Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (October 7, 2021) — The Philadelphia PGA Section is proud to announce that its 12-member team for the 32nd Philadelphia Challenge Matches has been finalized. The competition, played annually between top Philadelphia PGA of America Golf Professionals and Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) amateurs, is slated to take place on Tuesday, October 15 on Saucon Valley Country Club’s Grace Course in Bethlehem, Pa. Braden Shattuck, PGA, the 2023 Philadelphia PGA Rolex / Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year and 2024 PGA Championship Low Club Professional, will lead the Section’s team as captain for the second year in a row.

The Philadelphia Challenge Matches would not be possible without the support and energy of Robin McCool. McCool was instrumental in getting the matches started 32 years ago and revitalizing them by bringing in support from Jim Wilson of Ping, Jim Ravina of Donald Ross, and our host facility, Saucon Valley C.C. McCool serves as the honorary captain for the GAP team and serves as honorary chair of the event. Everyone owes Robin a debt of gratitude for all of his efforts.

The 12 PGA Professionals representing the Philadelphia PGA Section include:

Braden Shattuck, PGA (C)
Rolling Green Golf Club

Trevor Bensel, PGA
Sandy Run Country Club

Brian Bergstol, PGA
Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort

Brian Kelly, PGA
Titleist Fit Crew 

Danny Lewis, PGA
Philadelphia Cricket Club

Michael Little, PGA
Clubhouse 54

Zac Oakley, PGA
Bidermann Golf Club

John Pillar, PGA
Country Club at Woodloch Springs

Daver Quinn, PGA
Laurel Creek Country Club

Anthony Sebastianelli
Rolling Green Golf Club

Mark Sheftic, PGA
Sunnybrook Golf Club

Brett Walker, PGA
Chester Valley Golf Club

Philadelphia PGA Challenge Matches Team

Captain Braden Shattuck, PGA, Rolling Green Golf Club – Shattuck is the twice-defending Philadelphia PGA Rolex / Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year, and currently leads this season’s race by nearly 1,500 points. In addition to his three Section wins in 2024 (Delaware Valley Open, Conestoga Classic, and Jack Jolly & Son Championship), Shattuck earned Low Club Professional honors at this year’s PGA Championship in Kentucky, and leads the race for the F. Edward DeBaufre Trophy with a scoring average of 68.10. At the Delaware Valley Open, he set a new Bellewood Country Club course record: 8-under-par 63. Shattuck also finished tied for 16th in the 2024 PGA Professional Championship in Texas. In eight Section starts this season, he has finished outside the top four only once.

Trevor Bensel, PGA, Sandy Run Country Club – Bensel is currently second in the Section Player of the Year race, and fifth in the DeBaufre Scoring Average rankings with 70.36. Bensel competed in the 2024 PGA Professional Championship, finishing tied for 26th. In 11 Section starts in 2024, he has finished in the top five eight times.

Brian Bergstol, Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort – Bergstol had a hot start to his Section season, tying the course record at Tavistock Country Club, an 8-under-par 64, en route to winning the TaylorMade Classic and the first Silvercrest Cup bonus of the season. He finished second in the season-long Silvercrest Cup standings and is currently in sixth place in the Section’s Player of the Year race and ninth on the DeFaufre Scoring Average list with an average of 70.78.

Brian Kelly, Titleist Fit Crew – Kelly currently sits in the third position on the Section’s Robert “Skee” Riegel Senior Player of the Year points list, thanks in part to his eight top five finishes. He also finds himself third in the Central Counties Chapter Player of the Year race having won the Chapter Championship and the Chapter’s event at the GALV Lehigh Valley Open.

Danny Lewis, PGA, Philadelphia Cricket Club – Lewis is currently eighth in the Section’s Player of the Year race, and 10th on the DeBaufre Scoring Average list, with an average of 71.50. He has four top-10 finishes in Section events this season, in addition to tying for fourth place in the 2024 Philadelphia Open Championship.

Michael Little, PGA, Clubhouse 54 – A two-time Philadelphia PGA Player of the Year (2016, 2020), Little is no stranger to the Challenge Matches. In 2024, Little has entered the winner’s circle twice, at the Pro-Am for Wishes and A.B. Thorn Memorial Pro-Am, and has another nine top 10 finishes. He is currently tied for fifth place in the DeBaufre Scoring Average race, at 70.44.

Zac Oakley, PGA, Bidermann Golf Club – Oakley is fresh off winning his third Philadelphia PGA Match Play Championship, having won the final match on Merion Golf Club’s East Course one week after winning the 2024 Philadelphia Players Championship at Lookaway. He competed in his second major championship in May at the PGA Championship, qualifying from his tie for eighth place at the 2024 PGA Professional Championship. Oakley is second only to Shattuck in the Player of the Year race, and is in the fourth position for the DeBaufre Scoring Average with a 70.14.

John Pillar, PGA, Country Club at Woodloch Springs – Pillar had a hot start to his summer, winning the 26th Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic and its $100,000 first-place prize, and the 2024 Philadelphia Senior PGA Professional Championship. Pillar also made both cuts in this year’s Senior PGA Professional Championship in Oregon. He is in first place in the Robert “Skee” Riegel Senior Player of the Year race, thanks to his four Senior Division victories.

Dave Quinn, PGA, Laurel Creek Country Club – Quinn is currently 11th in the Section’s Player of the Year competition, thanks in part to his win at the Section’s Fall Pro-Pro Championship and his nine other top 10 finishes.

Anthony Sebastianelli, Rolling Green Golf Club – Sebastianelli is having a break-out year, having won four times, including this year’s Silvercrest Cup and its $15,000 winner’s check. He is fifth in the Player of the Year standings, second in the DeBaufre Scoring Average, and is leading the Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) Player of the Year competition.

Mark Sheftic, PGA, Sunnybrook Golf Club – Sheftic is 10th on the Section’s Player of the Year list, and has realized four top 10 finishes this season. His highest finishes this season were at the Pro-Am for Wishes (T3) and the Match Play Championship (semi-finalist).

Brett Walker, Chester Valley Golf Club – Walker returned to the Philadelphia PGA Section this season, and wasted no time to get back to the winner’s circle, by winning his second Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship and the William Hyndman III Memorial Classic. He is seventh on the DeBaufre Scoring Average list at 70.45.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this press release listed an incorrect date for the Challenge Matches, which is scheduled for October 15. Additionally, Mark Sheftic, PGA, and Dave Quinn, PGA, have replaced Zach Barbin and Mike Meisenzahlm PGA.

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