Author: Matt Frey

PGA of America Golf Professional Joanna Coe Makes U.S. Women’s PGA Cup Team

Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (September 4, 2024) — The PGA of America has announced the roster of five PGA of America Golf Professionals who will compete as the United States Team in the third edition of the Women’s PGA Cup, including Joanna Coe of Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. Coe will be competing in her third consecutive Women’s PGA Cup.

The biennial international competition among teams from the U.S., Australia, Canada, Great Britain & Ireland, South Africa and Sweden will take place Sept. 30 – Oct. 5, 2024, on the Meadows course at Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Oregon.

2024 U.S. Women’s PGA Cup Team
Joanna Coe
Merion Golf Club
Philadelphia PGA Section

Sandra Changkija
LPGA Foundation
North Florida PGA Section

Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth
San Jose Country Club
North Florida PGA Section

Ashley Grier
Yinglings Golf Center
Middle Atlantic PGA Section

Allie Knight
Fairways and Greens Golf Center
Tennessee PGA Section

The U.S. Team was determined through a two-year point system, which included the 2023-24 Women’s Stroke Play Championship (Championship Division), the 2023-24 LPGA Professionals Championship and the final money lists of the 2022-23 PGA Tournament Series. Any PGA Member who made the cut at the 2023-24 KPMG Women’s PGA Championships, 2023-24 U.S. Women’s Opens and the 2023-24 PGA Professional Championships also earned points. Additionally, a weighted PGA Section points system was utilized to award points.

The U.S. Team is led by Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth (Fleming Island, Fla.), the 2023 Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year, who finished at the top of the Women’s PGA Cup point standings.

The Women’s PGA Cup is an international team competition for women PGA Professionals from around the world. The event features six teams from the United States, Australia, Canada, Great Britain & Ireland, South Africa and Sweden competing in a 54-hole stroke play format. The low three of five scores per team (each round) count toward the team total per round.

The inaugural Women’s PGA Cup was contested in 2019 at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas, where the U.S. secured a four stroke victory over runner-up Canada. The U.S. Team captured the 2022 Women’s PGA Cup by two strokes over Canada at Twin Warriors Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico.

Sunriver Resort, one of the country’s most scenic golf destinations, has previously hosted four PGA of America member championships, including the 50th PGA Professional Championship in 2017. The Meadows course, designed by John Fought, features seven holes that border the Sun River and pays tribute to the great American golf courses from the 1920s and ‘30s. Meadows also has hosted numerous USGA and NCAA championships including the NCAA Men’s Division 1 Championship.

For additional information on the Women’s PGA Cup, visit here.

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

Philadelphia PGA Section Introduces Golf Operations Group Virtual Discussion Series

The Philadelphia PGA Section, in coordination with our Education Committee, is happy to introduce a monthly Golf Operations Group virtual discussion series. The series is designed to stimulate conversations and the sharing of golf operations and general management best practices among our PGA of America Golf Professionals.

The series is slated to begin on Thursday, October 17 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, with 2024 PGA of America Bill Strausbaugh Award recipient and Philadelphia Cricket Club PGA Director of Golf Jim Smith Jr. leading the first session.

The hour-long Golf Operations Group sessions will be held monthly:

  • Thursday, October 17 at 9:00 a.m.
  • Wednesday, November 20 at 9:00 a.m.
  • Wednesday, December 18 at 9:00 a.m.
  • Wednesday, January 15 at 9:00 a.m.
  • Wednesday, February 19 at 9:00 a.m.
  • Wednesday, March 19 at 9:00 a.m.

While the sessions are geared toward full-time PGA general managers and PGA directors of golf, they are open to PGA Professionals of any classification. Each session will have a discussion leader to help moderate the conversations, while some sessions may include guest speakers.

To register for the first session, and subsequent dates, click on the below button.

PGA of America Golf Professional Brett Walker Captures 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship

Springfield, Pa. (August 28, 2024) — PGA of America Golf Professional Brett Walker of Chester Valley Golf Club in Malvern, Pa., led wire-to-wire to capture the 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship at Rolling Green Golf Club and Chester Valley Golf Club. He finished with rounds of 64-71-69–204, 8-under-par, bettering Rolling Green’s Braden Shattuck, PGA, by one stroke.

This is Walker’s second victory in the Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship, having won in 2021 at Aronimink Golf Club.

“It was a grind today,” Walker said following his final round on the William Flynn-designed Rolling Green course. “Winning is never easy; Braden and Zac [Oakley] made it tough on me, and I just tried to hit the best shots I could. When I focused on my own game and my own shots, it went well for me.”

Walker nearly made a double-eagle 2 on the par-5 seventh hole, missing the cup by mere inches, ultimately settling two feet away to set up his eagle.

“I am grateful to be out here,” Walker said after reflecting on what winning a Section Championship with his home facility in the rotation. “It is pretty special. I can’t thank the Chester Valley and Rolling Green members enough for giving up their course for a few days. I have to tip my cap to both grounds crews and superintendents; they did a great job getting both courses into championship-caliber conditions.”

Walker went on to thank the Chester Valley membership, PGA Professionals, and staff, for allowing him to play, the spectators who came to watch the action, the Section staff, and his wife Sarah.

The Low Club Professional at this year’s PGA Championship, Shattuck turned in a 4-under-par 67 to put pressure on Walker. Twenty-twenty-two Philadelphia PGA Professional Champion Brian Bergstol, Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort, finished in third place at 2-under-par. Mike Meisenzahl, Tavistock C.C., finished at even-par in fourth place, followed by Sandy Run C.C.’s Trevor Bensel, PGA, in fifth place at 1-over-par.

One-hundred-forty-six of the Philadelphia PGA Section’s best players competed for the William B. Packer Trophy and a berth into the 2025 PGA Professional Championship, ​April 27-30, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. From there, PGA Members from the 41 PGA Sections will compete to join the Corebridge Financial Team and earn a berth into the 2025 PGA Championship on May 12-18, at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C.

Walker will lead 13 Philadelphia PGA Professionals to the national championship: Braden Shattuck (2); Brian Bergstol (3); Mike Meisenzahl (4); Trevor Bensel (5); Rusty Harbold, Philadelphia Cricket Club (6); Terry Hatch, Royal Oaks G.C. (7); Dave Quinn, Laurel Creek C.C. (T8); Jeff Herb, Waynesborough C.C. (T8); Zac Oakley, Bidermann G.C. (T8); Terry Hertzog, Bent Creek C.C. (T11); Andrew Turner, Whitford C.C. (T11); and Dave Pagett, Whitemarsh Valley C.C. (T11). Alternates are as follows: Billy Stewart, Union League Liberty Hill; Parks Price, Hanover C.C.; Stephen Swartz, Carlisle C.C.; Sam Ambrose, Chester Valley G.C.; and Scott Chisholm, Rolling Green G.C.

To view the full 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship leaderboard, click here.

The 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship is presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial, and Rolex, and is supported by Gallagher, Golf Channel, the PGA Tour, Titleist, FootJoy, Callaway, Nike, TaylorMade, Visit Delco, SCNS Sports Foods, and StrackaLine. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our hosts, Rolling Green Golf Club and Chester Valley Golf Club, their 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 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

Walker Leads 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship Entering Final Round

Springfield, Pa. (August 27, 2024) — PGA of America Golf Professional Brett Walker of Chester Valley Golf Club in Malvern, Pa., leads the 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship by three strokes entering tomorrow’s final round at Rolling Green Golf Club. He followed up his 7-under-par opening round of 64 at Rolling Green with a 1-over-par 71 at his home course.

“I didn’t play great today,” Walker said following his round at Chester Valley. “I shot 1-over, but I think if you stand around even-par on this course, you’re doing really well.”

Walker said his game plan for tomorrow’s final round is to do what he did in the first round at Rolling Green: pick good targets, and take birdies when he can.

Walker, the 2021 Philadelphia PGA Professional Champion, sits at 6-under-par and leads a collection of adroit players, including this year’s PGA Championship Low Club Professional Braden Shattuck, Rolling Green G.C., in second place at 3-under-par; Defending Champion Zac Oakley, Bidermann G.C., tied for third place at 2-under-par with 2022 Champion Brian Bergstol, Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort. Trevor Bensel, Sandy Run C.C., is in fifth place, five strokes behind Walker.

One of the day’s highlights was made by Riverton C.C.’s Michael Ferguson, PGA, with his first swing of the day: a hole-in-one on Rolling Green’s difficult 10th hole! He used a 4-iron from 214 yards; it was his second career ace, and first in competition. Well played, Michael!

One-hundred-forty-six of the Philadelphia PGA Section’s best players are competing for the William B. Packer Trophy and a berth into the 2025 PGA Professional Championship, ​April 27-30, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. From there, PGA Members from the 41 PGA Sections will compete to join the Corebridge Financial Team and earn a berth into the 2025 PGA Championship on May 12-18, at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C.

The low 60 players and ties advance to the final round, scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, August 28 at 8:00 a.m. at Rolling Green G.C. Follow the action via our live scoring by visiting golfgenius.com/pages/4586440. For more information on the championship, including the week’s schedule, pairings, and more, visit the championship’s official e-publication. Members of the media are welcome onsite to cover the championship.

To view the full 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship leaderboard, click here.

The 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship is presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial, and Rolex, and is supported by Gallagher, Golf Channel, the PGA Tour, Titleist, FootJoy, Callaway, Nike, TaylorMade, Visit Delco, SCNS Sports Foods, and StrackaLine. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our hosts, Rolling Green Golf Club and Chester Valley Golf Club, their 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 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

PGA of America Golf Professional Brett Walker Leads 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship Following Opening Round

Springfield, Pa. (August 26, 2024) — PGA of America Golf Professional Brett Walker of Chester Valley Golf Club in Malvern, Pa., leads the 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship following his 7-under-par 64 opening round at Rolling Green Golf Club. Walker will play his home course in tomorrow’s second round.

Walker, the 2021 Philadelphia PGA Professional Champion, leads Sandy Run C.C.’s Trevor Bensel, PGA, and Tavistock C.C.’s Mike Meisenzahl, PGA, by one stroke. Rolling Green’s own Braden Shattuck, PGA, is tied for fourth place. PGA Member Matt Goudie, Lancaster C.C., is in fifth place at 3-under-par.

“My round went pretty

,” Walker said following his round. “It was bogey-free, and I made a few birdies and an eagle. I drove it really well, and made a couple of long par putts to keep my momentum.”

Walker said Rolling Green played tough, but it was scoreable if players put their golf balls in the correct spots. He said his game plan for tomorrow is to try to stay in his routine and take the birdies when they come.

One-hundred-forty-six of the Philadelphia PGA Section’s best players are competing for the William B. Packer Trophy and a berth into the 2025 PGA Professional Championship, ​April 27-30, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. From there, PGA Members from the 41 PGA Sections will compete to join the Corebridge Financial Team and earn a berth into the 2025 PGA Championship on May 12-18, at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C.

The second round continues tomorrow, Tuesday, August 27 at 8:00 a.m. at both Rolling Green G.C. and Chester Valley G.C. The low 60 players and ties will advance to the final round on Wednesday, August 28 at Rolling Green G.C. Follow the action via our live scoring by visiting golfgenius.com/pages/4586440. For more information on the championship, including the week’s schedule, pairings, and more, visit the championship’s official e-publication. Members of the media are welcome onsite to cover the championship.

To view the full 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship leaderboard, click here.

The 103rd Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship is presented by Club CarCorebridge Financial, and Rolex, and is supported by GallagherGolf Channel, the PGA TourTitleistFootJoyCallawayNikeTaylorMadeVisit DelcoSCNS Sports Foods, and StrackaLine. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our hosts, Rolling Green Golf Club and Chester Valley Golf Club, their 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 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

PGA of America Golf Professional John Kulhamer Leads Green Pond Team to Victory in 2024 Don DeAngelis Pro-Am

Plymouth Meeting, Pa. (August 20, 2024) — A cool summer day set the perfect stage for the 2024 Don Deangelis Pro-Am where three teams tied for first place at 15-under par. PGA of America Golf Professional John Kulhamer’s Green Pond Golf Course team of amateurs, Ryan Orcutt, Charles Leon and John Mace, took the top prize in the Net Division following a match of cards.

Talamore C.C.’s Andy Watters, PGA, Jim McFadden, Cesar Garzon and Stan Jakubowski, tied for second place with Coatesville C.C.’s Evan Mitchell, PGA, Nick Popowicz, Steve Popowicz and Justin Morasco.

This event was created by the DeAngelis family and the Philadelphia PGA Section to pay tribute to Don DeAngelis, an accomplished PGA Member and player, who passed in January 2022. DeAngelis was elected to PGA Membership in 1978, and played the game with immense talent, winning the 1985 Pennsylvania Open and playing in the 1978 U.S. Open at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver, Colo., and winning a Section tournament in six straight decades. His most recent win was in September 2021, when he won the 2021 Philadelphia Senior PGA Professional Championship’s Super Senior Division, and also shot his age, a 69. See below to view DeAngelis’ playing career highlights. To read a tribute to DeAngelis, click here.

Saucon Valley C.C.’s Tucker Noel, PGA, Collin Sullivan, Quint Miller, and Alex Bradbury, finished one stroke behind in fourth place. In Fifth place at 13-under-par was PGA Life Member Gary Hardin, Andrew Miller, Ian Brenner, and Matt Cybularz.

In the Gross Division, Clubhouse 54’s Michael Little, PGA, P.J. Acierno, Erik Reisner and Scott McNeil, claimed first prize at 10-under par. Laurel Creek C.C.’s Dave Quinn, PGA, Mark Walker, Jack Irons, and Bobby Dominy finished three strokes behind Little’s team. Kulhamer’s team finished in third place in the Gross Division, followed by Five Ponds G.C.’s Shawn Gensbauer, Nick Lilley, Ryan Jones and Ken Pedraz in fourth place, and Green Valley C.C.’s John Cooper, PGA, John P. Cooper, Sean Cooper, and Jeffrey Cooper, in fifth place.

John Cooper and John Kulhamer tied for Low PGA Professional at 1-under-par. Third place went to Michael Little who scored even-par. Fourth place went to Dave Quinn who shot a one-over par round of 71. Dustin McCormick, Glen Brook G.C., and Evan Mitchell tied for fifth place at 2-over-par.

Congratulations to Dave Quinn on making his 14th hole-in-one! Quinn used an 8-iron from 167 yards on No 16. Well done, Dave!

To view the full 2024 DeAngelis Pro-Am Leaderboard, click here.

The 2024 Don DeAngelis Pro-Am is presented by the DeAngelsis family. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, the 1912 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 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

Country Club of Harrisburg Wins Second Annual PGA HOPE Philadelphia Cup

Cinnaminson, N.J. (August 19, 2024) — The team representing the Country Club of Harrisburg walked away with the championship belts after winning the second annual PGA HOPE Philadelphia Cup at Riverton Country Club. As a result of their victory, the team, led by PGA of America Golf Professional and Philadelphia PGA Section President Chip Richter, included four U.S. military veterans, George Vasiloff, Antonio Wallace, Michael Jaye, and Bob Stock, will represent PGA of America REACH Foundation Philadelphia‘s 14 PGA HOPE chapters in the 2025 PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup during PGA Championship week in North Carolina. MedEast Post-Op & Surgical Inc. was the event’s title partner.

The PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup celebrates the PGA HOPE program by providing a unique and memorable experience for our military veterans and the PGA Professionals who work tirelessly to positively impact veterans’ lives. This annual event in conjunction with the week of PGA Championship, began in 2016 and is named after the Secretary of Veteran Affairs in recognition of the Memorandum of Understanding between PGA REACH and the Department of Veteran Affairs. Each team is made up of four veterans from a PGA HOPE program and one PGA or LPGA Professional.

The C.C. of Harrisburg team turned in a net team score of 56, 15-under-par, to top Five Ponds G.C.’s Rick Flagler, PGA, Joseph Dooley, Robert Marcolina, Craig Adams, and Michael Rudart, by four strokes. Saucon Valley C.C.’s Ross Holtsclaw, PGA, John Strollo, Tom Koslowski, Mike Malpedo, and Joel Kent, won a scorecard playoff to take third place. The second and third place teams will represent the Section in the inaugural District 2 PGA HOPE Cup at the C.C. at Woodloch Springs later this year.

To view the full 2024 PGA HOPE Philadelphia Cup leaderboard, click here.

The 2024 PGA HOPE Philadelphia Cup is presented by MedEast Post-Op & Surgical Inc., and is supported by Greyson Clothiers. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Riverton 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 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

PGA of America Golf Professional Terry Hertzog Leads Bent Creek Country Club Team to Victory in 2024 Philadelphia PGA Hartefeld Team Stableford Championship Presented by Parx Casino®

Avondale, Pa. (August 12, 2024) — PGA of America Golf Professional Terry Hertzog of Bent Creek Country Club in Lititz, Pa., led his team of amateurs, Jonas Vossler, Chris Simon, and Don Fausnaught, to victory in the 2024 Philadelphia PGA Hartefeld National Team Stableford Championship Presented by Parx Casino® at Hartefeld National.

The event’s format was a Two Better Balls of Four Modified Stableford, with awarded points as follows: Bogey or higher, 1 point; Par, 2 points; Birdie, 3 points; Eagle, 4 points; and Double Eagle, 5 points. The winning team finished with 91 points to better Laurel Creek C.C.’s Dave Quinn, PGA, Bobby Dominy, Brando Bisicchia, and Mike O’Keefe by two points.

Kennett Square G. & C.C.’s Lamar Saxon, Michael Sanfrancesco, Jeff Miller, and Rory Burkhart, came in third place with 87 points, followed by fourth place finishers Anthony Hoffman, John F. Byrne G.C., Nick Gill, Liam O’Connor, and John Oldroyd. PGA Member Joe Kogelman, GOLFTEC – Moorestown, Matt O’Donnell, Justin Danfield, and Jim Lumley, finished in fifth place with 85 points.

Saxon’s Kennett Square team finished atop the Gross Division with 86 points, bettering Quinn’s Laurel Creek team by four points. Yardley C.C.’s Rick Hughart, PGA, Greg Buliga, Dom Foti, and Paul Rogowicz, finished in third place with 79 points, followed by HoneyBrook G.C.’s Brian Buskirk, Dan Perry, Ellis Chandler, and Jason Castaldi, at 77 points. Kogelman’s GOLFTEC – Moorestown team finished in tied for fifth place with Green Pond G.C.’s John Kulhamer, PGA, Charles Leon, John Mace, and Riley Hogan.

To view the full 2024 Philadelphia PGA Hartefeld National Team Stableford Championship Presented by Parx Casino® leaderboard, click here.

The 2024 Philadelphia PGA Hartefeld National Team Stableford Championship is presented by Parx Casino®, and is supported by Ohana Farm LLC, and Elijah Craig. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Hartefeld National, 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 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