Lower Gwynedd Township, Pennsylvania (September 29, 2026). — The 34th Philadelphia Challenge Matches are set to take place Wednesday, September 30, at Saucon Valley Country Club’s Grace Course in Bethlehem, Pa., bringing together 12-player teams representing the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) and the Philadelphia Section of the PGA of America. The teams will compete in concurrent 18-hole individual singles and four-ball match play, with each match worth one point and ties resulting in a half-point for each side. Each team will include two senior competitors aged 55 and older.

The Philadelphia Challenge Matches would not be possible without the support and energy of Robin McCool. McCool was instrumental in getting the matches started 33 years ago and revitalizing them by bringing in support from Nick Feldkamp of Ping, Jim Ravina and Kevin Quinn of Fairway & Greene, Kevin McClellan of Ahead and our host facility, Saucon Valley Country Club. 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:

Zach Barbin, PGA (C)
Chesapeake Bay Golf Club

Trevor Bensel, PGA
LuLu Country Club

Ross Brown, PGA
Fox Hill Country Club

Michael Chanaud
Bear Trap Dunes

Andrew Cornish, PGA
Llanerch Country Club

Logan Hay, PGA
Burlington Country Club

Dave Quinn, PGA (Sr)
Laurel Creek Country Club

Ryan Rucinski
Applebrook Golf Club

Anthony Sebastinelli, PGA
Whitford Country Club

Mark Sheftic, PGA (Sr)
Sunnybrook Golf Club

Andrew Turner, PGA
Green Valley Country Club

Brett Walker, PGA
Chester Valley Golf Club

Philadelphia PGA Challenge Matches Team

Zach Barbin, PGA, Chesapeake Bay Golf Club (C) –  Barbin has put together another strong season, highlighted by victories at the Burlington Classic and Jack Jolly & Son Championship. He also finished runner-up at the 105th Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship and remains among the Section’s leading players. Barbin also set a course record at Whitemarsh Valley during this year’s Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship. As captain, Barbin will lead the Philadelphia PGA team in this year’s Challenge Matches.

Trevor Bensel, PGA, LuLu Country Club- Bensel has been a consistent performer in Section competition throughout 2026, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Jack Jolly & Son Championship after advancing to a five-player sudden-death playoff. 

Ross Brown, PGA, Fox Hill Country Club- Brown has been a consistent competitor in Section events this season and earned a victory at the Philadelphia PGA Conestoga Classic’s Central Counties Chapter event. He has continued to make an impact in Chapter competition throughout 2026.

Michael Chanaud, Bear Trap Dunes- Chanaud has enjoyed a strong season, highlighted by a second-place finish at the 40th Burlington Classic and a victory alongside Richard Stolz in the Burlington Classic Pro-Am. His 2026 campaign has included several strong finishes in Section competition.

Andrew Cornish, PGA, Llanerch Country Club- Cornish has enjoyed a strong 2026 season, highlighted by victories at the Doylestown Open, TaylorMade Classic, and Philadelphia PGA Conestoga Classic. He also recorded a third-place finish at the Philadelphia Players Championship.

Logan Hay, Burlington Country Club –  Hay has put together a strong 2026 season, highlighted by five victories and a runner-up finish at the Philadelphia Assistant PGA Professional Championship. He also finished tied for fifth at the Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic and earned a spot in the 2026 Assistant PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club.

Dave Quinn, PGA, Laurel Creek Country Club- Quinn has enjoyed a strong 2026 season, including a victory alongside his Laurel Creek team at the weather-shortened Rolling Green Team Stableford Championship. He also advanced to the final of the Philadelphia PGA Match Play Championship before falling to Brett Walker.

Ryan Rucinski, Applebrook Golf Club- Rucinski has put together a solid 2026 campaign, including a top-five finish at the Philadelphia PGA Conestoga Classic’s Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization event. He has also recorded strong performances throughout the Section’s tournament schedule.

Anthony Sebastinelli, PGA, Whitford Country Club-  Sebastianelli has been a consistent contender throughout the 2026 season, including a runner-up finish in the GALV Lehigh Valley / Reading Open and a victory at the Philadelphia Assistant PGA Professional Championship. He also advanced to the playoff at the Jack Jolly & Son Championship.

Mark Sheftic, PGA, Sunnybrook Golf Club- Sheftic has been one of the Section’s top senior competitors in 2026, highlighted by his victory at the Skee Riegel Senior Open, where he carded a 4-under-par 66. He also finished tied for second in the Senior Division at the Philadelphia Players Championship.

Andrew Turner, PGA, Green Valley Country Club- Turner has been a consistent performer throughout the 2026 season, including a victory in the PGA Professional Division at The Hutch Invitational. He also finished fourth in the Four-Ball competition at the event and has continued to compete among the Section’s top professionals.

Brett Walker, PGA, Chester Valley Golf Club- Walker, a two-time Philadelphia PGA Professional Champion, has enjoyed a standout 2026 season most recently claiming the Philadelphia PGA Match Play Championship at Aronimink Golf Club. 

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, Director of Operations, mfrey@pgahq.com