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Spina and Oakley Lead Amateur Teams to Top of 2021 Pro-Am for Wishes
West Chester, Pa. (August 15, 2021) — PGA Professionals John Spina, Philadelphia Cricket Club; and Zac Oakley, Bidermann G.C.; led their respective amateur teams to tie for the 2021 Pro-Am for Wishes title on a beautiful summer day at Penn Oaks Golf Club. Spina’s team included Ned Scheffler and Mike Chapman, while Oakley’s featured Joe Paris and Zach Paris.
Using a two best balls of three format, both teams finished with scores of 133, 9-under-par, to win by one stroke over Laurel Creek C.C.’s Dave Quinn and his amateur partners Rob Narkiewicz and Karen Narkiewicz. Biderman’s Braden Shattuck finished in fourth place with amateurs Mike Ackerman and Pat O’Connor, while Honey Run G.C.’s Dustin Wallis and partners Andrew Tully and Brett Pasapane tied for fifth with Overbrook G.C.’s Eric Kennedy and partners John Thompson and Charles Meloro.
Oakley is tied for first with Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort’s Brian Bergstol in the PGA Professional event at 2-under-par, one stroke ahead of Hugo Mazzalupi, Patriots Glen National G.C.; John Cooper, Green Valley C.C.; and Billy Stewart, Union League Liberty Hill. Eric Kennedy, Stu Ingraham, M Golf Range & Learning Facility; and Steve Swartz, West Shore C.C. are two off the leaders.
After the first round of play was completed, there were two PGA Professionals tied atop the Senior Division at 1-under-par: Hugo Mazzalupi and John Cooper, Green Valley C.C. Stu Ingraham, M Golf Range & Learning Facility, is one stroke behind the division leaders, while John Spina, Philadelphia Cricket Club; and Brian Kelly, Bucknell G.C. are tied for fourth place, trailing by two strokes.
Six amateurs have the option to play in Monday’s final round based on their opening round performance: Brandon Famous, 75; Zach Paris, 75; Jimmy O’Connor, 77; Kevin Ohara, 77; Doug Zelner, 78, and Rick Gorman, 79.
The PGA Professional field and qualifying amateurs will play their final round tomorrow, Monday, August 16 at Penn Oaks. To view the full leaderboard, click here.
The Pro-Am for Wishes has been held annually at Penn Oaks Golf Club since 2011 (the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) to benefit Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley.
The 2021 Pro-Am for Wishes is supported by Otto’s BMW, Smart from the Start Childcare, Crothall Healthcare, Exelon Corporation, and T.Lad & Kristin Webb. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank Penn Oaks G.C., its membership, management, and staff, as well as our partners, as the event would not have been possible without their support.
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
Amateur Zach Juhasz Leads 2021 GALV Lehigh Valley Open After Opening Round 66
Easton, Pa. (July 19, 2021) — Amateur Zach Juhasz leads the Golf Association of Lehigh Valley’s 2021 Lehigh Valley Open by one stroke over Alex Knoll, PGA, finishing his opening round at Northampton Country Club at 6-under-par.
Juhasz, the two-time defending club champion at the host club, Northampton C.C., made seven birdies and a lone bogey to shoot his 66. In addition to his club championships, Juhasz has won five regional amateur major championships. He leads the Low Amateur race by two strokes over Andrew Adlard and three over Lee Nonnemacher. Each amateur is hoping to become the GALV Lehigh Valley Open’s second amateur champion, following Cole Miller’s win in 2017.
Glen Brook G.C.’s Alex Knoll made six birdies and eagled No. 11, alongside three bogeys to finish at 5-under-par. Knoll is looking to win this event for the second time, following his win in the inaugural Lehigh Valley Open in 2008. Seven players are tied for third place, two strokes behind Juhasz.
Dave McNabb, Applebrook G.C., and John Pillar, C.C. at Woodlcoh Springs, are tied atop the Senior Division at 4-under-par over. Jason Calhoun, University of Pennsylvania, is three strokes back. In the Super Senior Division, Flesher leads at even-par, two better than Brian Kelly, Bucknell G.C.
The 2021 GALV Lehigh Valley Open’s final round is scheduled to conclude tomorrow, July 20.
The 2021 GALV Lehigh Valley Open is supported by the Golf Association of Lehigh Valley, Jani-King, and the PGA Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our partners, Northampton C.C., its membership, management, and host PGA Professionals, and staff, as the event would not have been possible without their support.
To view the full 2021 GALV Lehigh Valley Open leaderboard, click here.
The tournament is designated as a Philadelphia PGA Rolex Player of the Year Points event. The next Section’s next Rolex Player of the Year tournament on the schedule is the Doylestown Open at Doylestown C.C. on July 30.
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
PAO Update: April 24, 2021
The Philadelphia Assistants Organization (PAO) is off to a great start in 2021! The organization has hosted two terrific events to start off the year with many more to come. The PAO Spring Meeting Golf Event at Whitford C.C. and the PAO Virtual Spring Meeting with special guest speaker Michael Breed. Our main goal is to support our mission statement of engaging assistants professionals with rewarding experiences through networking, education, and tournament competition. To do this, we need your help! Get involved, participate in our scheduled events, and sign up for PAO membership today.
PAO Spring Meeting Golf Event
The PAO kicked off their tournament season on a cool, overcast day with their PAO Spring Meeting Golf Event at Whitford Country Club on April 12th. The event’s format was a two-person scramble, and the team of Ashley Grier, Overbrook G.C, and Andrew Turner, Berkshire C.C., finished on top with a team score of 65, 7-under-par. Special thanks to Whitford C.C., its membership, Mike Ladden, PGA, and his staff for hosting the event. In addition, the PAO extends a sincere thank you to Conrad Radcliffe for being the title sponsor of the PAO this season.
PAO Virtual Meeting
The PAO held their annual Spring Meeting in the all too common virtual format on April 13th. During the meeting the PAO introduced the new committee members and reviewed the goals and events for the 2021 season. The committee for this year’s organization is as follows:
- Co-Chair: Michael Congdon, PGA, mcongdon@aronimink.org
- Tournaments: Ashley Grier, PGA agrier@overbrookgolfclub.com
- Education: Steve Frederick, PGA, sfrederick@overbrookgolfclub.com
- Mentorship / Communication: Keith Clawson, PGA, keithclawson@meriongolfclub.com
- Finance / Charity / Junior Golf: Tony Shields. PGA, anthonyshields1813@gmail.com
Committee member names and contact information is provided because you are encouraged to reach out and engage if you have any questions, concerns, suggestions. The committee is here to help!
Virtual Meeting Special Guest Speaker
The 2012 PGA Teacher of the Year, Michael Breed was generous to join the virtual meeting, spending an hour sharing his passion and wisdom with the intimate group of PAO members. Breed spoke about how to “build your brand”, how to be passionate about yourself and our job, and of course he shared some of his golf instruction knowledge. Michael brought tremendous energy to the meeting and was very engaging to the entire group even given the virtual format. Some tremendous advice from Michael Breed included:
- Say yes more often
- Never be afraid to show your face and be known
- Check your personal ego and have awareness of other people
The PAO would like to extend a sincere thank you to Michael Breed for generously sharing his time and passion with the members of the PAO!
PGA Patron Program
As we head into the golf season, please consider sponsoring your Assistant Professional’s membership in the Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization through our PAO Patron Program.
The program allows ranking PGA Professionals to sponsor their eligible staff members for PAO membership. By simply paying the annual PAO membership fee of $75 for your Assistant Professionals, they will be able to take advantage of all the PAO has to offer, including networking, tournament competition, education offerings, volunteer opportunities, and more. The program is perfect for PGA General Managers, Directors of Golf, Head Professionals, and the like who put a premium on the self-improvement of their staff.
In the spirit of professional growth, and a “pay it forward” mentality, we hope you will consider supporting the PAO Patron Program. Click the button below to sponsor your Assistant Professional(s).
Click here for Patron Program Registration
PGM Intern Contact Information Survey
This year, it is the goal of the PAO to reach out and engage with PGM Intern’s who are working within the Philadelphia Section. We encourage you to share the contact information of your PGM intern(s) so that our committee can reach out and invite them to participate in the PAO’s offerings. Interns who are visiting the section are welcome to attend PAO educational events and even participate in PAO tournaments. Please help in our efforts by providing contact information so we can make them feel welcomed and they can make the most of their time within our section.
Click here for the PGM Contact Survey
Remembering Jessica Hendrickson
Jessica Hendrickson, of West Chester, PA and Port St. Lucie, FL — loving wife, adored mother and grandmother — passed away at the age of 74 on Saturday, January 23, 2021 after a short and unexpected illness.
Born in New York City, Jessica grew up in Wayne, Michigan with her parents, Miles and Janet, sister Elaine, and grandmother Jessie (“Granny”). She attended Wayne Memorial High School, then Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, where she married her first husband, Jim Hickey, and gave birth to their son, Blair.
Jessica remarried in 1979, to Dick Hendrickson, her surviving husband of 42 years. The two met when Jess decided to take golf lessons from the “tall and handsome” pro at the local golf course, thus beginning an almost five-decade partnership of playing and competing. When Dick qualified for the Senior PGA Tour in 1988, Jess was right beside him, breaking ground as one of the very first female caddies on tour. Working together as their family’s “favorite sports team,” the two competed in 367 tournaments over 11 years, racking up 47 top-ten finishes, and four runner-up titles.
An avid player herself, Jess loved competing and playing with friends, especially at PGA Village in Florida, as well as her home course at Radley Run Country Club in Pennsylvania, where she served as President of Ladies Golf, and won multiple titles including the Ladies Club Championship, Senior Club Championship and Super Senior Championship. And although not one to talk about herself, when pressed, Jess would tell you she was proud of her two holes-in-one.
For all of her accomplishments on the course, it was her dedication and devotion to family that defined Jess the most. Nothing fulfilled her more, or gave her more joy, than tending to the people she loved, whether that meant juggling the hectic schedules of a teenage son and two step-children, moving back to Michigan to nurse her ailing mother, or studying (and remembering) every medical detail of any issue Dick faced. She’d drop everything to take your call when you needed advice, would travel hours to celebrate a birthday, or gladly rearrange her day to read, sing, or bake over FaceTime with her granddaughters in California.
Those who knew Jess will remember her genuine, wholehearted compassion; her big, bright friendly smile; her self-conscious silliness; her competitiveness (golf, mahjong, trying to beat Dick at gin rummy); her faith in the lucky socks she wore while cheering for the Philadelphia Eagles; how her holiday meals and decorations were consistently magazine-worthy; and the fact her home was always immaculate, even though she’d insist it wasn’t.
Jessica is survived by her husband Dick; her son Blair Hickey, daughter-in-law Laura, and their daughters Alex and Charlotte; her stepdaughter Kristin Hendrickson Holder and her son, Joshua; her stepson Brian Hendrickson and his daughter, Sarah; as well as loving members of her extended family in Michigan and Atlanta.
For the safety of family and friends, a memorial service will be postponed until later in the year. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider a contribution in Jessica’s name to First Tee Greater Philadelphia, or First Tee Florida Gold Coast, local chapters of a non-profit dedicated to empowering children through the game of golf. (firstteephiladelphia.org or firstteefloridagoldcoast.org).
2020 Philadelphia PGA Travel Pro-Ams
Play Major Championship Golf Courses in the 2020 Philadelphia PGA Kohler Pro-Am
The Section will be visiting the Midwest for the 2020 Philadelphia PGA Kohler Pro-Am on October 4-7! For more details, please click here. The only way to secure a team in this event is to submit a deposit (due August 15); registration is first-come, first-served. To reserve your spot, please click the below button.
| Register |
Join Us in the Dominican Republic for the 2020 Philadelphia PGA Casa de Campo Pro-Am
The Section is headed to the Dominican Republic for the 2020 Philadelphia PGA Casa de Campo Pro-Am on December 7-11! For more details, please click here. The only way to secure a team in this event is to submit a deposit (due August 1); registration is first-come, first-served. Deposits received after October 1 and entry fees received after November 1 are non-refundable. To reserve your spot, please click the below button.
| Register |
Apply for 2020 Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour Scholarship
PGA REACH Philadelphia scholarship opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds to participate on the elite Philadelphia Junior Tour circuit for youth golfers ages 18 and under. The foundation is now accepting applications 2020; application deadline is April 1…apply today!