March 2017 Month in Review

Commonwealth National Golf Club Host site: 2017 Philadelphia Junior Tour Championship

Concord Country Club Host site: 2017 Boys Philadelphia PGA Championship

Penn Oaks Golf Club Host site: 2017 Girls /12 & Under Philadelphia PGA Championship & 2017 Harry Hammond Invitational

March 2017 In Review

Presented By:

The Vineyards

TOURNAMENT RESULTS - THE VINEYARDS

March 18, 2017

Boys 16-18 1st Place (69) - Nikita Romanov 2nd Place (76) - Matthew Law 3rd Place (77) - Maxwell Rubin

Boys 13-15 1st Place (78) - Justin Dougherty T-2nd Place (82) - Elijah Ruppert T-2nd Place (82) - William Brown

Girls 16-18 1st Place (95) - Shae Cabaddu 2nd Place (101) - Sarah Fernandes

Girls 13-15 1st Place (84) - Elizabeth Beek 2nd Place (91) - Kayal Gutierrez

12 & Under 1st Place (37) - Adrian Jordan 2nd Place (41) - Nicholas Gross 3rd Place (42) - Matthew Normand Click here to view Full Press Release

Sea Oaks Country Club

Boys 16-18 T-1st Place (77) - Nikita Romanov T-1st Place (77) - Kyle Hayes 3rd Place (81) - Troy Kelleher

Boys 13-15 1st Place (78) - Justin Dougherty 2nd Place (80) - Jack Cooley 3rd Place (85) - Kevin Motil

Girls 13-15 1st Place (76) - Elizabeth Beek 2nd Place (87) - Kayla Gutierrez

12 & Under 1st Place (39) - Nicholas Gross 2nd Place (42) - Angela Tolentino T-3rd Place (47) - Hunter Probst T-3rd Place (47) - Sydney Yermish

Click here to view Full Press Release

TOURNAMENT RESULTS - SEA OAKS COUNTRY CLUB

March 19, 2017

Frog Hollow Golf Club

TOURNAMENT RESULTS - FROG HOLLOW GOLF CLUB

March 25, 2017

Boys 16-18 1st Place (74) - Austin Barbin 2nd Place (78) - Nikita Romanov 3rd Place (79) - Kaden Kinard

Boys 13-15 1st Place (77) - Franklin Zhu 2nd Place (82) - William Brown T-3rd Place (84) - Jack Cooley T-3rd Place (84) - James Ulsh

Girls 16-18 1st Place (93) - Olivia Perry 2nd Place (94) - Shae Cabaddu 3rd Place (99) - Lily Byrne

Girls 13-15 1st Place (77) - Elizabeth Beek 2nd Place (89) - Eden Richmond 3rd Place (95) - Kathleen Mark

12 & Under 1st Place (40) - Matthew Normand 2nd Place (43) - Sawyer Brockstedt 3rd Place (46) - Benjamin Saggers Click here to view Full Press Release

Twisted Dune Golf Club

Boys 16-18 1st Place (79) - Casey Carson 2nd Place (80) - Robert Beck 3rd Place (81) - Hayden Moffat

Boys 13-15 1st Place (79) - Joseph Morganti T-2nd Place (83) - Jack Cooley T-2nd Place (83) - Dylan Gooneratne

Girls 13-15 1st Place (106) - Peyton Kraras 2nd Place (110) - Niosha Parvizi T-3rd Place (111) - Katrina Cabinian

12 & Under 1st Place (44) - Angelina Tolentino 2nd Place (47) - Sydney Yermish 3rd Place (49) - Megan Adelman

Click here to view Full Press Release

TOURNAMENT RESULTS - TWISTED DUNE GOLF CLUB

March 26, 2017

DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT

Congratulations , Sarah and Trevor!

The Philadelphia Section PGA and the Philadelphia Junior Tour would like to congratulate Sarah Lydic (Ocean View, DE) and Trevor Sikorski (West Grove, PA) for their performance at the 2017 Drive, Chip and Putt Finals at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 2!

A

re you ready to start your journey to the 2018 National Drive, Chip and Putt Finals at Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Master’s Tournament? Several local qualifying sites are in the Philadelphia area. Take a look at the schedule below and visit www.drivechipandputt.com to register. See you at Augusta!

Local Qualifier June 3, 2017—Hidden Creek Golf Club (Egg Harbor Township, NJ) June 20, 2017—Trump National Golf Club - Philadelphia (Pine Hill, NJ) June 30, 2017—French Creek Golf Club (Elverson, PA) July 5, 2017—Sunnybrook Golf Club (Plymouth Meeting, PA) July 13, 2017—Mill Race Golf & Camping Resort (Benton, PA) July 19, 2017—White Clay Creek Country Club (Wilmington, DE) July 24, 2017—Carlisle Country Club (Carlisle, PA) July 26, 2017—Brookside Country Club (Allentown, PA)

Sub-Regional Qualifier August 1, 2017—The ACE Club (Lafayette Hill, PA) August 8, 2017—Applebrook Golf Club (Malvern, PA)

The PJT is looking forward to another great year in 2017. We hope that you’ve had a chance to take a look at the full 2017 schedule and start planning which events you will be playing in. The PJT Task Force and Philadelphia PGA Junior Golf Committee have reviewed the 2016 season and in an effort to improve the PJT, the following changes for the 2017 season will be implemented: Registration Opening Dates – In 2017 all non-invitation tournaments are open as of the date that the 2017 calendar was released. This means you can begin registering for almost any PJT event right now! Please click here to view the 2017 schedule and begin registering for tournaments today!

POY Points for 1st Place – In the past when there was a tie for 1st place, the PJT has used the USGA recommended method of breaking ties with a scorecard playoff to determine who would receive first place Player of the Year points and the PJT gold medal. Going forward the scorecard playoff will only be used to determine who will receive the gold medal and POY points will be pro-rated between everyone who tied for 1st place. For example, in 2016 two players that tied for first place received 100 points for first place and 50 points for second place after the scorecard playoff determined the winner. In 2017, both players will receive 75 points for a tie for first place and the scorecard playoff will determine who will receive the gold medal.

2017 Scoring Average Leader Requirements – The requirement to qualify for the Sam Penecale Scoring Average Leader award will be raised from a minimum of 5 rounds played to a minimum of 10 rounds played. The rule requiring at least five rounds played to be eligible for the award was created when there were about 40 events on the PJT calendar. Since the PJT now administers about 80 events the minimum number of tournaments required to be eligible for the award has been raised to keep up with the increase in events on our schedule.

Elite Tour Discontinued The Elite Tour has been discontinued. The PJT will still continue to run a similar amount of 2-day tournaments but they will be open to all PJT members. Because the field sizes for these events will be larger than the Elite Tour fields it will create more national ranking opportunities for all PJT members. For more information on 2017 National Ranking opportunities please see page 11 of this issue.

Philadelphia Junior PGA Championship “At Large Bid” The National Junior PGA Championship will now be conducted as two individual Boys and Girls events beginning in 2017. This will lead to a larger field size at both of these events. Due to this increase in field size we now have an additional qualifying spot that will be awarded to the 2nd place finisher in the 2017 Philadelphia Junior PGA Championship. We are excited that our Section will now have an additional representative at the Junior PGA Championship! For more information on the Philadelphia Junior PGA Championship please see page 9 of this issue.

2017 JUNIOR TOUR POLICY CHANGES

2017 Philly Junior Tour Policy Changes

2017 PJT NATIONAL RANKING OPPORTUNITIES

The Rules of Golf: New Local Rule Accidental Movement of a Ball on a Putting Green In a break from their usual procedure, the USGA has issued a new Local Rule effective January 1, 2017.

This new local rule has been added to the Philadelphia Junior Tour hard card and will be in effect for all Philadelphia Junior Tour events. The new Local Rule states: Rules 18-2, 18-3 and 20-1 are modified as follows: When a player’s ball lies on the putting green, there is no penalty if the ball or ballmarker is accidentally moved by the player, his partner, his opponent, or any of their caddies or equipment.

The moved ball or ball-marker must be replaced as provided in Rules 18-2, 18-3 and 20-1.

This Local Rule applies only when the player’s ball or ball-marker lies on the putting green and any movement is accidental.

Note: If it is determined that a player’s ball on the putting green was moved as a result of wind, water or some other natural cause such as the effects of gravity, the ball must be played as it lies from its new location. A ball-marker moved in such circumstances is replaced.

How Does the New Local Rule Work? 

IF when preparing to make a stroke, a player accidentally causes the ball to move, THEN there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced.

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IF a player accidentally drops his/her ball, which hits and moves the ball marker, THEN there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced.

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IF a player accidentally drops his/her ball marker, which hits and moves the ball, THEN there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced.

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IF a player accidentally kicks and moves his/her ball, THEN there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced.

How it Doesn’t Work: 

IF a player intentionally lifts or moves his/her ball without first marking it’s position, THEN there is a one stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced.

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IF a player accidentally moves his/her ball that is lying in the fairway, in the rough, or in a bunker, THEN there is a one stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced.

Please click here for more information on the new Local Rule.

Philadelphia Junior PGA Championship The Philadelphia Junior PGA Championship opens up the first Philadelphia Junior Tour (PJT) major of the season and is played Monday, July 10. Boys and 12 & Under participants must qualify at one of four qualifiers to be eligible to play in this event. In addition to the qualifiers, the defending champion, top players on the 2016 Graham Co. Player of the Year Lulu Country Club points lists, top players according to the Host site: 2016 Girls /12 & Under Philadelphia PGA Championship GolfWeek, POLO, and JGS National Rankings, defending junior champions from SRGA’s (State and Regional Golf Association’s) and high school state champions are invited to participate. The top two boys and girls earn a spot at the national Junior PGA Championship which has served as a steppingstone for many of today’s PGA and LPGA starts as well as current collegiate stars. Below is this year’s Philadelphia Junior PGA schedule: Thursday, June 12—Bent Creek Country Club Monday, June 22—Bayside Resort Golf Club Tuesday, June 27—Downingtown Country Club Tuesday, July 5—Pennsauken Country Club Monday, July 10—Boy’s Philadelphia Junior PGA Championship—Concord Country Club Monday, July 10—Girl’s/12 & Under Philadelphia Junior PGA Championship—Penn Oaks Golf Club

Harry Hammond Invitational The Harry Hammond Invitational is in honor of Master Professional, Harry Hammond, who is the Director of Golf at Penn Oaks Golf Club, past Philadelphia Section Junior Golf Chairman for 29 years and is a well known Junior Golf Leader on the local and national levels. Invites are sent out to all Boys & Girls that are between the ages of 16 to 18, who have finished 1st or 2nd within their 2017 Girl’s Harry Hammond Invitational Champion respective age division within the last two years Caprian Kan and Runner-Up Kendel Abrams on the Philadelphia Section PGA Junior Tour. This year’s Harry Hammond Invitational will take place at Penn Oaks Golf Club on Tuesday, August 1.

2017 PJT MAJORS

The Philadelphia Junior Tour Majors

2017 PJT MAJORS (cont.)

The Philadelphia Junior Tour Majors Jon M. Pritsch Cup Recently known as the Junior Challenge Cup, the Jon M. Pritsch Cup is a Ryder Cup style event that pits twelve juniors from the Philadelphia Section PGA against twelve juniors from the New Jersey Section PGA. Four boys each represent both the 16-18 age division and the 13-15 age division for each Section. The teams are rounded out by two junior girls and two captains’ picks. Each group plays two individual matches, worth one point each, while simultaneously playing a four-ball match, also worth one point. There is a total of eighteen points up for grabs and at the end of the day, the team with the most points will win the Jon M. Pritsch Cup. The Jon M. Pritsch Cup is played to honor the memory of Jon M. Pritsch who tragically passed away in May of 1991 at the age of 17. Before his passing, Pritsch was recognized as one of the top junior golfers in the nation. To date the Jon M. Pritsch Memorial Fund has raised over $140,000 and given away over 100 scholarships to juniors looking to pursue a career in a golf related field.

In 2016, the Philadelphia Section PGA retained the Jon M. Pritsch Cup and will be looking to defend the Cup on Friday, August 11 at Sunnybrook Golf Club in Plymouth Meeting, PA.

Junior Tour Championship The most prestigious event on the Philadelphia Section PGA Junior Tour, the Junior Tour Championship showcases the best junior golfers from the Boys 1618 Division, Boys 13-15 Division, Girls 16-18 Division, Girls 13-15 Division and 9 Hole Division based upon the year's prior tournaments. To be eligible for this year's Junior Tour Championship, one must: 

Place in a tie for 1st or better in their respective age division in any event since last year’s Junior Tour Championship

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Finish in the top 25 in Player of the Year points in the Boys 16-18 Division.

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Finish in the top 25 in Player of the Year points in the Boys 13-15 Division.

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Finish in the top 10 in Player of the Year points in the Girls 16-18 Division.

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Finish in the top 10 in Player of the Year points in the Girls 13-15 Division.

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Finish in the top 10 in Player of the Year points in the 9 Hole Division (Boys & Girls 10-12).

In an effort to provide competitive opportunities for players of all skill levels and goals, the PJT will once again offer a number of opportunities for juniors to earn national ranking points.

Precision Pro Open Tournaments

What Does “AJGA” Mean?

Precision Pro Open Tournaments

Once again the Philadelphia Section PGA Junior Tour (PJT) will be partnering with Precision Pro Golf for select two-day Philadelphia Junior Tour What Does “JGS” Mean? tournaments.. At every Precision Pro Golf Open tournament in 2017, all participants will have the JGS stands for Junior Golf Scoreboard. They are opportunity win a Nexus Golf Laser Rangefinder one of many national ranking services for junior golfers. A few times throughout the season two or GPS Golf Band. All PJT members will receive PJT tournament’s names will begin with JGS. This $50 off a Precision Pro Golf NX7 RangeFinder by using the discount code "PhillyJrGolf". means that there will be a combined 36-hole event for all players competing in both National Rankings Schedule tournaments. Each tournament will also count as For a tournament to be eligible for national an individual PJT event as well. There must be a minimum of 5 players competing in a division for ranking points by AJGA or JGS, the tournament must meet the minimum player requirements. the event to count for JGS National Ranking points. If the player minimum is not met, the 36- Please take a look at the current 2017 hole tournament will still count for PJT Player of tournaments that could be eligible for national the Year points. ranking points: AJGA stands for American Junior Golf Association.

The AJGA is one of the premiere junior golf tours in the entire nation. In addition to administering junior golf tournaments, they partner with GolfWeek to produce national junior golf rankings.

These national rankings are also used to determine who will be eligible to enter AJGA tournaments.

If a PJT tournament has AJGA listed next to it on the schedule, it means that if the minimum player requirements are met, players can earn AJGA stars that will help players enter AJGA tournaments in the future. Tournaments must have at least 40 boys and 12 girls to be eligible for AJGA performance stars. Please click here for a more detailed explanation of AJGA performance stars.

June 15-16—Hickory Valley Golf Club June 28-29—Turtle Creek Golf Course July 18-19—Makefield Highlands Golf Club July 27-28—Hershey Country Club August 3-4—Philmont Country Club TBD—Old York Country Club

Two-Day PJT Tournaments May 13-14—Back Creek Golf Club July 6-7—Blue Bell Country Club November 4-5—Sea View Resort & Golf Club

JGS Tournaments May 20-21—JGS State College Series June 19-21—JGS Rehoboth Beach Series August 14-16—JGS Pocono Series October 20-21—JGS Chapel Hill GC & Berkshire CC

RULES OF GOLF—NEW LOCAL RULE IN EFFECT

National Ranking Points on the Philly Junior Tour

OUR Sponsors