Philadelphia PGA Wraps its Tournament Season at Fall Membership Meeting
Nearly 200 PGA Professionals gathered at White Manor to conduct the Section’s official business, including board elections. Those in attendance were graced with the presence of Jay Wright, the former Villanova men’s basketball coach, who took part in a keynote discussion led by PGA Member Dean Kandle. The two discussed leadership, team building, and much more during their nearly 50-minute dialogue. During his tenure at Villanova, Wright led two teams to national championships in 2016 and 2018, and was recently inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the 2021 class.
Four PGA Members were elected by acclamation to the Section’s Board of Directors: Michael Caldwell of DuPont C.C. was elected as District 2 Director, Mike Molino of the C.C. of Scranton was elected as District 4 Director, while Scott Chisholm of Rolling Green G.C., and Tom Gilbert of Gulph Mills G.C., were elected as District 6 Directors.
On behalf of our entire PGA Professional membership and board, we thank outgoing board members for their years of service: Anthony Malizia of Bidermann G.C., District 2; Gerry Davis of Flourtown C.C., District 6; and Dean Kandle of Golf Business Network, District 6.
The Section also recognized its 2022 playing award winners, led by Rolex / The Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year and the winner of the F. Edward DeBaufre Trophy for Scoring Average, Braden Shattuck, PGA, of Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa. Additional winners included: Joanna Coe of Merion G.C., Women’s Player of the Year; Rich Steinmetz of Spring Ford C.C., Robert “Skee” Riegel Senior Player of the Year and Senior PGA Professional Scoring Average; Brian Kelly, Super Senior Player of the Year and Central Counties PGA Chapter Senior Player of the Year; Trevor Bensel of Sandy Run C.C., Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) Player of the Year; Brian Bergstol of Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort, Central Counties PGA Chapter Player of the Year; Travis Deibert of Doylestown C.C., Comeback Player of the Year; and Sam Ambrose of Chester Valley G.C., Ike Turner Most Improved Player. To read more about the Section’s 2022 playing awards, click here.
Section partner Signature Golf was also in attendance, and presented a $7,350 donation to PGA REACH Philadelphia, the Section’s 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, to help support its Youth, Military, and Inclusion programming. Foundation Director Courtney Curcio, and PGA WORKS Fellows Erin Martin and Rachel Goetz accepted the generous donation, and thanked Signature Golf for their support of PGA Professionals and local golfers in the Section.
Following the conclusion of the meeting, a field of nearly 100 PGA Professionals teed it up in a two-person scramble, with DuPont C.C.’s Michael Caldwell and Matt Finger winning by one stroke over Rob Rohrbach, Foxchase G.C., and Jeff Fick, Moselem Springs G.C.; and Zac Oakley, Bidermann G.C. and Trevor Bensel, Sandy Run C.C.
To view the full 2022 Fall Meeting Golf Event leaderboard, click here.
The 2022 Philadelphia PGA Fall Membership Meeting is supported by AccuPin, Cobra Puma Golf, Evolve Golf, Trinity Flavors, Workhorse Brewing Company / Workhorse Tour, StickX, and Precision Pro. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, White Manor Country 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.