Team Overbrook Wins 2nd Annual PPGA Pinehurst Pro-Am
Pinehurst, NC – The Philadelphia Section PGA (PPGA) headed south to historic Pinehurst Resort & Country Club for the 2nd annual Philadelphia PGA Pinehurst Pro-Am on Sunday-Wednesday, March 25-28, 2018. Seventeen PPGA Professionals accompanied by their three amateur partners were treated to rounds of golf on Pinehurst No. 5, No. 8, No. 9 and the famous No. 2 courses. Outside of the tournament, teams spent their spare time on the Thistle Dhu “This’ll do”, a miniature golf course on Pinehurst’s main putting green along with The Cradle, a new 9-hole short course at Pinehurst as well as admiring memorabilia from past major championships in the main hallway in Pinehurst’s clubhouse. All throughout The Resort, players could not help but feel a sense of tradition and history around every corner.
Team’s arrived on Sunday, March 25 and immediately took to the course for a practice round on Pinehurst No. 5. Following the practice round, the week officially kicked off with a Welcome Reception in the Donald Ross Grill Room. All players received a gift package that included a vest from Puma Golf, hat and tee combo from Level Wear and a dozen Bridgestone golf balls.
Tournament play began on Monday, March 26 at Pinehurst No. 8 where weather conditions felt like Philadelphia in March, not North Carolina. The Tom Fazio design that was highlighted by tree lined holes that required accuracy off the tee and treacherous greens complexes that challenged your short game. After round one, Applebrook Golf Club Head Professional, Dave McNabb, PGA and his amateur partners, Keith Walters, Frank Hallinan, and Jeff Shapiro, current defending champions, were in familiar territory atop the leaderboard at 11-under-par (133). The team played well and was highlighted by a 67 (-5) from McNabb.
The week continued with round two taking place on the Jack Nicklaus’ designed Pinehurst No. 9. Once again, the weather didn’t quite cooperate with overcast skies and temperatures not reaching the fifty degree mark. The low rounds of the day belonged to Penn State University-Hazleton Golf Coach, Jason Martonick, PGA and his amateur partners, JC Blewitt, Michael Portnova and Charles DeCosmo together with Bear Trap Dunes Assistant Professional, Michael Rushin and his amateur partners, Dave Alden, Ed Miller and Bill Thornton both with rounds of 9-under-par (135). After the second round, Penn State University-Hazleton jumped out to a three shot lead over the team from Bear Trap Dunes who were the biggest movers of round 2 jumping six spots on the leaderboard. Tied in second place with Bear Trap Dunes was Overbrook Golf Club Head Professional, Eric Kennedy, PGA and his amateur partners, Andrew, Jay and Vince Bellwoar.
The third and final round was played on the famous Pinehurst No. 2 course. This Donald Ross design is most famous for hosting three U.S. Open Championships and one U.S. Women’s Open Championship. It was a truly special round of golf for all 68 competitors. After all the shots were played it was Overbrook Golf Club posting the low round of the day (137) by five shots over the field. In the end, their impressive final round score secure the victory for Team Overbrook awarded them the famous Pinehurst Putter Boy trophies. Every member on Overbrook’s team had a great day on the course including a 70 (-2) from Kennedy.
