HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. – On Monday, July 8, the Philadelphia PGA returned to historic Huntingdon Valley Country Club for the annual William Hyndman III Memorial Classic. The event, which serves as the fifth Omega Player of the Year points event presented by Haverford Trust Co, featured more than 140 Section Professionals. The event also featured a separate tournament for the Section’s Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO). The PAO event featured 40 players most of which were also competing in the main event.

With intermittent rain showers plaguing the field in the morning wave. Players found it tough to get anything going. For much of the morning wave it looked as the low score would be a number over par as two players found themselves at 1-over (71) at the end of their round.

The first player to reach that number was Bill Walker (Riverton Country Club). After trading birdies and bogeys for much his round, Walker found himself at 1-under through twelve holes. Unfortunately for Walker a couple of late bogeys moved him out of red figures as he finished at 1-over (71). Despite the two late bogeys, Walker still found himself with the solo clubhouse lead. However, that did not last long as Walker was joined at 1-over by Grant Gardiner (Merion Golf Club).

Gardiner got off to a quick start after he birdied his opening hole, the par-4 10^th hole. As he continued his outward nine, Gardiner was unable to get anything else going and he made the turn at 3-over. As he played his back nine, Huntingdon Valley’s front nine, Gardiner was able to right the ship as he posted two birdies against no bogeys to finish with an 18-hole total of 1-over (71), joining Walker for the clubhouse lead.

Unfortunately for both Walker and Gardiner, one player in the morning wave was able to battle through the tough conditions to post a number in red figures. Through fourteen holes, Jamie Gylan (Royal Manchester Golf Links) was sitting at 3-under and was playing a relatively stress-free round. However, Gylan was unable to keep the good luck going and, in the end, carded three bogeys over his final four holes. When all was said and done Gylan posted a 1-under (69) to take the clubhouse lead by two shots.

Players in the afternoon wave were treated to much nicer weather, as the morning rain cleared out and made way to bright sunshine and more than a few players did their best to take advantage of the conditions.

Four players came within one shot of Gylan after they posted scores of even par (70). The first of the group at even par was Ryan Shaughnessy (Bethlehem Golf Club). Shaughnessy carded four birdies, two bogeys and a double to finish at the even par number. He was eventually joined by Peter Clarke (Manufacturers Golf & Country Club). Clarke reach even par after posting five birdies, three bogeys, and one double. The third player to finish even par was Mike Tobiason (Deerfield) who traded three birdies against three bogeys to join the group. The final player to finish at even par was defending champion Greg Matthias (Tavistock Country Club) who finished with four birdies and four bogeys on his round.

After waiting more than four hours, Gylan was eventually joined by past champion Stu Ingraham (M Golf Range) at 1-under (69). Ingraham posted consecutive birdies early in his round but a lone bogey late in the day dropped him back to 1-under and in a tie for the clubhouse lead.

However, when all was said and done, it was a Philadelphia PGA rookie who finished on top of the leaderboard after posting a 3-under (67). Braden Shattuck (Concord Country Club) a former Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour member, started and ended his round with bogeys but it was his play between those holes that helped him earn a two-shot victory, his first Philadelphia PGA points win.

Shattuck started his day with a bogey on the par-4 1^st hole but as he played his outward nine, he managed to put that behind him carding two birdies to make the turn at 1-under. As he played his way back to the clubhouse Shattuck added four additional birdies and was sitting at 5-under as he made his way to the difficult par-3 17^th hole. Unfortunately for Shattuck he was unable to keep his momentum going and he carded his second bogey of the day. The difficulties continued on the 18^th hole as Shattuck once again posted a bogey, his third of the day and in the end finished with a final score of 3-under (67) and a two-shot victory.

“After that hiccup on the first hole I got more aggressive,” says Shattuck. “I was hitting my driver really well off the tee and hitting greens. I feel like I left a lot out there still, as I missed a lot of short putts but other than that I played extremely well on a difficult track, so I am thankful. I wanted to thank all of our sponsors for their support as well as Huntingdon Valley for hosting us today.”

Despite falling just short in the main tournament, Stu Ingraham’s 1-under (70) was good enough for a three-shot victory in the tournament’s senior division. Finishing in solo second place was Brian Kelly (Bucknell Golf Club) who posted a 2-over (72). Terry Hertzog (Country Club of York) was able to grab a third place finish in the division after finishing with a 3-over (73).

Greg Farrow (Deerwood Country Club) led the way in the super-senior division after finishing with a 5-over (75) which was good enough for a one-shot victory in the division.

Shattuck also managed to take home the top prize in the separate PAO tournament after he finished three-shots ahead of the next closest competitors.

The Section would like to thank our tournament sponsors The Hyndman Family, Jack Jolly & Son, Golf Pride, Morell Studios, and the PGA Tour for their support of today’s event. There won’t be much of a layoff before the next Philadelphia PGA tournament as they return to action on Thursday, July 11 for the Pro-Junior Championship at Whitford Country Club.

Full Tournament Leaderboard