Fleetwood, PA. – Moselem Springs Golf Club provided the perfect setting for the 2019 Pro-Scratch Championship. Looking past the humidity on this summer day, conditions were excellent on the 6,740-yard par 70 golf course. The Pro-Scratch Championship features two-man teams consisting of one PGA Professional and one amateur.

Michael Ferguson (Philadelphia Cricket Club) and his playing partner John Brennan got things going in the morning after carding the first of two, 4-under (66) rounds. The pair had a nice opening birdie on the par-4 1^st hole to go 1-under but gave it right back on the 2^ndhole. The duo added five additional birdies against only one additional bogey, on their closing hole, to reach the number leaving themselves at the top of the leaderboard early in the day. Eventually, the team of Pat Butkus (Tavistock Country Club) and Adam Bracy joined Ferguson and Brennan with the second 4-under (66). The two-man team carded three birdies on their outward-nine and two birdies in a row on the back-nine. But like Ferguson and Brennan, the team from Tavistock CC bogeyed the par-4 18^th hole to drop back to 4-under and a tie for first place.

However, playing late in the day, it was the team of Brian Bergstol (Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort) and Jason Wilson who would eventually be crowned the champions. When all was said and done the pair posted an impressive 11-under (59). Bergstol eagled the par-5 7^th hole and capped the round off with four birdies in a row. Wilson contributed just as much providing five birdies of his own on the card. The dup was also the only team in the field to play bogey-free. “You should have seen this round, he was on fire” Bergstol says about Wilson.

The Section would like to thank the membership and staff of Moselem Springs Golf Club for hosting this year’s event. The Philadelphia PGA will be back in action on Monday, July 1 for the Pro-Assistant Pro Championship at Seaview Resort – Bay Course.

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Medford, N.J. – For the first time in more than a decade, the Philadelphia PGA traveled into South Jersey, and Medford Village Country Club, for the 2019 Jack Jolly / Golf Pride Championship. Despite the recent weather that plagued the region, course conditions were impeccable thanks in large part to the maintenance staff at Medford Village Country Club.

The Jack Jolly / Golf Pride Championship is the fourth points event on the Philadelphia PGA calendar and is played as an individual stroke play event. The field featured more than 100 Professionals from across the Section and also included members of the Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) who were competing in the PAO event which was held in conjunction with today’s Championship. As a note some PAO members were competing in both of the day’s tournaments.

Philadelphia PGA veteran Mark Sheftic (Merion GC) was the first player to separate himself from the field. Sheftic got off to a fast start birdieing four of his opening nine holes. However, as Sheftic played the inward nine he found some trouble on the par-3 eleventh hole, posting a bogey, and ultimately finishing with a score of 4-under (68).

Not far behind Sheftic was Michael Little (Lookaway GC) who quickly joined Sheftic for the clubhouse lead after posting an identical 4-under (68). Little made the turn at even par after trading one birdie, par-5 fifth hole, and one bogey, par-4 ninth hole. As he played his way back to the clubhouse Little got red hot carding four birdies on the back side, including back-to-back birdies to end his round.

In the afternoon wave Doug Delaney (Union League National GC) made things interesting after posting the third 4-under (68) of the day. Delaney was on cruise control on the front side with nine pars, then took advantage of the back nine posting four birdies over a five-hole stretch.

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However, for all three players at 4-under their dreams of victory would come to an end as Philadelphia PGA rookie, Tom Cooper (Pine Valley GC) carded a sizzling nine birdies, three more than any other player in the field, en route to a tournament best 7-under (65). Cooper posted four birdies against one bogey on the outward nine while adding five additional birdies against only one bogey on the inward nine.

Waiting in the clubhouse, Cooper was watching the leaderboard hoping his score was good enough for his first Section win. “I’ve been hitting the ball really well the past couple weeks. I made an important putt on the par-4 second hole and carried that momentum for the rest of the round,” said Cooper. “I was hitting greens, something you have to do here, and everything was just clicking.” In the end Cooper’s 7-under (65) was good enough for a three-shot victory. Cooper also credits his victory to playing with some great professionals who had pushed him the entire day.

In the senior division, Dave Quinn (Laurel Creek CC) took home the top spot with a score of 3-under (69). Quinn started off his round with a nice birdie on the par-4 first hole while adding two additional birdies on the front nine. Finish in a second-place tie in the senior division were a group of players tied at 2-under (70). The first to reach the number was John Appleget (The Shore Club) who was eventually joined by Bob Lennon (Wilmington CC) and Hugo Mazzalupi (Patriots Glen National GC) out of the afternoon wave.

George Forster (Radnor Valley CC) became victorious again in the super-senior division. Forster had a clean scorecard until the par-4 fifteenth hole where he made his lone bogey to finish with an even par (72). Bill Sautter (Philadelphia Cricket Club) and Don DeAngelis (Spring Ford CC) both finished tied for second place after shooting a 1-over (73).

The Section would like to thank the members and staff of Medford Village Country Club as well as our tournament sponsors, Jack Jolly & Son and Golf Pride Grips. The next event on the Philadelphia PGA calendar is Pro-Scratch Championship on June 27, 2019 at Moselem Springs Golf Club.

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Lancaster, Pa. – The Philadelphia PGA traveled to Conestoga Country Club in the heart of the Amish Country on a day packed with humidity that led to a brief period of rain. The Conestoga CC tested the entire field’s playing ability due to the wet, lush rough which was the result of overnight rain.

To start the day off, Mike Tobiason (Deerfield Golf Club) came into the clubhouse with the first under par score of 1-under (69). Tobiason didn’t have one blemish on his card and capped the day off with a birdie on the par-4 18^th hole.

The driver’s seat was quickly taken over by Eric Kennedy (Overbrook Golf Club). Kennedy started off hot with an eagle on the par-5 1^st hole. He ended up with three more birdies and one bogey to enter the clubhouse as the leader. “I decided to hit driver everywhere after watching the final round of the U.S. Open last night,” said Kennedy. The announcers planted a seed in Kennedy’s head prompting him to play aggressive and not to lay back.

Just a few groups back was the low man of the day. John Pillar (Country Club of Woodloch Springs) carded a 6-under (64). Pillar had a near perfect round with seven birdies and a lone bogey that came on the par-3 5^th hole. He navigated around the 6,400-yard-long golf course with no goal in mind. “I came into this event with no expectations. Having a busy week left me with little time to focus on the state of my game,” Pillar said. “My game plan was to just keep the ball in front of me and hit fairways.” Pillar also gives credit to playing with Brian Kelly and Eddie Perrino, two guys he is comfortable with and able to keep things light on the course.

The rest of the field chased Pillar and when a brief rain shower dampened the greens and allowed players to attack more holes, Pat Butkus (Tavistock Country Club) gave Pillar a scare with another 4-under (66). Butkus made four birdies to end his round without a blemish on his card. Playing with Pillar, Brian Kelly (Bucknell Golf Club) shot a 3-under (67). Kelly started the day with six straight pars and mixed in four birdies and one bogey.

Pillar also led the way in the tournament’s senior division with his 6-under (64). Brian Kelly (Bucknell Golf Club) finished in second in this division with a 3-under (67). Stu Ingraham took home third place with a 2-under (68).

The Conestoga Classic also featured a super senior division. Finishing in the top spot in the super senior division was Bill Sautter (Philadelphia Cricket Club). Sautter carded a 1-over (71) to finish two shots clear of division runner-up Don DeAngelis (Spring Ford Country Club). George Foster (Radnor Valley Country Club) and Gary Hardin (Northampton Country Club) both shot 4-over (74) to tie for third place.

The Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) event came down to a playoff. Brian Bergstol (Shawnee Inn & GC) and Parks Price (CC of York) were the only two of the seven tied at 1-under par 69 who were still there at the end of regulation play. Both went back on the course in a sudden-death playoff. It took three extra holes to settle things as Bergstol finally prevailed.

The Section would like to thank the members and staff of Conestoga Country Club for hosting our event as well as our tournament sponsors, Golf Max, Morell Studios and the PGA Tour.

The Philadelphia PGA will return to action on Monday, June 24 at Medford Village Country Club for the Jack Jolly/Golf Pride Championship.

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Allentown, Pa. – On Tuesday, May 21 Lehigh Country Club hosted the first Philadelphia PGA Spring Pro-Lady Team Championship. Teams consisted of one PGA Professional with three female amateur partners with the classic William Flynn-designed golf course providing a spectacular backdrop for the day’s action to unfold.

Early in the day it looked as though the hometown team of Chris Wegner (Lehigh Country Club) and his amateur partners Diane Adams, Patty Cox, and MaryAnn Meehan who posted ten birdies and two eagles en route to a 12-under (58) would be the team to beat. The score was a product of a total team effort as each member contributed on multiple holes. However, with the majority of the field yet to post scores they had a long wait to see if their score was good enough.

As the afternoon progressed a second team was able to join the leaders with a matching score of 12-under (58). Tom Koenig (Penn Oaks Golf Club) and his partners Dawn Capriotti, Donna Dalusio, and Tina Landis posted twelve team birdies without a single blemish to join the team from Lehigh at the top of the leaderboard.

Late in the day a third team managed to join the teams at 12-under (58) after posting three net eagles and six birdies against only one bogey. Jeff Breiner (Country Club of Harrisburg) and his amateur partners Kitty Campbell, Leigh McBride, and Pam Troutman overcame an early bogey and finished strong with two net eagles on the inward nine.

Unfortunately for the teams at 12-under the group from Woodstone Country Club had their own idea for the tournament. Professional Gregg Meyer and his partners Donna D’Amore, Cookie Felchock, and Joy Wallace carded an impressive four net eagles to go along with seven net birdies to finish with a final team score of 15-under (55) and a solo first place finish.

In the tournament’s gross division, a pair of teams tied for the top spot after finishing with matching scores of 2-under (68). The first team to post that number played in the tournament’s first pairing and featured PGA Professional Jim Smith, Jr. (Philadelphia Cricket Club) and his partners Joanne Bidwell, Kristen Fireman, and Courtney Schultz. They were joined late in the day by the team of Cameron Small (Aronimink Golf Club) and his partners Lynne Jones, Casey Reiss, and Jeanne Waldron to share the tournament’s top spot.

The Section thanks our tournament partners Lincoln Motor Company, Skechers Golf, Belle Monde Luggage and the SVS Wealth Management Team at Morgan Stanley. The Philadelphia PGA resumes tournament action on Tuesday, May 28 at Sunnybrook Golf Club for the annual Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic.

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Greenville, Del. – The second event of the young Philadelphia PGA season, the Spring Pro-Pro Championship, was played Monday, May 6 at Fieldstone Golf Club. The Pro-Pro brings together two PGA Professionals partnered in a four-ball competition (better of ball of partners). Despite a chilly start the fifty-four teams that teed it up in the tournament were eventually treated to near perfect weather as the clouds made way for afternoon sunshine.

The pace early in the day was set by the team of Mike Moses and Branden Shattuck of Concord Country Club. As a team the pair played bogey-free carding seven birdies along the way to finish with a 7-under (64) total and an early clubhouse lead. However, with most of the field still on the course the pair needed to watch the leaderboard throughout the afternoon.

Playing in the tournament’s final group, the team of Chris Kopelcheck of Gulph Mills Golf Club and Brandon Kuzmich of Merion Golf Club managed to climb the leaderboard and matched Moses and Shattuck at 7-under (64). The pair posted three birdies on the front nine and posted an additional four birdies as they made their way back to the clubhouse.

Unfortunately for the teams at 7-under the team of Scott Chisholm from Rolling Green Golf Club and Nathalie Filler of the Philadelphia Cricket Club had their own idea. After playing the opening nine holes at 3-under the pair continued their good fortune on their inward nine. Chisholm and Filler posted five additional birdies including a pair of birdies on the final two holes to finish with a team score of 8-under (63) and a one-shot victory.

The Section thanks our Spring Pro-Pro Championship partners Ahead, All-Star Pro Golf, 2UNDR, the SVS Wealth Management Team at Morgan Stanley, and the PGA Tour. The Section also thanks the membership and staff of Fieldstone Golf Club for their hospitality in hosting this event.

The Philadelphia PGA will be back in action on Monday, May 13 returning to Radley Run Country Club for the first time in more than a decade for the season’s second points event, the Delaware Valley Open. For more information on the Philadelphia PGA and our tournament program visit www.phillypga.com or you can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PhiladelphiaPGA.

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Lafayette Hill, Pa. – The 2019 Philadelphia PGA Callaway Golf TPD Championship, the season’s first points event, was played on Monday, April 22 at Green Valley Country Club. Featuring nearly 140 Section Professionals, the Callaway Golf TPD Championship was played as a modified stableford tournament with players earning 1 point for any par, 3 points for birdies, 6 points for eagles, 9 points for double eagles, and -1 point for any bogey or worse.

Playing early in the day, Michael Tobiason of Deerfield Golf Club posted an impressive 28 points giving the rest of the field a target number as the made their way around the William Flynn designed course. Tobiason’s round was highlighted by five birdies including a stretch of three consecutive on holes 11-13. At the end of the morning wave Tobiason found himself six shots clear of his closest competitors but with the afternoon wave still to play there were plenty of players looking to make a run at the leader.

As the afternoon scores began to get posted it did not take long for someone to join Tobiason at the top of the leaderboard. Brian Bergstol of Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort quickly matched Tobiason’s 28 points after carding seven birdies helping to make up for a lone bogey. After trading a birdie and bogey on his opening nine holes Bergstol made his run as he made his way back to the clubhouse. Bergstol posted five birdies for a total of 19 points on his inward nine and a total of 28 points.

Unfortunately for both Tobiason and Bergstol they did not end the day in the tournament’s top spot. Playing late in the day, Alex Knoll of Blue Shamrock Golf Club had the tournament’s best round leading to 32 stableford points. Starting his round on the back nine at Green Valley Country Club Knoll posted three birdies before adding an additional four birdie over his final nine holes finishing with seven total and a three-point stableford win.

“I haven’t played a lot of competitive rounds recently but I have had some good practice sessions leading up to the tournament so I had a good mindset heading into the TPD,” said Knoll of his round. “It’s also good to get your season off to a great start and I’m hoping to take some of this momentum with me to South Carolina for the PGA Professional National Championship.”

Knoll is one of twelve Philadelphia PGA Professionals competing in next week’s 52nd PGA Professional Championship at Belfair in Bluffton, SC. The tournament will be played Sunday, April 28 – Wednesday, May 1 with the top 20 finishers advancing to the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black later next month.

“I want to thank Callaway Golf especially Laura (Manchester) and Kevin (Martin) for supporting this event. Also thanks to John Cooper and the staff at Green Valley for an outstanding venue.”

In the senior division, John Pillar of CC at Woodloch Springs and Dave Quinn of Laurel Creek Country Club finished in a tie for first place after each posted a stableford score of 16 points. The duo finished two shots ahead of third place finishers Dave McNabb of Applebrook Golf Club and Mark Anderson of the Philadelphia Cricket Club who both posted 14 points.

A pair of super seniors shared the top spot after finishing the Callaway Golf TPD Championship with 12 total points. Earning points as the event’s top super senior were Don DeAngelis of Spring Ford CC and Greg Farrow of Deerwood CC while Jeb Boyle of Centre Hills CC finished in third place. Players age 60 years of age or older are eligible for thsuper senior division.

The Philadelphia PGA would like to thank our title sponsor Callaway Golf as well as our Section representatives Laura Manchester and Kevin Martin and our presenting sponsor the PGA Tour for their support of today’s event. The next event on the tournament schedule is the Spring Pro-Pro Championship at Fieldstone Golf Club on Monday, May 6.

For complete Philadelphia PGA coverage follow us on social media at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

1    Alex Knoll         Blue Shamrock GC           32-32--64 (32)  
T2   Mike Tobiason      Deerfield GC               35-31--66 (28)
T2   Brian Bergstol     Shawnee Inn and GR         31-35--66 (28)
4    Rusty Harbold      Philadelphia Cricket Club  35-32--67 (26)
T5   Andrew Turner      Sunnybrook GC              36-33--69 (22)
T5   Rich Steinmetz     Spring Ford CC             35-34--69 (22)
T5   Peter Lovenguth    Applecross CC              34-35--69 (22)
T5   Braden Shattuck    Concord CC                 36-33--69 (22)
T9   Mike Ladden        Whitford CC                35-35--70 (20)
T9   Michael Little     Lookaway GC                36-34--70 (20)
T9   Steve Swartz       Out Door CC                35-35--70 (20)
T12  Greg Matthias      Tavistock CC               38-33--71 (18)
T12  Shawn Matthews     Squires GC                 36-35--71 (18)
T12  Parks Price        CC of York                 38-33--71 (18)
T12  Jesse Williams     The Peninsula              35-36--71 (18)
16   Chris Duckett      Saucon Valley CC           36-36--72 (17)
T17  Jordan Shuey       West Shore CC              36-36--72 (16)
T17  Dan Marz           Crossgates                 36-36--72 (16)
T17  Jason Calhoun      U of Penn                  37-35--72 (16)
T17  Eric Kennedy       Overbrook GC               34-38--72 (16)
T17  John Pillar        CC at Woodloch Springs     36-36--72 (16)
T17  Trevor Bensel      Overbrook GC               37-35--72 (16)
T17  Dave Quinn         Laurel Creek CC            36-36--72 (16)
T24  Matt Episcopo      Pine Valley GC             37-36--73 (14)
T24  Dave McNabb        Applebrook GC              36-37--73 (14)
T24  Kyle Early         Waynesborough CC           34-39--73 (14)
T24  John Cooper        Green Valley CC            37-36--73 (14)
T24  John Rudolph       Fieldstone GC              38-35--73 (14)
T24  Bill Walker        Riverton CC                38-35--73 (14)
T24  Adam Brigham       Waynesborough CC           36-37--73 (14)
T24  Mark Anderson      Philadelphia Cricket Club  36-37--73 (14)
T24  Tom Cooper         Pine Valley GC             36-37--73 (14)
T33  Ben Debski         The Springhaven Club       37-37--74 (12)
T33  Robert Farnham     Lebanon CC                 38-36--74 (12)
T33  Joe Kogelman       GolfTEC Moorestown         38-36--74 (12)
T33  Mark Sheftic       Merion GC                  38-36--74 (12)
T33  Jakob Gerney       Trump National GC- Philly  38-36--74 (12)
T33  Dave Pagett        Whitemarsh Valley CC       37-37--74 (12)
T33  Don DeAngelis      Spring Ford CC             38-36--74 (12)
T33  John Allen         Huntingdon Valley CC       38-36--74 (12)
T33  Greg Farrow        Deerwood CC                36-38--74 (12)
T33  Andrew Diesel      Manufacturers GCC          36-38--74 (12)
T33  Ashley Grier       Overbrook GC               38-36--74 (12)
T33  Chris Miller       Scranton Golf Center       38-36--74 (12)
T33  Curtis Kirkpatrick Indian Springs GC          39-35--74 (12)
T33  Matthew Deckert    Pennsauken Country Club    38-36--74 (12)
T33  Stu Ingraham       M Golf Range               35-39--74 (12)
T33  Dave Fields        Brookside CC               37-37--74 (12)
T33  Dustin Wallis      Dustin Wallis              36-38--74 (12)

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Lafayette Hill, Pa. – In a sure sign that the new golf season is upon us, more than 270 Philadelphia PGA Professionals gathered at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club for the Section’s annual Spring Meeting on Monday, April 8. The meeting is a chance for all professionals to shake off the dust from a long off-season as well as reconnect old colleagues as they get their 2019 season’s underway.

With a full year under his belt, Section President John Rogers was ready to lead his fellow PGA Professionals through the day’s agenda. As always, the Spring Meeting is a chance for the officers of the Philadelphia PGA to update the membership at large on Section operations as well as highlighting the events of the upcoming season.

In addition to the addresses from Section officers, the meeting was also highlighted by presentations from Philadelphia PGA partners SCNS Foods, Signature Golf, SKYiGOLF, and TCM Bank who spoke about the Philadelphia PGA’s new credit card program. A guest speaker from Morgan Stanley, Prashantha Challa, spoke to the attendees about the dangers of Cyber Security and how everyone needs to take precautions to keep their information secure. As well as District 2 Director Tom Henderson, PGA who spoke on the various PGA of America initiatives as well as updated the attendees on the programs affecting each Section.

Throughout the Spring Meeting, the most recent Philadelphia PGA special award winners were recognized in front of their peers. The special award winners had previously been honored at a special awards dinner held at the Manor House at Commonwealth National on March 10.

After the meeting more than 170 Professionals turned their attention to the Section’s opening event, the Spring Pro-Pro Scramble. Played as a two-man scramble, the tournament was held at both Whitemarsh Valley Country Club and The ACE Club.

At host facility Whitemarsh Valley Country Club it was the team of Joe Kogelman (GolfTEC – Moorestown) and Trevor Bensel (Overbrook Golf Club) who came out victorious. The pair carded a team score of 10-under par (62) and finished one shot ahead of five teams in the season’s opening event.

At The ACE Club the formidable duo of Dave Quinn (Laurel Creek Country Club) and Stu Ingraham (M Golf Range) combined to post a team score of 12-under par (60) finishing one shot ahead of a pair of teams at 11-under par (61). The first of the teams to reach that number was Pat Butkus (Tavistock Country Club) and Jeff Herb (Waynesborough Country Club) who were quickly joined by Michael Shank (Wilmington Country Club) and Bob Lennon (Wilmington Country Club).

At Bluestone Country Club, the teams of Anthony Napoletano (GolfTEC – King of Prussia) and Eric McNamee (Golf Galaxy) and Rick Gibney (Colonial Country Club) and Steve Swartz (Out Door Country Club) finished tied for first with score of 10-under par (61). Five teams finished one shot back in a tie for third with scores of 9-under par (62).

The Section’s Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) will hold their Spring Meeting on Monday, April 15 at Whitford Country Club (Exton, Pa.).

For more information on the Philadelphia PGA – philadelphia.pga.com.

Spring Pro-Pro Scramble Leaderboard

On Sunday, March 10, more than 100 people gathered together at the Manor House at Commonwealth National to honor the newest Philadelphia PGA Special Awards winner. This year’s inductees were led by 2018 Golf Professional of the Year Patrick Shine of Commonwealth National Golf Club.

For a complete list of Special Awards winner please see our previous press release:

Announcing the 2018 PPGA Special Awards Class