Braden Shattuck of Rolling G.C. and Joanna Coe of Merion G.C. have earned the titles of Philadelphia PGA Rolex/Haverford Trust Player of the Year and Women’s Player of the Year, respectively. These are both Shattuck and Coe’s third consecutive Player of the Year titles.
Shattuck also earned the F. Edward DeBaufre Trophy for Scoring Average, a title he previously won in 2022. His scoring average of 68.42 over 12 rounds is the lowest since the trophy was commissioned in 1964. In May, he secured Low Club Professional honors at the PGA Championship in Kentucky.
While Coe remained competitive on the course, she also gave birth to her first child in June. She won her second Women’s Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship at Union League G.C. at Torresdale in September, and competed on the victorious U.S. Women’s PGA Cup Team in October, marking her second-consecutive appearance in the burgeoning biannual event.
John Pillar of C.C. at Woodloch Springs and Bill Sautter of Philadelphia Cricket Club were also honored; Pillar secured the year’s Robert “Skee” Riegel Senior Player of the Year title, while Sautter earned Super Senior Player of the Year. In addition to his Senior Player of the Year title, Pillar also earned Comeback Player of the Year.
Brian Bergstol of Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort was crowned this season’s Central Counties Chapter Player of the Year. The Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) announced Trevor Bensel of Sandy Run C.C. as PAO Player of the Year. PGA Professional Mark Parson of Harbor Pines G.C. was named the Ike Turner Most Improved Player.
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During the Section’s Fall Membership Meeting, the members reelected DuPont C.C.’s Michael Caldwell, District 2; Elmhurst C.C.’s Mike Molino, District 4; Rolling Green G.C.’s Scott Chisholm, District 6; and Gulph Mills G.C.’s Tom Gilbert, District 6; to second two-year terms on the Board of Directors.
The Section also acknowledged the 2024 recipients of the Bud Jennings PGA Golf Management Scholarship: PGA Associates Olivia Gardenhour, Chambersburg C.C., and Kevin Kennedy II, Applebrook G.C. The scholarship was developed by the Jennings family to honor Bud Jennings, a lifelong golfer and longtime Chester Valley G.C. member.
—Matt Frey, PGA
Domenico Geminiani, PGA, of Old Corkscrew Golf Club won the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club - Wanamaker Course in mid-November, winning for the second time in three years.
“It’s just the energy, the aura of this place,” Geminiani said. “The people here are amazing, and the courses are great. I just love coming back here.”
After making 18 birdies and an eagle to build a seven-shot lead after 54 holes, Geminiani didn’t make a birdie during the final round until the 16th hole. But he didn’t have to; he just had to avoid big mistakes, which he did with three bogeys. He finished at 12-under 276.
Additionally, Evan Bowser of LaPlaya Golf Club finished in fourth with Michael Kartrude of the Bear’s Club. Alan Morin of The Cub at Ibis tied for eighth, while Dakun Chang of Seminole Golf Club tied for 10th. Kraig Joy of The Apogee Club rounded out the competing South Florida PGA of America Professionals in a tie for 40th.
The South Florida PGA defeated the North Florida PGA in the 19th Senior Challenge Cup Matches at Aileron Golf Club, successfully defending the Cup for the fourth consecutive year.
The South Florida PGA, captained by Roger Kennedy Sr., PGA of America Life Member, earned 18.5 points compared to North Florida’s 11.5 points in the annual Ryder Cup-style matches.
Each team was made up of 12 PGA of America Professionals who earned an invitation based on Rolex Senior Player of the Year Points Standings. The following PGA of America Professionals made up the South Florida PGA Team: Colin Amaral, Mark Brown, Tim Cantwell, Rod Curl, Brett Melton, Mike Melton, Alan Morin, Mike San Filippo, Ben Stewart, Steve Vecellio, Pete Oakley and Jerry Tucker.
—Matthew De Tullio
Congratulations to our six Southern California PGA of America Members listed for earning 2024 Rolex Players of the Year honors. Each year, the SCPGA awards the highest points-getter in each division with the title Player of the Year across six divisions. The point total starts at the beginning of every season, and each PGA of America Professional accumulates points based on the finish of each tournament they play in their respective divisions: Section, Women’s, Senior, Super Senior and Associate:
• Mark Geddes, PGA - Section Player of the Year
• Natalie Vivaldi, PGA – Women’s Player of the Year
• Rick Garboski, PGA - Senior Player of the Year
• Marianne Huning, PGA – Women’s Senior Player of the Year
• Paul Wise, PGA - Super Senior Player of the Year
• Brian O’Connor - Associate Player of the Year
Congratulations to John Chung, PGA, David Ujihara, Kennith Kim and Michael Im of the Los Coyotes Country Club team for winning the second annual Callaway Pro-Am at Hacienda Golf Club. Playing a fourball format, the four-person team found themselves in a tie with Rolling Hills Country Club at 21-under-par, but an incredible back-nine score of 14-under-par gave Los Coyotes Country Club the victory.
Thank you to presenting partners Callaway Golf and TravisMathew, and to supporting partners Dogleg Brewing Co., Keuring Dr.Pepper and Vortex Golf for making this year’s event a success.
Special thanks to PGA of America General Manager Wade Berzas and PGA of America Head Professional Kyle Mendoza for the warm hospitality and for welcoming the Callaway Pro-Am to Hacienda Golf Club for a second year.
The Southern California PGA is thrilled that Michael Gainey, PGA, will now serve as the Career Consultant for the Section. Gainey, who is a dedicated PGA of America Member and has previously served on the SCPGA and San Diego Chapter Board of Directors, will leverage his extensive experience in the golf business to support Southern California PGA of America Members by advancing their careers and expanding their professional networks.
—Steve Monday