News

PGA Member Brett Walker Leads 100th Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship Entering Final Round

Newtown Square, Pa. (August 31, 2020) — PGA Member Brett Walker, Sunnybrook G.C., surged to the top the 100th Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship leaderboard with a second round score of 4-under-par 66 at Aronimink Golf Club. The championship is presented by Cadillac, Club Car and Rolex.

Walker, who won his first Section event earlier this month at the National Car Rental Philadelphia Assistant PGA Professional Championship, had not played Aronimink prior to today’s round, making it even more impressive. Walker’s scorecard featured four birdies and an eagle and is the low round of the week at Aronimink. First round leader Ashley Grier shot 66 in her first round at Applebrook Golf Club.

“My strategy has been to hit a lot of fairways, and I hit it really well off the tee, which allowed me to attack some of the hole locations,” said Walker. “The course was playing tough if you missed fairways, but I did a good job of keeping it in position, which made it an easier round for me.”

Walker, who played in his first major championship, the PGA Championship, earlier this year, said that he would employ the same strategy for tomorrow’s final round.

[View Full Leaderboard]

Bidermann G.C.’s Zac Oakley turned in a 3-under-par 67 at Aronimink today, placing him in second place, two behind Walker. Oakley has won or tied for first in two Section events this season, including the Doylestown Open and Conestoga Classic. He is also currently second in the Rolex Philadelphia PGA Player of the Year race.

Billy Stewart, Union League Liberty Hill, is in third place following his 71 at Aronimink, five back. Overbrook G.C.’s Grier is in fourth at 2-under-par. Yesterday, she became the first woman to lead a Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship after any round.

Rounding out the top five at 1-under-par: Rusty Harbold, Philadelphia Cricket Club; Terry Hertzog, Merion G.C.; and host PGA Professional at Applebrook, Dave McNabb. Overbrook’s Trevor Bensel is at even-par; Six PGA Professional are tied for tenth.  The top 11 players at the conclusion of play will advance to the

Sixty-six Philadelphia PGA Section’s will advance to the final round to compete for the William B. Packer Trophy and a berth into the 55th PGA Professional Championship, April 17-20, at OMNI Barton Creek in ​Austin, Texas.

The championship is scheduled to conclude tomorrow, September 1, at Aronimink G.C., with tee times beginning at 8:00 a.m.  Follow the action via our live scoring by visiting golfgenius.com/pages/2799551 and our social media channels: TwitterInstagram, and Facebook.

For more information on the championship, including the week’s schedule, pairings, and more, visit the championship’s official e-publication.

Members of the media are welcome onsite to cover the championship.

The 100th Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship is presented by Cadillac, Club Car and Rolex, and supported by Titleist / FootJoy, Nike, TaylorMade, Golf Channel, the PGA Tour, Ship Sticks, Visit Delco, Pa., and Precise Yardage Books.

 

 

 

 

 

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