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The New England PGA has seen record participation numbers in the opening three 2025 Stroke Play Series Events. The Stroke Play Series is a season-long points race based upon finishes in the five Stroke Play Series events and Chapter Championships. The top 54 point-earners will qualify for the Stroke Play Series Finals at Winchester Country Club on October 1, 2025.
The first installment of the 2025 Stroke Play Series was played at Newport National on April 22nd. Liam Friedman, PGA of Wollaston GC took home first place, shooting 4-under, earning him 500 points in the race to kick off the season.
The second Stroke Play Series event was held on July 7th at Kernwood Country Club in Salem, Mass. and boasted a record-setting field of 103 NEPGA Golf Professionals. The event also saw the largest tie in Stroke Play Series history, with eight players taking home a share of the top spot on the leaderboard. Frank Dully, PGA (Kernwood CC), Brendon Ray, PGA (Point Judith CC), Shawn Warren, PGA (Old Marsh), Eric Barlow, PGA (Winchester CC), Rich Berberian, PGA (Vesper CC), Nick Hallowell, PGA (The Country Club), Chad Penman, PGA (Boothbay Harbor CC), and Matt Baran, PGA (The Ridge Club) all shot even par-70s, collecting 299.38 points apiece in the season-long points race.
The third SPS event of July was held at George Wright Golf Course in Boston, Mass. on July 21st. 95 NEPGA Golf Professionals came out to play in the event with three individuals taking home the tie for first place at 3-under, 67: Brendon Ray, PGA (Point Judith CC), Ed Kirby, PGA (The Aquidneck Club), and Jeff Seavey, PGA (Goose River GC). Each Professionals received 383.33 points towards the season-long points race.
Friedman sits at the top of the top of the SPS points race leaderboard with a total of 717.88 points. He collected 600 points at SPS #1 at Newport National, 68.33 with his T4 finish in the Massachusetts Chapter Championship on June 18th at Foxborough CC, and 49.55 points with a T17 finish the SPS #2 at Kernwood CC.
Brendon Ray is right behind him with 700.25 points over three events. He posted 106 points with his T5 finish at Newport National, 214.25 points in the eight-way tie in SPS #2 at Kernwood, and 380 more added on from his T3 finish at SPS #3 at George Wright.
The final two events of the series will be held on August 18th at Nashawtuc CC in Concord, Mass. and August 26th at Concord CC in Concord, N.H. The finals will feature the top 54 point-earners and will be held at Winchester Country Club on October 1, 2025.
The New England PGA Junior Tour hosted the 2025 Junior PGA Championship at The Haven Country Club in Boylston, MA on June 30th and July 1st with tee times starting at 8AM both days. 79 boys and girls from the ages of 12 to 18 made the trip to Central Mass to compete in the stroke play tournament. All players were invited through success in qualifiers and exemptions from last year’s event!
Ronan Mooney of Holden, Massachusetts, took home first place in the Boys’ Overall title, shooting a combined 4-under, 64-76-140. Mooney shot a 64 in his first round and a 76 on the second day, beating out the competition by 5 strokes. He will be taking his talents to the National Jr PGA Championship in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Mooney’s 8-under first round was exceptional from the start, going birdie-eagle-birdie in his first 3 holes for his 8:00 tee time. Mooney was able to hold his commanding lead above the pool the entire event and win his first major on the NEPGA Junior Tour.
Max McColgan of Lincoln, Massachusetts, was the runner-up and will also be moving on to the National championship, shooting an even par, 73-71-144. McColgan’s 1-under final round propelled him to his second-place finish and will be heading to Indiana with Mooney.
Kaitlyn Doe of Newton, Massachusetts, placed first in the Girls’ Overall Division, shooting a combined 5-over, 73-76-149. Doe kept her consistent play in both rounds to take home the New England PGA Jr championship and punch her ticket to West Lafayette.
A clutch finish on the 18th as Doe’s par putt falls to secure the victory with a packed crowd surrounding the green. In her major debut, she finds herself at the top of the podium.
Lillian Guleserian of Westwood, Massachusetts, held the runner-up position, shooting a 6-over, 72-78-150. An impressive even par in the first round gave her the leverage to slot in at second and earn her spot in the National PGA Jr Championship.
5 alternates for both divisions were announced in the chance that the champion and runner-up cannot attend the event in Indiana. For the boys: Drew Macleod of North Attleboro, Massachusetts, AJ Colonna of Jupiter, Florida, Tiger Zhang of Woodstock, Connecticut, Zachary Georgantas of Foxboro, Massachusetts, and Reese Jensen of Duxbury, Massachusetts.
For the Girls’ Division: Adriana Eaton of Greenville, Rhode Island, Georgia Beland of Webster, Massachusetts, Angie Yu of Lexington, Massachusetts, Sophie Redmond of Concord, Massachusetts, and Reva Machanavajhula of Billerica, Massachusetts.
Congratulations to the champions and runner-ups of the New England PGA Jr Championship and good luck at the National Event! Thank you to all players in the 2 days for participating!
Thank you to Head Professional, Christian Comeau, PGA, and the entire Haven Country Club staff for hosting the event.
The New England PGA is proud to introduce Sydney Reichard as the new PGA WORKS Fellow for the Section.
A native of Brookline, New Hampshire, and a recent graduate of the University of South Carolina’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Reichard brings with her a passion for golf, event management, and a dedication to creating inclusive experiences in the sport.
Reichard discovered her enthusiasm for the golf industry through her work with Innovative Concessions, where she contributed to the operations of twelve professional golf tournaments, including the U.S. Open and the Presidents Cup.
“I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to serve as the 2025 NEPGA WORKS Fellow, where I can support others and help grow the game,” said Reichard. “My life’s purpose is to leave the world better than I found it, and I’m thrilled that this mission has manifested in a role within the golf industry”.
Reichard will work alongside professionals in the New England PGA Section to support programming and initiatives that grow the game and promote the three pillars: Diversity & Inclusion, Military Veterans & Families, & Youth Development.
“The staff of the New England PGA Foundation are excited to welcome Sydney Reichard as our 2025 PGA WORKS Fellow,” said Michael Packard, Foundation Director. “Sydney brings fresh energy and vision, and I’m confident she will make a meaningful impact supporting foundation initiatives and inspiring many of our program beneficiaries.”
While earning her degree, Reichard excelled both academically and in leadership roles, serving as Vice President of Programming for the University of South Carolina’s Public Relations Student Society of America chapter. She is also a member of the Tau Sigma National Honor Society.
The New England Veteran Series (NEVS) is designed to foster friendly competition among Veterans, while providing access and playing opportunities at some of the most premier Golf facilities in New England.Beyond the competition, the series emphasizes camaraderie and connection within the Veteran community. Veterans will have the opportunity to build lasting relationships on and off the golf course, creating a greater sense of community. The New England Veteran Series is more than just a golf tour - it’s a chance for Veterans to come together, enjoy the game, and strengthen the bonds that make the Veteran community so special.
The New England Veteran Series strives to make you feel like a “member” when you are on-site for the day. We are proud to host NEVS events at some of New England’s top golf courses, providing Veterans with access to premier playing conditions and unforgettable golf experiences. Each venue is carefully selected to offer challenging layouts, scenic views, and top-tier facilities, ensuring an enjoyable and competitive atmosphere for all.
Each event features an individual stroke play format, where players compete by playing their own ball throughout the round. With approximately 40 players per event, participants will be competing for Gross and Net prizes, fostering a spirit of friendly competition while promoting personal growth and development in the game.
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Veterans, Pros, and Partners Unite for NEPGA Veteran Programs at The REACH Classic
Lincoln, RI – The New England PGA and PGA REACH New England proudly hosted their flagship fundraising event, The REACH Classic, on Monday, June 23 at Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln, RI. The annual tournament supports PGA REACH New England’s Military Veteran Pillar, bringing together professional, amateur, and veteran golfers who believe in our mission of positively impacting lives through the game of golf. The day was a huge success, raising over $42,000.
Despite the summer heat, Kirkbrae’s par-72 championship course offered a fun yet challenging 18-hole, best ball format round of golf. A total of 117 players registered to play, with each foursome helping fund the participation of three veterans in a local PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) program.
The day opened with a performance by Sgt. Daniel M. Clark, known as “The Singing Trooper.” A U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and former Massachusetts State Trooper, Clark set the tone with patriotic enthusiasm.
Beyond the competition, players and guests enjoyed lunch, dinner, premium tee gifts, a silent auction, and both gross and net prizes.
Among the standout stories of the day was Arthur Medeiros, a 105-year-old World War ll U.S. Army veteran who served as a heavy weapons operator. The recipient of a Bronze Star, two Silver Stars, and three Purple Hearts received a standing ovation during the awards ceremony.
Fireside chat and the power of HOPE
During dinner, Michael Packard, PGA, Director of PGA REACH New England, led a fireside chat featuring PGA Professionals and HOPE program veterans Jason Howard, PGA, Michael Harris, and Carlos Barbeiro. Howard, Head Professional at Kirkbrae Country Club and active HOPE instructor, called attention to the critical need for more support.
“There are a ton of veterans out there, knocking on the door. We need more bodies, we need more people to help. We have the ratio of instructor to veterans, and we only can do so much.”
U.S. Army Veteran Barbeiro led a team including PGA HOPE participants Teddy Beahm, Jason Mahoney, and Zachary Hammar. He spoke powerfully about the program’s life-saving impact.
“One thing that gets underplayed is the relationship with the VA,” Barbeiro said. “Having a counselor being able to prescribe PGA HOPE. If I’m dealing with emotional issues or stress going on in my life… for them to have the ability to say try PGA HOPE, to get me outside under the sun, with other veterans. It’s not just changing lives, it’s truly saving lives.”
Champions of the Day
Congratulations to the winning foursome, Joel Jenkins, PGA, Chris Finneral, Phil Regan, and John McClay, who took home top honors at the 2025 REACH Classic. Jenkins, a PGA HOPE instructor at Mount Pleasant Golf Club in Lowell, MA, sponsored the driving range in honor of his son, Hunter Jenkins, USAF, Sr. Airman Kunsan AFB, South Korea.
The 2025 REACH Classic was presented by Gorton & Company, P.C., led by Bob Gorton and his team. Our supporting partners included Tournament Solutions, represented by John Lawrence and his team; Sovereign Brands; and Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC, each contributing to the success of the day.
A special thank you to Jason Howard, PGA, Mike Bradshaw, PGA, Kirkbrae’s COO, and the entire Kirkbrae Country Club staff and membership for their exceptional hospitality and dedication to making this year’s REACH Classic unforgettable.
