Huntingdon Valley, Pa. (October 29, 2023) — PGA Member Chip Richter of the Country Club of Harrisburg in Harrisburg, Pa., was elected 45th Philadelphia PGA President at the Section’s 2023 Fall Membership Meeting at Philmont Country Club.

Bob Hennefer of Laurel Creek Country Club in Mount Laurel, N.J., and Eric Kennedy of Overbrook Golf Club in Villanova, Pa., will join Richter as Section officers, being elected as vice president, and secretary, respectively. Patrick Shine of Doylestown (Pa.) Country Club, moves to the role of honorary president following his two-year stint as president.

The membership also selected Dustin McCormick of Glen Brook G.C., as director of tournaments, and Anthony Malizia, Bidermann G.C., as director of Section affairs. Section Districts 1, 3 and 5 also elected new directors, with Curtis Kirkpatrick, Indian Spring C.C., Jeff Breiner, C.C. of Harrisburg, and Tom Michaels, Berkshire C.C., taking those roles. The board of directors and Executive Director Geoff Surrette also thanked outgoing directors Kevin Duffy, Commonwealth National G.C., Jason Gebhart, the Bridges G.C., and Brett Nelson, Moselem Springs G.C., for their service.

During the meeting, Richter formally announced the Section’s 2023 class of Playing Legends: Ted McKenzie and Jerry Pisano; Pisano will be inducted posthumously. Established in 1991, the Section’s Playing Legends honorary program recognizes individuals based on criteria set forth by the Philadelphia PGA’s Hall of Fame Committee. One of the main criteria is that individuals must have had success in major events locally or nationally, something that each 2023 inductee has accomplished consistently throughout their careers. To learn more about the 2023 Playing Legends class, click here.

The Section’s playing awards were also formally announced during the meeting and included:

• Rolex Haverford Trust Player of the Year:
  Braden Shattuck, PGA, Rolling Green G.C.
• Women’s Player of the Year:
  Joanna Coe, PGA, Merion G.C.
• Rolex Robert “Skee” Riegel Senior Player of the Year:
  Rich Steinmetz, PGA, Spring Ford C.C.
• Super Senior Player of the Year:
  Brian Kelly, PGA Life Member
• F. Edward DeBaufre Trophy for Scoring Average:
  Trevor Bensel, PGA, Sandy Run C.C.
• Comeback Player of the Year:
  Dave Quinn, PGA, Laurel Creek C.C.
• Ike Turner Most Improved Player:
  Brad Sanders, PGA, Sunnybrook G.C.
• Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization Player of the Year:
  Anthony Sebastianelli, Rolling Green G.C.
• Central Counties Chapter Player of the Year:
  Brian Bergstol, PGA, Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort

The Section was honored to host PGA of America Chief Operating Officer Craig Kessler as a special guest to the meeting. Kessler took part in a town hall discussion with the Philadelphia PGA Professionals in attendance, and spoke about the Association’s strategic focus and plans for the future.

The Section also acknowledged the first-ever recipients of the Bud Jennings PGA Golf Management Scholarship: PGA Associates Victoria Petrosky of Fox Hill Country Club in Exeter, Pa.; and Gregory Rhoads of Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa. The scholarship was developed by the Jennings family to honor Bud Jennings, a lifelong golfer and longtime Chester Valley Golf Club member. Given Bud’s love for the game of golf, and his willingness to give back and help others, the Jennings family says that this award is the perfect way to remember his legacy. To learn more about the scholarship and the 2023 recipients, click here.

Following the meeting, 114 of the nearly 200 PGA Professionals in attendance teed it up in the Fall Meeting’s two-person scramble, with Rolling Green G.C.’s Braden Shattuck and Anthony Sebastianelli tying Joanna Coe, Merion G.C., and Tessa Teachman, Aroninink G.C.; and Gulph Mills G.C.’s Tom Gilbert and Louis Kelly; atop the leaderboard at 9-under-par. Four teams tied for fourth place.

One the the highlights of the tournament was Parks Price, C.C. of York, making a hole-in-one on No. 17. Price used a 6-iron from 184 yards. Well played, Parks!

To view the full 2023 Philadelphia PGA Fall Meeting leaderboard, click here.

The 2023 Philadelphia PGA Fall Meeting is supported by Cobra Golf, Evolve Golf, Signature Golf, StickX, and Maui Jim. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our partners, Philmont Country Club, its membership, management, and host PGA Professionals, and staff, as the event would not be 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