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Philadelphia PGA Challenge Matches Team
Zach Barbin, PGA, Chesapeake Bay Golf Club – Barbin, a newly elected PGA Member, will serve as this year’s Captain. He currently sits second on the leaderboard for the Section’s Player of the Year race, and third in the DeBaufre Scoring Average rankings with an impressive 68.73 average. Barbin’s stellar performance includes a recent victory at the Philadelphia Players Championship, 10 top-10 finishes, and a fourth-place finish at his first Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship, earning him a spot in next year’s PGA Professional Championship.
Austin Barbin, Chesapeake Bay Golf Club – Barbin currently sits in fifth place on the DeBaufre Scoring average rankings with a 69.82. He has had four top-10 finishes so far this season, in addition to tying for sixth place at the Delaware Open. He also is currently sitting first on the Philadelphia Assistant’s Organization’s Player of the Year List.
Trevor Bensel, PGA, Lulu Country Club – Bensel, a familiar face in the competitor’s ring, started off his season by winning perhaps the most high stakes event of the year, the Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic. He currently sits fourth in both the Player of the Year Standings and Debaufre Scoring Average Rankings and has six top-10 finishes for his season.
Ross Brown, PGA, Fox Hill Country Club – An active presence in Section events, Brown has already secured five top-20 finishes this season, placing him 27th on the Player of the Year points list. His game has been especially dominant in the Central Counties Chapter, where his six top-10 finishes have earned him the number eight spot on their points list.
Andrew Cornish, PGA, Green Valley Country Club – Currently holding the 10th spot on the Player of Year Points list, Cornish has one victory so far this season, winning the 2025 GALV Lehigh Valley / Reading Open and breaking the course record at Berkleigh Golf Club where he shot nine-under-par. On top of the victory, Cornish has another seven top-25 finishes.
Kyle Early, PGA, Waynesborough Country Club – Early has had a steady season thus far finishing in the top third of the field in every event. He holds the 13th spot on the Player of the Year List and has an impressive 72.27 scoring average. Early also has one victory in the Philadelphia Assistant’s Organization events, where he is currently ranked fifth in their Player of the Year race.
Joe Kogelman, PGA, GOLFTEC – Moorestown – Kogelman retains a scoring average of 72.54 and is in the 26th spot on the Player of the Year points race. He is a fierce competitor with seven top-25 finishes under his belt. Kogelman’s steady play is a testament to his determination, and he is a player to watch as he continues to climb the rankings.
Michael Little, PGA, Clubhouse 54 – A two-time Philadelphia PGA Player of the Year (2016, 2020), Little is a fierce competitor, holding the seventh spot on the Player of the Year list. He also holds the sixth position for the Debaufre Scoring Average with a 70.14, and has one victory so far this season at the Jack Jolly & Son Championship.
Hugo Mazzalupi, PGA, Radnor Golf Foundation – Currently ninth on the Senior Player of the Year list and 10th on the Senior Scoring Average Rankings, Hugo is a consistent competitor on the course. He has one victory in the Senior Division, at the Burlington Pro-Am Classic and several more top-30 overall finishes.
Zac Oakley, PGA, Bidermann Golf Club – Oakley, a highly decorated champion in our Section and fresh off of a victory at the Match Play Championship, is currently is in third for the Player of the Year Points Race. His resume also includes two top finishes in the Delaware Open and at the 104th Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship. His scoring average of 70.57, puts him ninth on the Debaufre Rankings.
Stephen Swartz, PGA, Carlisle Country Club – Swartz is a dominating player in our Central Counties Chapter, currently holding the top spot in their Player of the Year Race having tied for first at the 2025 Srixon Invitational at Dauphin Highlands, and claiming seven other top-five finishes in chapter events this season.
Riley Wheeldon, PGA, Aronimink Golf Club – A new player to our Section this year, Wheeldon has made his name known, claiming two victories at The Hutch and Pro-Am for Wishes, as well as finishing in second at the 104th Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship. He holds the fifth spot in the Player of the Year and is in second for Debaufre Scoring average with a 68.36.
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 |
