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Field Announced for 2022 PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship

April 27, 2022Comments Off on Field Announced for 2022 PGA WORKS Collegiate ChampionshipPPGA

FRISCO, Texas (April 26, 2022) 一 PGA REACH, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America, today announced the field for the 2022 PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship (PWCC). The PWCC will be hosted by The Union League of Philadelphia, which donated two of its courses for the 54-hole stroke-play Championship – Union League Liberty Hill and The Union League Golf Club of Torresdale – from May 2-4.

The PWCC, considered the most culturally significant championship in collegiate golf, will feature a competitive lineup of 30 teams representing Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions and other minority-serving institutions from all over the country.

DIVISION I (MEN’S)
Alabama A&M University
Alabama State University
University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff
Chicago State University
Florida A&M University
Howard University
North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Central University
Prairie View A&M University
Texas Southern University

DIVISION II (MEN’S)
Bluefield State College
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Fayetteville State University
Johnson C. Smith University
Kentucky State University
Lincoln University
Miles College
Savannah State University
Virginia State University
Virginia Union University

WOMEN’S DIVISION
Alabama State University
Chicago State University
Delaware State University
Howard University
Lincoln University
North Carolina A&T State University
Prairie View A&M University
Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Texas Southern University

The individual divisions will see 56 competitors representing 40 programs. Howard University, thanks in part to NBA Star Steph Curry making a six-year commitment to fund its golf program, will return to the PWCC for the second consecutive year. The men’s team will play in the Men’s Division I Team Division and is the highest ranked team in the field, while the Bison will also compete in the Women’s Team Division.

Prairie View A&M (Men’s DI), Miles College (Men’s DII) and Texas A&M – Corpus Christi (Women’s) will all return this year, looking to defend their respective titles.

For the second year, exemptions from the Epson Tour and Korn Ferry Tour can be earned.

The top three finishers and ties in the Women’s Team or Individual Divisions will be eligible to apply for an “MVP Invite” exemption into the Epson Tour’s Guardian Championship, Sept. 16-18 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Capitol Hill – Senator Course in Prattville, Alabama. The Guardian Championship Tournament Committee will review applications and award the exemption.

Korn Ferry extended its sponsor exemption applications to the top three finishers in the Men’s Division I, Men’s Division II and Men’s Individual Divisions. Those individuals can apply for the exemption into the 2022 Price Cutter Charity Championship, July 21-24, at Highland Springs Country Club in Springfield, Missouri.

“We are extremely excited to partner with the Union League in Philadelphia to provide this deep field the opportunity to compete at two phenomenal and historic courses,” said Scooter Clark, Director, PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship. “There is so much significance to this partnership and venue, as the Union League celebrates its 160th anniversary, and it will truly benefit the student-athletes competing.”

Clark adds, “The Union League has carried out this mission through the lens of inclusion and community engagement which strongly aligns with the PGA of America’s commitment through PGA WORKS to enhancing the experience of our underserved and underrepresented programs and students. The PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship allows us a great opportunity to connect with hundreds of student-athletes from diverse backgrounds, most of whom will continue to play golf throughout their lives.”

For more information on the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship, visit www.PGAWORKSCollegiate.org.

About PGA WORKS
PGA WORKS is a strategic initiative designed to diversify the golf industry’s workforce. Funded by PGA REACH, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America, PGA WORKS leverages fellowships, scholarships, career exploration events and the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship to inspire and engage talent from diverse backgrounds to pursue key employment positions across the golf industry. For more information, visit PGAREACH.org.

About PGA REACH
PGA Foundation, Inc. d/b/a PGA REACH is the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America. The mission of PGA REACH is to Impact Lives Through Golf. For more information, visit www.pgareach.org, follow @PGAREACH on Twitter, and find us on Facebook.

Media Contacts
John Dever, PGA of America, 561-624-7693, jdever@pgahq.com
Jared Minski, Mastro Communications, Inc., 732-546-4325, jared@mastrocomm.com

Philadelphia PGA Section Announces Partnership with Southern Tide

April 26, 2022Comments Off on Philadelphia PGA Section Announces Partnership with Southern TidePPGA

Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (April 27, 2022) — The Philadelphia PGA Section is happy to announce the that it has partnered with Southern Tide, an apparel brand that defines and delivers the premium, coastal lifestyle.

As part of the partnership, Southern Tide will support two top Section golf tournaments:

  • A.C. Team Stableford Championship
    Wednesday, May 11 at Ballamor Golf Club
  • Jack Jolly & Son Championship
    Monday, September 19 at Moselem Springs Golf Club

“The Philadelphia PGA is very happy to partner with Southern Tide,” said Section Executive Director Geoff Surrette, PGA. “We are always eager to work with organizations who value PGA Professionals, and Southern Tide continues to show their support for our PGA Members and Associates.”

“As one of the most influential sections in the country, we are incredibly proud and excited to partner with the Philadelphia PGA,” said Andrew Deloria, Southern Tide’s Men’s East Regional Sales Manager. “We are currently focused on bridging the gap between traditional and modern Golf apparel. Southern Tide is the perfect premium, resort lifestyle look that can be worn on and off the course.”

About Southern Tide
Southern Tide is the premium, resort lifestyle brand featuring both men’s and women’s styles that can be worn on or off the course. Performance and fit are top of mind when designing into each collection, so our products suit the demands of an on-the-go lifestyle. From course to clubhouse or pool to bar, Southern Tide makes apparel that’s functional across all facets of our customer’s lives. Southern Tide is excited to be an official sponsor of the section for the 2022 season.

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.

Contacts: 

Matt Frey, PGA, Philadelphia PGA Section, mfrey@pgahq.com
Andrew Deloria, Southern Tide, adeloria@southerntide.com

Trevor Bensel Wins 2022 Philadelphia PGA Tournament Players Division Championship

April 25, 2022Comments Off on Trevor Bensel Wins 2022 Philadelphia PGA Tournament Players Division ChampionshipPPGA

Avondale, Pa. (April 25, 2022) — Philadelphia PGA Member Trevor Bensel of Sandy Run Country Club in Oreland, Pa., turned in a modified Stableford score of 31 to win the 2022 Philadelphia PGA Tournament Players Division Championship at Hartefeld National, the Section’s first Rolex / The Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year Points event of the season.

Bensel’s round, a 6-under-par 66, included an eagle and four birdies, enough to give him a four-point victory over Steve Sanderson, Pine Valley G.C. Rich Steinmetz, Spring Ford C.C., finished in third place with 24 points. Mark Sheftic, Lookaway G.C. finished in fourth at 23 points. Three PGA Professionals tied for fifth place with 22 points each: Joanna Coe, Merion G.C.; Andrew Turner, Berkshire C.C.; and Rick Gibney, Colonial Golf & Tennis Club.

The modified Stableford points were awarded as follows: Double Bogey or higher, -1 point; Bogey, 0 points; Par, 1 point; Birdie, 3 points; Eagle, 6 points; and Double Eagle, 9 points.

Steinmetz’s 2-under-par 70 allowed him to take top honors in the Senior Division with 24 points. Steinmetz finished two points ahead of Gibney; and three ahead of Dave Quinn, Laurel Creek C.C.; and John DiMarco, the Legacy Club at Woodcrest. Bill Sautter, Philadelphia Cricket Club, finished fifth in the division.

The 2022 Philadelphia PGA Tournament Players Division Championship is supported by Kevin McClellan Golf Sales, Scott & Karen Hutchinson, Golf Max, Callaway Golf, and the PGA Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Hartefeld National, its members, management, host PGA Professionals, and staff, as well as our partners, as the event would not have been possible without their support.

To view the full 2022 Philadelphia PGA Tournament Players Division Championship leaderboard, click here.

The next Philadelphia PGA Rolex / The Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year tournament on the schedule is the Delaware Valley Open on May 9 at Rolling Green G.C. The Delaware Valley Open is also the first 2022 Silvercrest Cup qualifying event. For more information on the Silvercrest Cup, click here.

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

Philadelphia PGA Section Accepting 2022 Hall of Fame Nominations

April 22, 2022Comments Off on Philadelphia PGA Section Accepting 2022 Hall of Fame NominationsPPGA
Nominations for the Philadelphia PGA Section’s 2022 Hall of Fame class are now being accepted. To nominate a PGA Professional for this prestigious honor, please complete the form linked below. The nomination deadline is August 3, 2022.

Nomination Guidelines

  • Nominee must be a PGA Member with a minimum of 25 years of PGA Membership;
  • Nominee must have been a Philadelphia PGA Member for a minimum of 10 consecutive years;
  • Nominee must identify as one or more of:
    • Philadelphia PGA Past President;
    • Philadelphia PGA officer with a minimum of 10 years of service;
    • PGA of America national award winner;
    • Philadelphia PGA award winner;
    • PGA Tour, LPGA Tour or PGA Tour Champions winner;
    • Ryder Cup team member;
    • PGA Professional Championship winner; and / or
    • Senior PGA Professional Championship winner
Note: Each nomination must be submitted by a minimum of two PGA Professionals in order to be considered by the Hall of Fame Committee.
Any questions about the Hall of Fame nomination process should be directed to Sue Unger, Member Services Administrator, at sunger@pgahq.com.
Contact: Sue Unger, Philadelphia PGA Section, sunger@pgahq.com

Philadelphia PGA Section Renews Partnership with Trinity Flavors

April 20, 2022Comments Off on Philadelphia PGA Section Renews Partnership with Trinity FlavorsPPGA
Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (April 20, 2022) — The Philadelphia PGA Section is proud to announce the renewal of its partnership with Trinity Flavors, a woman-owned ready-to-drink cocktail company headquartered in Phoenixville, Pa.

As part of the partnership, Trinity Flavors will support PGA REACH Philadelphia, the Section’s 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, in addition to Section and foundation pro-am team events, including:

  • Spring Pro-Lady Team Championship
    Tuesday, May 24 at Lehigh Country Club
  • Pro-Assistant Pro Team Championship
    Monday, June 27 at the Shore Club
  • Indian Valley Team Stableford Championship
    Monday, July 18 at Indian Valley Country Club
  • PGA REACH Philadelphia Pro-Am Championship
    Tuesday, October 11 at Philadelphia Cricket Club
  • Fall Pro-Pro Team Championship
    Monday, October 17 at Little Mill Country Club
“The Philadelphia PGA is thrilled to renew our partnership with Trinity Flavors,” said Section Executive Director Geoff Surrette, PGA. “Having a local company support the Section and PGA REACH Philadelphia is fantastic, and their products have proven to be popular choices at our PGA Professionals’ facilities.”

“We value our partnership with the Philadelphia PGA Section,” said Kathy Pires, Trinity Flavors Partner. “We look forward to seeing the PGA Members at the events and sharing our products with them. It is our privilege to support PGA REACH Philadelphia and their commitment to growing the game of golf through youth, military, and diversity with our donations from every can that we sell.”

To set up an account with Trinity Flavors for your facility, contact JT Vaughan via email at jt@trinityflavors.com or by telephone at (610) 389-9704.About Trinity Flavors

Based in the Philadelphia suburbs, Trinity Flavors is a woman-owned company run by Kathleen Pires, who’s entrepreneurial ties run deep.

In the year 2000, her late uncle Mark Dowey was sitting in a country club with two friends when one of them ordered an Arnold Palmer, the half-lemonade, half-iced tea drink made famous by the golfing legend. Up until that point, Mr. Palmer had not capitalized on the popularity of his namesake beverage. Knowing this, Mark and his friends drew up a marketing plan on a napkin and presented it to Palmer’s agents at IMG. They were soon granted the rights for Arnold Palmer tea, found a partner in Arizona Tea and the rest is history.

Fast forward to 2017 and after working for more than 15 years in the ingredients industry with Mark, Kathleen was thinking about how many times she had enjoyed the Transfusion Cocktail at her local country club, Rivercrest Golf Club. “Wouldn’t it be great if we could get a transfusion in a can?” Inspired by her uncle, it is with that same entrepreneurial spirit and confidence that Trinity Flavors began. The latest creation, Vodka Lemonade is currently being introduced to golf clubs along with the Classic Transfusion and Iced Irish Coffee. There are more exciting flavors to come in 2022!

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.

Contacts: 

Matt Frey, PGA, Philadelphia PGA Section, mfrey@pgahq.com
Kathy Pires, Trinity Flavors, kpires@trinityflavors.com

Philadelphia PGA Section Partners with StickX Golf

April 19, 2022Comments Off on Philadelphia PGA Section Partners with StickX GolfPPGA

Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (April 20, 2022) — The Philadelphia PGA Section today is pleased to announce it has partnered with StickX Golf, a company that partners with golf facilities and shops to provide their trade-in services for golf equipment and apparel online and during demo days.

As part of the agreement, StickX Golf will support the Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour by hosting in-person trade-in events at select tournaments. Additionally, the company will sponsor the Section’s 2022 Pro-Assistant Pro Championship at the Shore Club on June 27, and Fall Membership Meeting at White Manor Country Club on October 31.

“The Philadelphia PGA is happy to partner with StickX Golf,” said Section Executive Director Geoff Surrette, PGA. “The company not only understands the importance of the PGA Professional, but the value of their time. With StickX Golf picking up all trades in person and initiating payment the same day clubs are submitted for trade, they are showing how much they appreciate their roles in the golf industry.”

“It is an honor and privilege to be partnering with the Philadelphia PGA Section” says StickX Golf Mid-Atlantic Head James Fox III. “I strongly believe our trade-in services offer PGA Professionals the ability / opportunity to save time, generate revenue, and add value to their membership. We look forward to serving the Philadelphia PGA Section and all of its members for years to come.”

PGA Professionals looking to learn more about the Section’s partnership with StickX Golf should contact Section Communications Director Matt Frey, PGA, at mfrey@pgahq.com.

About StickX Golf
StickX Golf is a golf club trade-in company that was specifically created with the PGA Professional in mind. StickX was founded three years ago in West Palm Beach, Fla., by Kyle Branham and Andrew Albert. Our focus is quality-of-service, quick and easy payment options, and no shipping. We are currently servicing more than 200 clubs, courses, and golf facilities in the Mid-Atlantic, Greater Atlanta Area, and Florida. We are in pursuit of taking exceptional care of as many PGA Professionals as possible.

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.

Contacts: 

Matt Frey, PGA, Philadelphia PGA Section, mfrey@pgahq.com, (215) 481-9086
James Fox III, StickX Golf, james@stickxgolf.com, (410) 202-6685

Fenton and Willey Team to Win 2022 Philadelphia PGA Spring Pro-Pro Championship

April 18, 2022Comments Off on Fenton and Willey Team to Win 2022 Philadelphia PGA Spring Pro-Pro ChampionshipPPGA

Danielsville, Pa. (April 18, 2022) — Philadelphia PGA Members Robert Fenton of Sunnybrook G.C. and Alex Willey of Burlington C.C. teamed to win the 2022 Philadelphia PGA Spring Pro-Pro Championship on a blustery day at Woodstone Country Club and Lodge.

Fenton and Willey, both new to the Section, turned in a team score of 64, 8-under-par, to win the event by four strokes over the teams of Anthony Hoffman, and Rocco Sgrillo, both from John F. Byrne G.C.; and Dave Quinn, Laurel Creek C.C., and Stu Ingraham, MGolf Range & Learning Center.

The winning team’s scorecard included 10 team birdies in the four-ball stroke play format, including on their last five holes. Conditions were difficult throughout the day; temperatures maxed out around 48 degrees Fahrenheit, but it felt much cooler, with consistent 10 mph winds and gusts near 20 mph as rain moved into the area.

There was a three-way tie for fourth place: Joanna Coe, Merion G.C., and Barry Dear, Golf Academy at Blue Heron Pines; Michael Little, Makefield Putters, and Nick Iacono, Chester Valley G.C.; and Patrick Butkus, Tavistock C.C., and Jeff Herb, Waynesborough C.C.

The 2022 Philadelphia PGA Spring Pro-Pro Championship is supported by L2 Brands / Legacy / League, Golf Max, Doc Murphy, and the PGA Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Woodstone Country Club and Lodge, its members, management, host PGA Professionals, and staff, as well as our partners, as the event would not have been possible without their support.

To view the full 2022 Philadelphia PGA Spring Pro-Pro Championship leaderboard, click here. The next Philadelphia PGA tournament is the TPD Championship at Hartefeld National G. & C.C., scheduled on Monday, April 25.

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