 at Llanerch Country Club for the Mariniello Tournament of Champions Pro-Am.

For complete coverage of the Philadelphia PGA be sure to follow us on our Social Media Channels Facebook / Twitter / Instagram.

Full Tournament Leaderboard

Wayne, Pa. – August 23, 2016 – Stu Ingraham of (Broomall, Pa.), winner of the Philadelphia Senior PGA Professional Championship August 22-23, 2016 at St. Davids Golf Club will lead nine Section PGA Professionals to compete Nov. 17-20, in the 28^th Senior PGA Professional Championship.

The national Championship, presented by Mercedes-Benz USA, returns to PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Ingraham turned in a winning total of 4 -under-par 136 to capture the Philadelphia Senior PGA Professional Championship supported by Mercedes-Benz USA. Jack Brennan of (Mill Hall, Pa.) finished two strokes back at 2-under-par 138. They are joined by Brian Kelly (Lewisburg, Pa.), Bill Sautter (Ocean City, NJ), John Allen (Media, Pa.), John Appleget (Dorothy, NJ), George Forster (Blue Bell, Pa.), Terry Hertzog (Lititz, Pa.), and Dave McNabb (Malvern, Pa.).

The Senior PGA Professional Championship brings together a field of 264 contestants representing the PGA of America’s 41 nationwide Sections, and features a total purse of $285,000. The first two rounds will be conducted on the Ryder and Wanamaker Courses. The Wanamaker Course will host the Championship’s final 36 holes.

Mercedes-Benz USA is returning as a presenting sponsor.

The Wanamaker Course, designed by Tom Fazio, is named in honor of Rodman Wanamaker, who in 1916, inspired the birth of the PGA of America. A classic Florida layout, the Wanamaker Course plays to a par-72 and will be set at 6,725 yards. It is set against a backdrop of wetlands, palm trees and palmettos, and is considered one of Florida’s most beautiful courses.

The Ryder Course is named in honor of Samuel Ryder, the namesake and founder of the Ryder Cup, the pre-eminent event in golf. The par-72, 6,733-yard layout with rolling hills, majestic pine trees and challenging water hazards has a distinctive Carolina-feel.

Begun in 1989, the Senior PGA Professional Championship is modeled after the PGA Professional Championship, with a field of 50-and-older senior PGA Professionals who advanced through 41 Section Championships conducted from July through September this year.

The top 35 finishers in the national Championship earn a berth in the 78^th Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, which will be conducted in May 2017, at Trump National Golf Club – Washington, D.C., in Potomac Falls, Virginia.

The top five finishers earn an exemption into the final stage of the 2017 PGA Tour Champions National Finals. Since its debut, many participants in the Senior PGA Professional Championship have used their success in the event as a springboard to a PGA Tour Champions career.

About Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Atlanta, GA is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse line-up in the luxury segment with 14 model lines ranging from the sporty CLA-Class four-door coupe to the flagship S-Class. MBUSA is also responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans and smart products in the U.S.  More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com, www.mbsprinterusa.com and www.smartuse.com.

The PGA of America

Celebrating its Centennial, the PGA of America represents the very best in golf. For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.org, follow @PGAofAmerica on Twitter and find us on Facebook.

Qualifiers: 9  Alternates: 5

QUALIFIERS
 1   Stu Ingraham    M Golf Range               70-66--136 -4  
 2   Jack Brennan    Mountain View CC           69-69--138 -2  
 T3  Brian Kelly     Bucknell GC                71-70--141 +1  
 T3  Bill Sautter    Philadelphia Cricket Club  71-70--141 +1  
 T5  John Allen      Huntingdon Valley CC       73-69--142 +2  
 T5  John Appleget   Wildwood Golf & CC         72-70--142 +2  
 T5  George Forster  Radnor Valley CC           72-70--142 +2  
 T5  Terry Hertzog   CC of York                 71-71--142 +2  
 9   Dave McNabb     Applebrook GC              72-71--143 +3  


ALTERNATES - IN ORDER
 10  Rick Flesher    Applebrook GC              73-70--143 +3  
 11  Jack Connelly   North Hills CC             72-71--143 +3  
 12  Dave Quinn      Links GC                   72-72--144 +4  
 13  Don Allan       Burlington CC              70-74--144 +4  
 14  Bob Lennon      Wilmington CC              71-75--146 +6  


DID NOT QUALIFY
 T15 Linda Nevatt    ACE Club                   75-71--146 +6  
 T15 Ken Peyre-Ferry Philly PGA                 73-73--146 +6  
 17  Don DeAngelis   Squires GC                 74-73--147 +7  
 18  Gary Hardin     Northampton CC             76-72--148 +8  
 19  Wayne Phillips  Lehigh CC                  75-73--148 +8  
 20  Mike Mack       Burlington CC              73-75--148 +8  
 T21 John Kellogg    Radley Run CC              77-72--149 +9  
 T21 Mickey Sokalski Philmont CC                75-74--149 +9  
 T21 Dave Roberts    Cedarbrook CC              75-74--149 +9  
 T24 Ed Dougherty    Philly PGA                 76-74--150 +10 
 T24 Jim Bromley     Play-a-Round Golf          71-79--150 +10 
 T26 David Nevatt    Philly PGA                 75-76--151 +11 
 T26 Harvey Williams Philly PGA                 75-76--151 +11 
 28  John DiMarco    Laurel Creek CC            77-75--152 +12 
 29  John Kirchner   Philly PGA                 77-76--153 +13 
 30  Darren Mills    Lou Guzzi GA               74-80--154 +14 
 31  Bob Hibschman   Manufacturers GCC          76-79--155 +15 
 32  Jeb Boyle       Centre Hills CC            77-79--156 +16 
 33  Dave Seeman     Hartefeld National GC      80-77--157 +17 
 34  John Tyrell     Running Deer GC            77-81--158 +18 
 35  Patrick Keefe   Inniscrone GC              84-77--161 +21 
 36  Joe Ambrose     Paupack Hills G & CC       79-83--162 +22 
 37  Paul Galczyk    Westover CC                84-80--164 +24 
 38  Bob Doria       Makefield Highlands GC     79-92--171 +31 
 39  John Carpineta  Bensalem Township CC       81-94--175 +35 
 40  Ed Reely        Mountain View GC           89-92--181 +41