After nearly two decades of dedicated service, the Philadelphia PGA Section announces the resignation of Brian Schulte, PGA, our longtime tournament director. He has been a wonderful member of our professional family for 17 years. A PGA of America Member and Coastal Carolina University graduate, he started with our Section working as a PGA Golf Management intern before being hired as the director of our Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour. He was ultimately elevated to tournament director in 2018.

Brian has done an excellent job improving our events and elevating the experience for our membership, and we cannot thank him enough for his hard work and dedication to the Section. He will be missed, and difficult to replace. We wish Brian, his wife Jaclyn, and his daughters nothing but the best!

Brian’s last day with the Section will be January 3, 2025. Please join us in thanking him for his service and commitment to the Section by sending him an email at bschulte@pgahq.com.

The Section will begin the search for Brian’s replacement immediately, and will be working with our PGA career consultant, Joe Doughty, PGA, on the job bulletin that will be published shortly.

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 of America Members and Associates who are employed at over 300 golf facilities in our region.

Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com

LAS VEGAS – PGA of America Golf Professional Scott Vandegrift, Head Coach at Millersville and a member of the Philadelphia PGA Section, has been named the 2024 Labron Harris Sr. Award recipient presented by the Golf Coaches Association of America in cooperation with the PGA of America. The Harris Award is presented to the college or high school coach and Class A PGA Professional whose support of the game through teaching, coaching, and involvement in the community has helped ensure the game of golf’s continued growth and who represents the finest qualities the game has to offer.

“Being selected to receive the Labron Harris Sr. Award is something that I’ve always dreamed about happening” said Vandegrift. “I was flattered that former SMU coach Barry Rodenhaver nominated me, and after researching the history of Labron Harris Sr., it meant even more to me to be considered.”

Vandegrift was hired as head men’s golf coach at Millersville in 1985 and has also been the head women’s golf coach since the program’s inception in 2008. A GCAA member since 1997, the Delaware native’s Marauders have maintained success at the conference, regional, and national level, winning a combined 123 events (93 men and 31 women) and six Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships (five men and one women). 2002-03 saw the men win a program record five times, including the program’s first NCAA Regional title (East), and qualify for their first NCAA Division II Championship. The women won the PSAC Championship during the 2015-16 season and have won 14 tournaments since 2021, highlighted by four in 2023-24 and three already this fall.

Marauder accolades under Vandegrift include 68 All-PSAC selections (56 men and 12 women), five PSAC Freshman of the Years (three men, two women), three PSAC Golfer of the Years, and five PSAC Coach of the Years (four men, one women).

A member of the Philadelphia PGA Section since 1981 and now a Life Member, Vandegrift has been a PGA Teaching Professional at Tanglewood Manor Golf Course in Quarryville, Penn. since 2018, teaching private lessons and summer junior golf camps. He teaches and Captains their PGA Jr. League Team, who went undefeated in 2023, and has been selected to be All-Star Team Captain. He was Associate Golf Professional at Tanglewood Manor from 1977 to 1987, developing and executing the club’s teaching program with responsibility for all clinics, private lessons, demonstrations, and presentations. He was instrumental in increasing the annual rounds played from 18,000 to 38,000 despite being closed on Sundays.   

As an Instructor for Get Golf Ready at Chesapeake Bay Golf Club (2009-12), Vandegrift taught and coordinated all junior and high school golf camps. He increased private lesson participation by 400% in two years and was responsible for teaching all adult, ladies, and senior clinics. 

Vandegrift was Head Golf Professional at Crossgates Golf Club in Millersville from 1994 to 2008, conducting weekly youth and adult clinics, teaching high school golf clinics during the summer, and helping develop and maintain an annual budget of $950,000 at an upscale public golf course with between 27,000 and 31,000 rounds played. Three high schools as well as the Millersville University programs claimed Crossgates as their home course while Vandegrift was there. He developed a successful tournament and outing business entertaining over 60 groups per year.

As Head Golf Professional and Golf Branch Manager at Aberdeen Proving Ground, a U.S. Army facility, from 1987 to 1993, Vandegrift was responsible for operating three courses and clubhouses with gross revenues of $1,146,000. He supervised 40 employees, including pro shop staff, greens crew, and food and beverage. Daily play increased from 28,000 rounds in 1987 to 61,000 in 1993 with Vandegrift. He was instrumental in building a $1.2 million clubhouse at the main course, installing a $500,000 fully-automated irrigation system, building a $250,000 maintenance storage shed, purchasing new equipment to handle increase in play, and upgrading course maintenance procedures. 70 new tournaments and outings producing $145,000 in additional income were created by Vandegrift and he produced a ten-fold increase in pro shop sales while expanding to a 1,000-square-foot shop, restaurant, and lounge with annual revenues of $160,000.

Vandegrift has volunteered with the American Cancer Society in Lancaster, Penn. since 2010, with the Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community since 2010, as a Resource Consultant with the National Golf Foundation Teaching Staff since 1978, an Instructor for Approach Golf since 2018, and an Advisor at Solanco High School since 1984. He has also been a Teaching Professional at Valleybrook Golf Range (1974-79), Assistant Professional and Teaching Director at Meadia Heights Golf Club (1974-76), and Assistant Professional at Penn Oaks Country Club (1974) among other community involvements.

“For 39 years, I’ve had the privilege of coaching young men at Millersville University,” Vandegrift continued. “In 2010, 

I’ve been blessed to have a wonderful family and the opportunity of promoting the game of golf as a PGA Professional and Collegiate Golf Coach over all these years, 

All-Time Recipients

2024 – Scott Vandegrift (Millersville/Philadelphia PGA Section)

2023 – Rich Mueller (Columbia/Metropolitan PGA Section)

2022 – Tim Poe (Central Missouri/Midwest PGA Section)

2021 – Scott Flynn (Belmont/Tennessee PGA Section)

2020 – Joe Tesori (Le Moyne College/CNY-PGA Section)

2019 – Jaime Howell (Eastern Florida State/North Florida PGA Section)

2018 – Jerry Haas (Wake Forest/Carolinas PGA Section)

2017 – Scott Cartwright (Cal Poly/Southern California PGA Section)

2016 – Harry Hammond (West Chester/Philadelphia PGA Section)

2015 – Puggy Blackmon (South Carolina/Carolinas PGA Section)

2014 – Mike Mayer (Indiana/Indiana PGA Section)

2013 – Mike Small (Illinois/Illinois PGA Section)

2012 – Pat Goss (Northwestern/Illinois PGA Section)

2011 – John Bermel (Northern Iowa/Iowa PGA Section)

2010 – Rick Pohle (Williams/Northeastern New York PGA Section)

2009 – Pat Owen (Navy/Middle Atlantic PGA Section)

2008 – Jim Brown (Ohio State/Southern Ohio PGA Section)

2007 – Herb Page (Kent State/Northern Ohio PGA Section)

2006 – Rod Myers (Duke/Carolinas PGA Section)

2005 – Devon Brouse (Purdue/Indiana PGA Section)

2004 – Jay Hardwick (Virginia Tech/Middle Atlantic PGA Section)

About the PGA of America

The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of more than 31,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who love the game, are expert coaches, operators and business leaders, and work daily to drive interest, inclusion and participation in the sport. The PGA of America owns and operates numerous championships and events, including major championships for men, women, seniors and the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s foremost sporting events. For more information, visit PGA.com and follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook.

About Golf Coaches Association of America

Established in 1958, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) is the professional organization of men’s collegiate golf coaches. The GCAA’s mission is to support its member coaches from six divisions, including the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA, by creating educational opportunities, providing resources, and promoting its members with the purpose of enhancing their overall performance as coaches, mentors, and teachers. The GCAA also recognizes the excellence and achievements of its members and their student-athletes in academic, athletic and civic endeavors.

Adam Mackey
Director of Communications
Golf Coaches Association of America
adam@collegiategolf.com
(517) 763-4291

Hawley, Pa. (November 14, 2024) — On October 23, the Philadelphia PGA Section and its 501(c)(3) foundation, PGA of America REACH Foundation Philadelphia, hosted teams of U.S. military veterans representing the Metropolitan, New Jersey, and Philadelphia PGA Sections at the Country Club at Woodloch Springs for the inaugural District 2 Patriots Club, as an extension of the PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) program. With a cumulative team score of 476, the 12 veterans from New Jersey took home the trophy, bettering the veterans from Philadelphia Section (492) and the Metropolitan Section (527).

PGA HOPE  is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. PGA HOPE introduces golf to veterans and active duty military to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. The program introduces the game of golf through a developmental 6-8 week curriculum, led by PGA of America Golf Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. All programs are funded by PGA REACH and supplemented by PGA Section foundations, so the cost of programming is free to all veterans. PGA HOPE has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which enables direct referrals to the PGA HOPE program as a form of therapy.

The District 2 Patriots Cup was created by the three PGA Sections that make up the PGA of America’s second geographical district to honor our military veterans and grow the reach of their PGA HOPE programs. The Country Club at Woodloch Springs, its owners, and PGA Director of Golf John Pillar, have a long history of supporting veterans and charities for veterans. Pillar was awarded the Philadelphia PGA Section’s Patriot Award in 2020. The award bestows special recognition on a PGA Professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates an unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected our country.

The winning team from New Jersey included Scott Burgin, Craig Casucci, Jim Csogi, Eric Kaiser, Charles Daniel Kennelly, Justin Key, Paul Pasquarella, Dave Ryden, Chris Solivan, Rodjean Thorman, Ernie Trent, and Charlie Wilcox.

Philadelphia’s team featured Craig Adams, Colt Bowen, Joe Dooley, Joel Kent, Tom Koslowski, Mike Malpedo, Robert Marcolina, Michael Rudart, John Strollo, and Vince Zuranski. The Metropolitan included Harry Conklin, Rick Ell, James Eugene, James Girardi, Danny Guaglione, John Lewis, George Lonergan, Artie McAuley, Jae Pea Persaud, Dave Raymond, Nick Tsismenakis, and Con Verrine.

The inaugural District 2 Patriots Cup was supported by the Metropolitan, New Jersey, and Philadelphia PGA Sections and their foundations, PGA of America REACH Foundation Metropolitan Section, New Jersey Golf Foundation, and PGA of America REACH Foundation Philadelphia, the Country Club at Woodloch Springs, the Greg Norman Collection, and Northwell Health.

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 of America Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com

During the PGA of America’s Annual Meeting Week in Grand Rapids, Mich., St. Davids PGA General Manager Dean Kandle, and the Philadelphia Cricket Club PGA Director of Golf Jim Smith Jr. received their national honors, the PGA of America Professional Development Award, and Bill Strausbaugh Award, respectively.

Prior to being interviewed by David Marr III in front of the Annual Meeting delegates, PGA Membership, industry leaders, friends, and family, the PGA of America debuted short videos highlighting each award recipient and the hard work they have put into their careers, facilities, Section and Association. Their Q&A session with Dave Marr is also linked below. To watch the videos, click on the below video screens.

Congratulations to both Dean and Jim! Both PGA Members have made our Section proud, and will no doubt continue to improve the game, Association, initiatives, and facilities going forward!

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 of America Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com

Bethlehem, Pa. (November 1, 2024) — PGA of America Golf Professional Steve Sanderson and his superintendent partner, Gavin Johnson won the 2024 Pro-Superintendent Championship. The duo, local to the host course, Saucon Valley Country Club, shot an impressive net score of 8-under-par on the Old Course.

This is the event’s third year; it was created to show support not just for our PGA Members and Associates, but also to continue our great relationship with the PAGCS and all of the grounds professionals who take care of our facilities day in and day out. Special call out to their President Greg D’Antonio from Concord CC and the entire leadership of the PAGCS.

Second place in the net division was a tie between PGA Member Brian Bergstol and Riley Hogan from Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort, and John Roche, PGA, and Jim Lanza from Elmhurst Country Club who finished at 4-under-par. Both teams also took home first prize in the gross division. Three teams tied for fourth place at 3-under-par: Kevin Edwards and Brett Hauck from Olde Homestead Golf Club; Rick Gibson and Josh Saunders from Lancaster Country Club; and Eric Figueroa and Dave Visocan from McCall Golf Club.

Figueroa and his partner also placed third in the Gross Division with a score of 3-under-par. Three teams tied for fourth in the Gross Division at one-under-par: Patrick Butkus and Eric Junkins, Whitford Country Club; Steve Sanderson and Gavin Johnson, Saucon Valley Country Club; and Rick Gibson and Josh Saunders, Lancaster Country Club.

To view the full 2024 Philadelphia PGA Pro-Superintendent Championship leaderboard, click here.

The 2024 Philadelphia PGA Professional-Superintendent Championship is sponsored by Golf Cart Services / E-Z-GO, and supported by Fore Golf Brands. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Saucon Valley Country Club, its members, management, host PGA Professionals, 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 of America Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com

Medford, N.J. (October 28, 2024) — PGA of America Golf Professionals Braden Shattuck of Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa., and Joanna Coe of Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., have earned the titles of Philadelphia PGA Rolex / Haverford Trust Player of the Year and Women’s Player of the Year, respectively, and were recognized at the Section’s Fall Membership Meeting at Medford Village Country Club. These are both Shattuck and Coe’s third consecutive Player of the Year titles.

Shattuck also earned the F. Edward DeBaufre Trophy for Scoring Average, a title he previously won in 2022. His scoring average of 68.42 over 12 rounds is the lowest since the trophy was commissioned in 1964. In addition to his impressive scoring, Shattuck played one of the most remarkable seasons in recent memory. In May, he secured Low Club Professional honors at the PGA Championship in Kentucky, after qualifying for the Corebridge Financial Team at the PGA Professional Championship in Texas, where he was defending champion. Following his impressive finish in the year’s second men’s major championship, Shattuck set a new course record, 63, at Bellewood Country Club the next day, en route to winning the Delaware Valley Open. He also won this year’s Conestoga Classic, and Jack Jolly & Son Championship.

While Coe remained competitive on the course, she also gave birth to her first child in June. She won her second Women’s Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship at Union League Golf Club at Torresdale in September, and competed on the victorious U.S. Women’s PGA Cup Team in October, marking her second-consecutive appearance in the burgeoning biannual event.

Fellow PGA Members John Pillar of the Country Club at Woodloch Springs in Hawley, Pa., and Bill Sautter of the Philadelphia Cricket Club in Flourtown, Pa., were also honored; Pillar secured this year’s Robert “Skee” Riegel Senior Player of the Year title, while Sautter earned Super Senior Player of the Year.

In addition to his Senior Player of the Year title, Pillar also earned the Section’s Comeback Player of the Year, thanks in part to his victories in the Philadelphia Senior PGA Professional Championship, Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic, and TaylorMade Classic. Sautter had a similarly successful season, winning seven Super Senior events.

PGA Member Brian Bergstol, Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort, was crowned this season’s Central Counties Chapter Player of the Year, having won eight Chapter tournaments. The Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) announced Trevor Bensel, PGA, of Sandy Run C.C., the PAO Player of the Year, winning the PAO Tour Championship at Aronimink G.C. and the PAO event at the William Hyndman III Memorial Classic.

PGA Professional Mark Parson, Harbor Pines G.C., was given the Section’s Ike Turner Most Improved Player award; his best finish this season was a tie for second place in the Philadelphia Players Championship at Lookaway G.C.

During the Fall Membership Meeting, the Section’s membership reelected DuPont C.C.’s Michael Caldwell, District 2; Elmhurst C.C.’s Mike Molino, District 4; Rolling Green G.C.’s Scott Chisholm, District 6; and Gulph Mills G.C.’s Tom Gilbert, District 6; to second two-year terms on the Board of Directors.

The Section also acknowledged this year’s recipients of the Bud Jennings PGA Golf Management Scholarship: PGA Associates Olivia Gardenhour, Chambersburg C.C., and Kevin Kennedy II, Applebrook G.C. 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.

Following the meeting, 96 of the nearly 150 PGA Professionals in attendance teed it up in the Fall Meeting’s two-person scramble, with Manufacturers’ G. & C.C.’s Peter Clarke, PGA, and Rob Wolfers, PGA, finishing atop the leaderboard at 11-under-par. Five teams tied for second place one stroke behind the winners.

To view the full 2024 Fall Membership Meeting Golf event leaderboard, click here.

The 2024 Fall Membership Meeting is supported by Cobra Puma Golf, Evolve Golf, GolfForever, GolfStatus, Motocaddy, Signature Golf, and StickX. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Medford Village Country Club, their members, management, host PGA Professionals, 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 of America Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com

Havre De Grace, Md. (October 23, 2024) — PGA of America Life Member, Jeb Boyle, led his team of amateurs, Mike McKinney, Fred Farber and Sam Auker to victory in the net division at the 2024 Fall Finale Pro-Am presented by Parx Casino® at Bulle Rock Golf Course. They shot an impressive 14-under-par round of 58, in the one best ball of four format.

One stroke back in second place in the net division was the team from Carlisle C.C. led by Steve Swartz, PGA, and his amateurs Kobie Swartz, John Friedman and Rick Johnson. They also placed second in the gross division. PGA Professional, Chris Brosius, Skip Willis, Paul Hufschmidt, and Jeff Young from Maple Dale C.C. finished in third place at 12-under-par. There was a tie for fourth at 11-under-par between Tyler Spielberger and his amateurs David Throne, Tony Manson, and Chris Pavlov from Wild Quail G. & C.C.; and Dave Quinn, PGA, Jack Irons, Mike Okeef, Mark Walker, from Laurel Creek C.C. Quinn’s team also placed first in the gross division, while Spielberger’s placed third.

Eric McNamee, PGA, Joe Boyle, Jesse Brookreson, and Brian Murphy from Golf Galaxy – Montgomeryville, took fourth place in the Gross Division at 5-under-par. Six teams tied for fifth place at 4-under par.

To view the full 2024 Philadelphia PGA Fall Finale Pro-Am presented by Parx Casino® leaderboard, click here.

The 2024 Philadelphia PGA Fall Finale Pro-Am event is presented by Parx Casino®. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Bulle Rock Golf Course, their members, management, host PGA Professionals, and staff, 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 of America Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com