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PGA of America Golf Professional Trevor Bensel of LuLu Country Club in Glenside, Pa., won the 27th Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic at Sunnybrook Golf Club with a 5-under-par 67 in front of hundreds of fans. Bensel’s $100,000 winner’s check is the largest first-place prize available from any event across the PGA of America’s 41 nationwide Sections.
Bensel bettered Rolling Green Golf Club’s Braden Shattuck, PGA, by one stroke. He made seven birdies and two bogeys, and made a terrific up-and-down for par on No. 18 to secure his victory.
“Definitely without a doubt,” Bensel said after being asked if his par on 18 was the best of his career. “I hit a perfect shot, it ended up three feet below the hole, and made the putt.”
Bensel went on to thank The Haverford Trust Company and Haverford Founder and Director Mr. George Connell for giving him the opportunity to win a life-changing amount of money, and Sunnybrook Golf Club for hosting.
During the trophy ceremony, Bensel joked that he has been living with a friend, and that he will be able to afford his own place now.
Bensel is no stranger to the Section’s winner’s circle, having several individual titles to his name, including the 2022 Philadelphia Assistant PGA Professional Championship.
The 27th Annual Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic’s title partner is The Haverford Trust Company, and was supported by Tasc. The event is also a Rolex Philadelphia PGA Player of the Year bonus points event. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank the Haverford Trust Company, Sunnybrook Golf Club, its membership, management, and staff, as well as our partners, as the event would not have been possible without their support. –Matt Frey, PGA
Royersford, Pa. (June 25, 2025) — PGA of America Golf Professional John Pillar of the Country Club at Woodloch Springs in Hawley, Pa., battled the record-breaking heat to successfully defended his title and capture the 2025 Philadelphia Senior PGA Professional Championship at Spring Ford Country Club. Pillar previously won this championship in 2019, 2020, and 2024.
The championship is supported by Golf Channel, Ohana Farm, and the PGA Tour.
Pillar entered the final round with a two-stroke lead, and completed his title defense with rounds of 68-70–138 to finish at 6-under-par, four strokes ahead of Brian Kelly of Titleist Fit Crew.
Heat index of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, Pillar battled back on his final nine with five birdies, including three straight to finish, and a lone bogey, after starting his final round 2-over through seven holes.
“I’m proud of the fact that I finished strong,” Pillar said after being presented the trophy. “It’s very emotional to win this championship again; it’s my fourth victory in six years. I don’t take it lightly, because the [Philadelphia PGA] Section has a lot of great players.”
When asked about how he stayed focused in the extreme heat, Pillar said that players have to find shade.
“I learned that a long time ago from a caddie at Aronimink Golf Club…he said to get in the shade whenever you can, because it’s 15 degrees cooler than in the sun. I drank a ton of water, Gatorade, and a Pedialyte, but in the end, you have to take your time and not rush. The heat will identify your mental mistakes more so than the physical mistakes.”
Pillar went on to thank Spring Ford Country Club for hosting, the Country Club at Woodloch Springs for giving him the opportunity to compete, his wife Eileen, his kids, TaylorMade, Nike, and the Philadelphia PGA Section staff.
Pillar will lead six other Philadelphia PGA Members to compete in the 2025 Senior PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., on October 23-26, including: Brian Kelly; Stephan Swartz, Carlisle Country Club; Dave McNabb, Applebrook Golf Club; Frank Bensel, Galloway National Golf Club; Rich Steinmetz, Spring Ford Country Club; and Terry Hertzog, Bent Creek Country Club. The top 35 finishers in the 2025 Senior PGA Professional Championship will earn a spot in the 2026 Senior PGA Professional Championship, scheduled to be played on April 16-19, at the Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla. Alternates include: Mark Sehtic, Sunnybrook Golf Club; John Cooper, Green Valley Country Club; Hugo Mazzalupi, Radnor Golf Foundation; Brendon Post, University of Delaware; and Kevin Edwards, Olde Homestead Golf Club.
The Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Bill Sautter, PGA, took the top prize in the Super Senior Division, finishing at 4-over-par and one stroke ahead of Harvey Williams, Glen Oak Country Club.
The 2025 Philadelphia Senior PGA Professional Championship is supported by Golf Channel, Ohana Farm LLC, and the PGA Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA of America Golf Professionals thank our partners, Spring Ford Country Club, its membership, management, staff, and host PGA of America Golf Professionals, as the event would not have been possible without their support.
