Category Archives: events
William Hill Named Official Wine of the 2025 Ryder Cup
William Hill Wine Lounge to feature numerous offerings throughout 45th Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black
NEW YORK ー The PGA of America and William Hill Estate Winery announced today that William Hill has been appointed as the “Official Wine” of the 2025 Ryder Cup. This announcement expands William Hill’s multi-year partnership as the “Official Wine” for both the PGA of America and PGA Championship through 2026.
Hospitality areas throughout Bethpage Black, site of the 45th Ryder Cup, September 23-28, 2025, will feature a variety of selections from William Hill’s wine offerings. Additionally, spectators can enjoy William Hill’s Estate California Chardonnay at general concession pouring bars.
“We are thrilled that spectators will be able to enjoy William Hill’s premier wine offerings throughout the 2025 Ryder Cup,” said PGA of America Senior Director, Global Partnerships Luke Reissman. “William Hill offers a diverse wine selection, which will undoubtedly be a hit throughout golf’s greatest team event. This edition of the Ryder Cup will be truly remarkable, further enhanced by the presence of William Hill.”
The William Hill Wine Lounge, a branded pouring bar, is the perfect spot for spectators looking to enjoy a refreshing glass of wine without missing any of the on-course action.
Spectators can order from William Hill’s well-crafted portfolio of wines while relaxing in the lounge and viewing all the action.
“William Hill Estate Winery is excited to build upon our partnership with the PGA of America by expanding further into golf with the Ryder Cup,” said Gallo Wines Senior Vice President and General Manager, Steve Carlotti. “William Hill has a history in golf, and our consumers’ passion for both our wine and golf make this partnership a perfect match. Given the massive reach of this event and the attention it garners, we are thrilled to be a part of such a prestigious event.”
For nearly 50 years, William Hill Estate Winery has crafted rich and expressive wines, including their iconic Chardonnay. The collection of wines is rooted in the character of the unique, rolling hills of the 200-acre estate in the heart of the Silverado Bench in Napa Valley.
Three-Peat Complete: United States Retains Women’s PGA Cup
Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth earns Medalist Honors; U.S. Team wins by 12 over Team Canada
SUNRIVER, Oregon – PGA of America President and United States Team Captain John Lindert had been praising the depth of the U.S. Team all week at the 2024 Women’s PGA Cup at Sunriver Resort.
The five PGA of America Golf Professionals from across the country backed up their Captain’s claims, winning the third consecutive Women’s PGA Cup for the U.S. with a team total of 14-under 625.
Canada (637) finished runner-up, Australia (653) third, Great Britain & Ireland (665) fourth, Sweden (693) fifth and South Africa (701) sixth.
“As a team today, with all five players, we were 8-under, which is really incredible,” said Lindert, PGA Director of Golf at the Country Club of Lansing (Mich.) “Once again the team performed from top to bottom. I just kept telling the girls to keep playing their game and they did a fabulous job.
“This is probably beyond my wildest dreams,” Lindert said of being Captain for the U.S. Team. “You want to make sure that you’re helping the team where you can but also have to know when to stay out of the way; hopefully I did that this week.”
North Florida PGA Section Member Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth, PGA Teaching Professional at San Jose Country Club in Jacksonville, Fla., took command of the lead for the U.S. Team, and the field, with a final round 5-under 66, leading to Medalist Honors and a 6-under 207 for the week.
Connelly Eiswerth recorded five birdies on the day, including on the first two holes of her round, with no bogies. She closed out the front nine with a 20-foot birdie on the par-four 9th, followed by birdies on holes 13 and 17 to cement her place atop the individual leaderboard.
“I knew if I had a good day, the team could have a good day,” said Connelly Eiswerth.
Medalist Honors this week were given in remembrance of PGA of America Golf Professional Brittany Kelly, the inaugural Women’s PGA Cup Medalist in 2019, who led the U.S. Team to victory in the first playing of the Women’s PGA Cup. Kelly passed away following a courageous battle with cancer in August 2021.
“It’s pretty incredible to have the honor of ‘B.K.’s’ Medalist,” said Connelly Eiswerth. “She was a great example of a fighting spirit. I just hope I can represent her name well. It’s amazing playing for your country as well, a complete honor to have these couple of days with these girls.”
PGA of America Golf Professional Allie Knight, a Tennessee PGA Section Member, finished runner-up at 3-under 210 for the week.
“I was nervous, but I played great today,” said Knight. “This is the coolest thing I’ve ever done; what an honor to represent the USA and to win.”
Rounding out the U.S. Team in the final round was Ashley Grier, who carded a 1-under 70 competing in her third Women’s PGA Cup; Sandra Changkija, also recording a 1-under 70; and Joanna Coe with a 3-over 74, finishing in fourth overall at even par.
Team Canada, finishing 2-under par as a team for the week, was once again led by Christine Wong, the PGA Teaching Professional at University Golf Club in Vancouver. She finished in third place individually, 3-under for the tournament.
Canada’s Playing Captain Emma de Groot was proud of the team’s performance.
“I think everybody played their hearts out,” said de Groot. “You can’t control the result, you can only control how you prepare and how you play. America is a great team, a deep team. The Women’s PGA Cup brings a lot of awareness to the quality of players in the PGA of Canada, and I’m sure it’s the same for all the other associations.”
The conclusion of the 2024 Women’s PGA Cup is the bookend of three PGA of America championships contested at Sunriver Resort throughout September and October, following the PGA Cup and the Senior PGA Professional Championship.
For Sunriver Resort Vice President of Operations Josh Willis, PGA, it was a special moment.
“It was an incredibly exciting 45 days to have the PGA of America here at Sunriver Resort. To have the PGA Cup and then the Seniors and now five other countries represented this week with the women, it was a great way to continue our championship history with the PGA of America. It was an honor for myself, a PGA Member, and our almost 20 PGA Professionals on staff, to expose this beautiful place that we call home.”
United States Leads after Opening Round of 2024 Women’s PGA Cup
SUNRIVER, Oregon — Team United States wasted no time finding the top of the leaderboard after day one of the 2024 Women’s PGA Cup, the premier international competition among women PGA Professionals.
With a 5-under 208 team total, the two-time defending champions navigated the Meadows course at Sunriver Resort well enough for a three-shot lead over Team Canada (205). Team Australia (219) is third.
PGA of America Golf Professional Joanna Coe, the PGA Director of Instruction at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Penn., led the U.S. Team and the field with a bogey-free, 3-under 68.
“I made a couple of poor swings, but then I managed well on the second shots,” said Coe, a Philadelphia PGA Section Member making her third appearance in the event. “I was smart on where I needed to be on the correct side of the hole.”
Coe made birdies on holes 2, 14 and 15 to put herself at the top of the leaderboard.
On the par-four 14th, Coe made one of her only mistakes of the day, causing her to navigate one of the many towering Douglas fir trees on the Meadows course.
“I made my first bad swing of the day and flared it out right,” she said about her tee shot. “I drew a pretty good lie in the rough and the pin was back right. I meant to go a little left of the tree on my approach, but I ended up going over the tree onto the green. I hit a gap wedge to 8 feet and somehow made that one.”
She found another birdie on the par-four 15th hole and then finished with three-straight pars to lead the U.S.
Allie Knight and Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth are T-3 carding 1-under 70s to round out the scores for the U.S. Team.
“If we counted all five of our scores, we ended up 2-under; that’s a really strong performance by the team today,” said PGA of America President and U.S. Team Captain John Lindert, PGA Director of Golf at the Country Club of Lansing (Michigan). “We started off with a little bit cooler temperatures and the girls hung in there really well. We faced a couple falters down the stretch, but that’s a really strong performance on a really hard golf course. They are good players and they will continue to navigate the course well tomorrow.”
Sweden’s Playing Captain Alexandra Lennartsson, the Head PGA Professional at Torekovs Golf Club, sits a shot behind Coe in second place with a 2-under 69.
“You can make a lot of birdies out there if you’re on the ride side of the pin,” said Lennartsson, who made five birdies on the day. “Tomorrow, I’ll try to do the same thing, just stay in the same process and see what happens.”
Canada’s Christie Wong and Katy Rutherford join the group tied for third, recording 1-under 70s to lead their team.
Wong, a stalwart for Team Canada, book-ended her rounds with a slew of birdies, but encountered a stretch of four bogies in five holes to finish the front nine.
“I kind of lost my speed (on the greens) for a little bit,” said Wong. “On the back I told myself, ‘one shot at a time, you can hit the fairways, hit the greens,’ so that’s all I did for myself and I just gave myself more chances.”
Wong has faith in Team Canada going into the second round. “Our games are all pretty strong right now,” she said. “We had a few hiccups on the back nine today but I think we just continue playing our game and who knows what will happen at the end.”
The 2024 Women’s PGA Cup resumes Friday at Sunriver Resort with starting times beginning at 9 a.m PT.
United States Hosts Women’s PGA Cup at Sunriver Resort
SUNRIVER, Oregon – The United States Team of five female PGA of America Golf Professionals is headed to Sunriver, Oregon, in search of its third consecutive victory in the Women’s PGA Cup, October 3-5, at Sunriver Resort.
PGA of America President John Lindert will captain the American team, comprised of Sandra Changkija (Daytona, Fla.), Joanna Coe (Haverford, Pa.), Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth (Fleming Island, Fla.), Ashley Grier (Hagerstown, Md.) and Allie Knight (Knoxville, Tenn.).
This will be the third playing of the Women’s PGA Cup, a biennial international team competition. The 2024 edition features teams of women PGA Professionals from the United States, Australia, Canada, Great Britain & Ireland, South Africa and Sweden. The teams will compete in a 54-hole stroke play format on Sunriver’s Meadows course. The low three of five scores per team each round count toward the team total per round.
For Lindert, captaining a talented U.S. Team is “an honor,” and he plans to draw on his experiences from observing past U.S. captains.
“When you haven’t done it, there is probably an art form to it so you go through the previous years and watch the previous captains,” said Lindert, the PGA Director of Golf at The Country Club of Lansing (Michigan). “I’ve watched Suzy (Whaley) and I’ve watched Jim (Richerson) and I’ve been able to take away some of the things they utilized and some of the things they did during their captancies. Hopefully, I can learn from what they did and I can follow in their footsteps.”
Three U.S. Team Members have previous Women’s PGA Cup experience including Coe and Grier, who have represented the U.S. in all three Cups. Connelly Eiswerth will be playing in her second straight Women’s PGA Cup, while Changkija and Knight are making their debuts.
“They’re all great players,” said Lindert. “There is no replacement for experience. I think the rookies are going to experience that. They’ve all played in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and they’ve all played in some Major Championships. When you play for your country, it adds a little bit more of an impact and pressure.”
Coe, the PGA Director of Instruction at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., is coming off a memorable summer in which she gave birth to a daughter, Jenny, in June and three months later won the 2024 Women’s Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship.
“I’ve done everything this summer to try to get ready for the Cup,” said Coe. “It was my number-one goal to get everything physically and mentally ready. I tried my best. We have a really great team, too, and I know I can obviously contribute, but I’m also going to give myself a little grace too because I’ve been through a lot.”
Connelly Eiswerth led the charge for the U.S. Team in 2022 by recording the team’s lowest score in the second and third rounds. The PGA Teaching Professional at San Jose Country Club in Jacksonville, Fla., is thrilled for another opportunity to represent the U.S.
“It is such a unique honor and we don’t get to do it very much,” said Connelly Eiswerth. “We represent our club when we play in our local, sectional and national PGA events, but to represent your country on top of your organization is a huge honor.”
The inaugural Women’s PGA Cup was played 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 Americans captured a two-stroke win over Canada in 2022 at Twin Warriors Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico.
Coe and the U.S. Team aim to keep things simple as they pursue their third straight title.
“We have a few players on our team who do keep it very boring,” said Coe. “The leaderboard is so volatile that if you just get pars, or if you’re in a tough spot, get out of there with a bogey. You have to keep grinding for every single shot because it’s stroke play. I’d say boring golf is the goal in stroke play especially in an event like this where it can shift so quickly.”
2024 Senior PGA Professional Championship Starts Thursday at Sunriver Resort
SUNRIVER, Oregon – The 2024 Senior PGA Professional Championship heads to Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Oregon, this week as 264 of the top PGA of America Golf Professionals 50 years of age and older will compete for the Leo Fraser Trophy.
The Senior PGA Professional Championship supported by Golf Channel annually features many of the finest senior players in the Association. The four-day, 72-hole Championship begins Thursday, Sept. 26, and concludes Sunday, Sept. 29.
The top 35 finishers will earn a spot on the Corebridge Financial Team to compete in the 2025 Senior PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club, Blue course, in Bethesda, Maryland, May 19-25.
Bob Sowards, the 2023 Senior PGA Professional Champion, is one of nine past Champions in the field. The PGA Director of Instruction at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club in Powell, Ohio, shot a final round 6-under-par 66 to win by six and finish at 15-under-par 272 on PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker course last October. It marked Sowards’ second Senior PPC title as he became the seventh PGA of America Golf Professional to win the event twice.
“I did everything well,” said Sowards. “To win by six, you’ve got to be on top of your game. Being mentally focused and not giving away shots is the main thing. I felt like I did really well on that and trying to stay in the present. Hopefully I can duplicate that this year.”
Sowards, a five-time winner of the Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year award, plans to arrive early to familiarize himself with the Meadows and Woodlands courses. He has competed at Sunriver Resort before, finishing 8th and T-22 in the 2013 and 2007 PGA Professional Championships.
In addition to the Leo Fraser Trophy, named after the 16th president of the PGA of America, players are competing for a $335,000 purse, including the winner’s share of $29,800.
Exemptions also in play include:
- The top five finishers gain an exemption into the final stage of the 2025 PGA Tour Champions Qualifying School – Final Stage 2024 (providing they have entered).
- The top eight finishers, including ties, will automatically qualify for the 2025 Senior PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, next October.
Each player will compete on Sunriver’s Meadows and Woodlands courses on Thursday and Friday before a cut to the low 90 scorers and ties. The third and final rounds will be played exclusively on the Meadows course. A second cut following Saturday’s round will be made to the low 70 scorers and ties.
Sunriver Resort, one of the country’s most scenic golf destinations, has previously hosted five PGA of America member championships, including the 2024 PGA Cup and 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 has hosted numerous USGA and NCAA championships including the NCAA Men’s Division 1 Championship.
The Woodlands course was designed by renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. and features dense forests of ponderosa and lodgepole pine, prominent lava rock formations and an abundance of water.
Ryan Ogle Named Championship Director for 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pennsylvania ー The PGA of America has named Ryan Ogle as Championship Director of the 2026 PGA Championship, which will be played May 14-17 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
This will be Ogle’s third time serving as Championship Director for the PGA Championship, following his leadership of the 2024 edition at Valhalla Golf Club and the 2021 event at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort.
“We are thrilled to have Ryan leading the charge for the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink,” said PGA of America Senior Director of Championships, David Charles. “Ryan’s proven track record of successfully delivering the PGA of America’s Major Championships, combined with his exceptional leadership and attention to detail, ensures that our team is in the best possible hands. His deep understanding of both the operational and strategic aspects of these events will be invaluable as we aim to create an unforgettable experience for players, partners, and fans alike at Aronimink in 2026.”
Now in his 12th year with the PGA of America, Ogle has held a variety of roles including Championship Director for the 2016, ‘18 and ‘20 Senior PGA Championships. The Norman, Oklahoma, native managed Volunteer Operations for the 2014 and ‘15 Senior PGA Championships after starting in a corporate hospitality role at the 2012 Ryder Cup.
“I am incredibly honored to be joining this community alongside our experienced team leading the onsite efforts for the 2026 PGA Championship,” said Ogle. “Aronimink is a premier venue for Major Championship golf with Newtown Township and Delaware County serving as an ideal host community. I look forward to working closely with the Club, the greater Philadelphia community and local business leaders as we prepare for 2026.”
The PGA of America also appointed the following individuals to roles for the 2026 PGA Championship: Chris Fusaro as Corporate Sales & Marketing Lead, Justin Belanger as Corporate Sales Manager and Tyler Curtis as Operations Manager.
Limited corporate hospitality packages for the 2026 PGA Championship are now available for purchase. Suites for 100, 50 and 30 guests are offered in limited quantities, as are 10-guest reserved tables.
Founded in 1896, Aronimink Golf Club boasts a formidable history with the PGA of America. The Club will host the PGA Championship for the second time in 2026 after Gary Player captured the Wanamaker Trophy there in 1962. Aronimink also hosted the 2003 Senior PGA Championship won by John Jacobs and the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship won by Sei Young Kim. Aronimink became the first host site to stage each of the PGA of America’s three rotating Major Championships. Originally designed by the legendary Donald Ross, Gil Hanse completed a restoration of the famed course in 2018.
“Aronimink Golf Club is thrilled to partner with the PGA of America as we host the world’s premier golfers for the 108th PGA Championship,” said Michael Lewers, General Chair for the 2026 PGA Championship. “We are extremely excited to bring men’s major championship golf back to the Philadelphia area for the first time in over a decade, and the first PGA Championship at Aronimink since 1962. We encourage the community to come together and support this incredible event by taking advantage of the limited hospitality offerings now available, and to stay tuned for ticket and volunteer information in early 2025.”
PGA of America Studios to Host Pregame and Postgame Dallas Stars Coverage on Victory+
FRISCO, Texas – PGA of America Studios, in partnership with Victory+, will broadcast live pregame and postgame coverage, as well as intermission reports, for all Dallas Stars road games available on Victory+ for the 2024-25 National Hockey League season. The partnership begins with preseason games in September and runs through the start of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in 2025.
“Partnering with organizations like Victory+ and the Dallas Stars is the perfect way to showcase what the team behind PGA of America Studios is capable of producing,” said Jeff Price, Chief Commercial Officer for the PGA of America. “The state-of-the-art technology and ability to broadcast from our home to anywhere in the world is something we hope to share with major sports organizations and companies in the metroplex and across the country.”
Victory+, the new streaming service carrying the Dallas Stars hockey games, will have an experienced professional sports production crew on-site at the PGA of America Studios for each away game to provide content and live coverage for these broadcasts. Each show will be hosted by Brien Rea, returning for his seventh season with the Stars broadcast team, and former Stars forward Brent Severyn, who returns for his 21st season. The first broadcast is scheduled for September 23 when the Stars face the Colorado Avalanche in preseason action. The final road game of the regular season is slated for April 16, 2025 in Nashville.
“PGA of America Studios is an excellent fit for our inaugural Dallas Stars season on Victory+,” said Jason Walsh, COO of Victory+. “The studio space allows us to deliver the high-quality broadcasts our expert team is accustomed to producing. Aligning Victory+ with the Dallas Stars and the PGA of America creates a powerful synergy that we are excited to be part of.”
Victory+ is a streaming network created by A Parent Media Co. (APMC) to bring Dallas Stars games into sports fans’ homes for free. With the Victory+ platform, fans can stream games and on-demand content on their connected television (CTV) devices, smartphones and tablets. Stars games will be available for fans throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. Victory+ will also stream Anaheim Ducks games for fans in southern California.
Since opening in April 2023, PGA of America Studios, located inside the Home of the PGA of America at PGA Frisco, has hosted a national commercial shoot for T-Mobile, as well as the T-Mobile 5G “Live from the Range” show during the 2024 PGA Championship from Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, KY. The studio also hosted a team from ESPN to cover the 2023 National Rental Car PGA Jr. League Championship live from PGA Frisco. Other broadcasts have included NBC Sports hosting the 2024 PGA Professional Championship broadcast from PGA Frisco, a live remote interview with Golf Channel’s Whit Watson and most recently, Conference USA’s Football Media Day. ESPN will also return to PGA Frisco this year for the 2024 National Rental Car PGA Jr. League Championship in October.
PGA of America Golf Professional Dr. Eric Chun Earns PGA Master Professional Designation
FRISCO, Texas – PGA of America Golf Professional Dr. Eric Chun, the CEO of Opus 18, a high-end golf training center near Atlanta, has earned PGA Master Professional Status, the highest educational designation a PGA of America Member can obtain.
The Association comprises more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals, and Chun, a Member of the Georgia PGA Section, joins a special group as the 450th to earn Master Professional status. He achieved his designation in Teaching and Coaching.
The PGA Master Professional Program is available to those with at least 10 years of PGA of America Membership along with having achieved advanced certification through the PGA Specialized and Certified Professional Programs. The curriculum includes an extensive project based on the specific certification previously acquired by the PGA of America Golf Professional. PGA Master Professional status is earned upon successful completion of the project’s presentation.
The program was established in 1969 to recognize PGA of America Members who make a significant effort to improve as golf professionals and maintain the highest degree of excellence for themselves and their operations. The curriculum is designed to ensure golf professionals are prepared to meet the growing demands of the marketplace within the Executive Management, Golf Operations and Teaching and Coaching Designations.
“I’ve been involved in the golf industry for almost 30 years now,” said Chun, who received a doctorate degree in Sports Science from South Korea in 2021. “I don’t see becoming a PGA Master Professional as the end, this is a whole new beginning, another chapter in my career. I’m extremely honored to be a part of this group of elite, accomplished professionals and will use this opportunity to inspire others to do the same.”
Chun, born in South Korea, moved to the United States in 1988 and began his professional journey in the golf industry in 1996 at Clearview Park Golf Course in Bayside, New York, as the Head Golf Professional. In 2000, he earned his PGA of America Membership while working at Countryside Country Club in Clearwater, Florida. In 2001, he was invited to join South Korean Golf TV channel SBS Golf to produce golf educational content. Since then, he has produced, commentated and directed over 900 episodes of golf television programs, introducing numerous golf legends and PGA of America Golf Professionals such as Bob Toski, Jim McLean, David Leadbetter, Annika Sorenstam and more to Korean and Asian golfers.
In 2021, he returned to the United States and served as the Director of Golf at Paragon Golf Center in Duluth, Georgia. Opus 18, his new golf training center fully equipped with world-class 3D motion and club sensors powered by Gears Golf, is set to open by the end of 2024. For more information, visit opuseighteen.com and gearssports.com.
Chun resides in the Atlanta metropolitan area. His daughter, Youngin Chun competed on the LPGA Tour for six seasons starting in 2019 and is now starting her journey to become a PGA of America Member.
United States Hosts Great Britain & Ireland in 31st PGA Cup
SUNRIVER, Oregon – The United States Team of 10 PGA of America Golf Professionals from across the country will descend on Sunriver, Oregon, for the 31st edition of the PGA Cup, Sept. 13-15, at Sunriver Resort.
The biennial competition against Great Britain & Ireland follows the same three-day, match play format as the Ryder Cup. The PGA Cup will be contested on Sunriver’s Meadows course beginning with four-ball and foursomes on Friday and Saturday, followed by singles matches on Sunday.
PGA of America Honorary President Jim Richerson will captain the American team. Richerson, the PGA General Manager of Riviera Country Club and Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades, California, previously captained the U.S. to a two-stroke victory at the 2022 Women’s PGA Cup.
“I feel very honored and excited,” said Richerson. “We’ve got a mixture of veterans and rookies. We’re looking forward to those veterans being able to lead the team, and we’re excited about those who made it for the first time. We feel we have a really strong team, but we know GB & I has one as well. The competitions have been very tight over the past four or five Cups and we expect exactly the same when we get to Sunriver.”
The U.S. Team consists of four PGA Members with PGA Cup experience, including Michael Block (Mission Viejo, Calif.); Jared Jones (Houston, Texas); Jesse Mueller (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Ben Polland (Jackson Hole, Wyo.).
Polland, the 2024 PGA Professional Champion and recent winner of the 2024 Rocky Mountain PGA Professional Championship, will be appearing in his third PGA Cup (2015, ‘22).
“It’s my favorite week,” said Polland. “My two favorite weeks of my career have been CordeValle and London. The PGA does an amazing job making us feel special and putting on this competition.”
As one of the U.S. players with PGA Cup experience, Polland is happy to be a sounding board for his teammates playing in the event for the first time.
“For everyone that it’s a new experience, you don’t realize the nerves that you’re going to feel on the first tee,” said Polland. “They are some of the most nerves I’ve felt playing golf. It’s a big deal and it feels really big with the hype leading up to it. My advice to everybody is going to be to enjoy it, play their best and take it seriously.”
Among the six members of the U.S. Team making their PGA Cup debuts is Matt Cahill, the PGA Head Golf Professional at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida.
Cahill, who describes representing the over 30,000 PGA of America Members as “pretty incredible,” is no stranger to match play competition, having competed in the annual Challenge Cup between the North Florida and South Florida PGA Sections.
“I just love match play because every shot matters,” said Cahill. “No matter if you hit a good shot, bad shot, the next shot could be your best and the key to getting points and winning the match. I’ve talked to so many that have played in this before. Half a point could be so critical at the very end. If you think you’re out of it, you keep grinding, keep hanging in there, you can sneak out a half a point or even a point it could make a big difference in the end.”
The U.S. owns a 19-7-4 record in the PGA Cup, and is coming off a resounding 15.5 – 10.5 victory in 2022 at Foxhills Resort & Club in Surrey, England, earning its first overseas victory since 2009.
“There are very few opportunities that a player gets to compete and represent their country and for us to represent the Association as PGA Members,” said Richerson. “It’s very special in that regard and something our players take very seriously. They’re all very honored to represent the PGA of America as well as the USA. I know they’re going to be ready when we tee it up.”
2024 U.S. PGA Cup Team
Michael Block (Mission Viejo, Calif.) – Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, Southern California Section
Matt Cahill (West Palm Beach, Fla.) – Seminole Golf Club, South Florida Section
Tyler Collet (Vero Beach, Fla.) – John’s Island Club, South Florida Section
Jared Jones (Houston, Texas) – River Oaks Country Club, Southern Texas Section
Brad Marek (Berkeley, Calif.) – Corica Park, Northern California Section
Jesse Mueller (Phoenix, Ariz.) – Grand Canyon University Golf Course, Southwest Section
Ben Polland (Jackson Hole, Wyo.) – Shooting Star of Jackson Hole, Rocky Mountain Section
John Somers (Trinity, Fla.) – Southern Hills Plantation Club, North Florida Section
Andy Svoboda (Oak Brook, Ill.) – Butler National Golf Club, Illinois Section
Jeremy Wells (Estero, Fla.) – Cypress Lake Golf Club, South Florida Section
The U.S. Team was determined through a two-year point system, which included the 2023-24 PGA Professional Championships and 2023-24 PGA Championships. The points race concluded with the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
PGA Cup Match Schedule (All times listed PST):
Friday, Sept. 13
A.M. Four-Ball 7:30, 7:45, 8:00, 8:15 a.m. #1 Tee Meadows Course
P.M. Foursomes 1:30, 1:45, 2:00, 2:15 p.m. #1 Tee Meadows Course
Saturday, Sept. 14
A.M. Four-Ball 7:30, 7:45, 8:00, 8:15 a.m. #1 Tee Meadows Course
P.M. Foursomes 1:30, 1:45, 2:00, 2:15 p.m. #1 Tee Meadows Course
Sunday, Sept. 15
Singles 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. (10 min. int.) #1 Tee Meadows Course
Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex to Host 2025 Junior PGA Championships
FRISCO, Texas — Purdue University’s Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Indiana, will host the 2025 Junior PGA Championships, July 29 – Aug. 1, 2025. The 49th edition of the Championships will feature 312 players—156 girls, 156 boys—playing concurrently in a four-day, 72-hole stroke play competition.
One of junior golf’s major championships, the Junior PGA Championships are open to amateurs no older than 18 years of age on the last day of competition. All players must qualify through a PGA of America Section Championship or be granted an exemption into the field.
The Pete Dye-designed Ackerman-Allen and Kampen-Cosler courses at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex are rated among the best college courses in the country: Golf Digest ranked both on its list of the “25 Greatest College Golf Courses in America.” Purdue’s courses have hosted numerous collegiate events including multiple Big Ten Championships, the NCAA Men’s National Championship and PGA National Collegiate Club Golf Association National Championships.
The Junior PGA Championships have been springboards for many of the PGA and LPGA Tours’ most accomplished players. Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas have competed on the Boys side, while the list of past Girls Junior PGA winners includes Inbee Park, Yuka Saso, Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang.
“Bringing the Junior PGA Championships to two of the top collegiate golf courses in the country will be a memorable experience for all of the players,” said PGA of America President John Lindert, PGA Director of Golf at the Country Club of Lansing (Michigan). “Purdue’s Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex has a strong history of hosting prestigious events, including NCAA and Big Ten championships. Working at a club in Big Ten country, I have heard from many golfers at nearby Michigan State about the great test that’s in store for the game’s top juniors next summer.”
“Having the opportunity to host the 2025 Junior PGA Championships is a true honor for Birck Boilermaker,” said Daniel M. Ross, PGA Head Golf Professional & Director of Instruction at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex. “Our Superintendent, Kyle Post, and I are excited to show the juniors the same high quality that we provide for our collegiate events, membership and public golfers. We look forward to providing everyone with the Purdue Golf Experience.”
“We are excited to welcome the nation’s top junior golfers to West Lafayette to play the best 36 holes in college golf,” said Zack Byrd, Purdue University’s Director of Golf and Women’s Golf Head Coach. “Hosting another prestigious golf championship at the BBGC is a reminder of how lucky we are to call these courses ‘home.’ Thank you to the PGA of America for choosing Purdue to host their Junior PGA Championships.”
Avery McCrery and Baylor Larrabee won the Girls and Boys divisions, respectively, at the 2024 Junior PGA Championships, which wrapped up earlier this month at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland
