West Chester, Pa. (August 6, 2023) — PGA Member Michael Little of Clubhouse 54 in North Wales, Pa., led his team of amateurs, Gene Marinelli and Pat Rugg, to victory in the 47th Pro-Am for Wishes at Penn Oaks Golf Club, topping three teams by two strokes.

The Pro-Am for Wishes first started in 1976 at Whitford Country Club, and has been held annually at Penn Oaks Golf Club since 2008 (the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) to benefit Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley. Since the event moved to Penn Oaks, it has raised over $700,000 for the Make-A-Wish foundation.

Using a two best balls of three format, Little made three gross birdies, while Marinelli and Rugg combined for 10 net birdies and one net double eagle; the team rounded out their scorecard with five bogies to finish their round at 11-under-par.

Three teams tied for second place: Trevor Bensel, Sandy Run C.C., Jimmy O’Connor, and Syd Tyson; Zac Oakley, Bidermann G.C., Anthony Diver, and Kurt Scheivert; and John Allen, Squires G.C., Ken Eck, and David Benway. Terry Hatch, Royal Oaks G.C., Rich Boyd, and Todd Horn finished in fifth place at 8-under-par.

In the 36-hole PGA Professional event, Zac Oakley leads the field following his 3-under-par round of 68. Oakley earned his first Section victory of the year last week at the National Car Rental Philadelphia Assistant PGA Professional Championship. Trevor Bensel and Bob Lennon, Wilmington C.C., find themselves trailing Oakley by only one stroke, with three fellow PGA Professionals tied for fourth place at 1-under-par: Andrew Turner, Berkshire C.C.; Anthony Sebastianelli, Rolling Green G.C.; and Michael Little.

After the opening round, Lennon leads the Senior Division by two strokes, topping John Allen, and Dave McNabb, Applebrook G.C. Terry Hatch is in fourth place at 1-over-par, followed by PGA Life Member George Forster, who finds himself in fifth place at 2-over-par.

Four amateurs will play in Monday’s final round based on their opening round performance: Pat Rugg, 72; Jimmy O’Connor, 73; Zach Paris, 77; and Kevin O’Hara, 78.

The PGA Professional field and qualifying amateurs will play their final round tomorrow, Monday, August 7 at Penn Oaks. To view the full leaderboard, click here.

The 2023 Pro-Am for Wishes title partner is Tamora Building Systems, and is supported by the Piazza Auto Group, Woodward Properties, Smart From the Start, and the Horn Family. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Penn Oaks Golf 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 Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

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