Letter From The ED

Jon Guhl Executive Director

As you will see later in this issue, congratulations are in order for Josh Speight for making the PGA Championship via his top-20 finish at the PGA Club Professional Championship. I was able to walk Thursday’s PGA Championship round with Josh- he looked like he belonged out there! Also, Jim Estes qualified for and played in the US Senior Open. Great job to both of you!

Lastly, we held our 2nd Annual PGA REACH Middle Atlantic Pro-Am fundraiser at TPC Potomac in June. It was another spectacular success, raising over $30,000! This is our primary vehicle to raise funds for our PGA HOPE, PGA WORKS and other charitable programs. I hope you will participate in some way next year. Please consider playing in our event or holding a small fundraiser at your own facility! Our HOPE program grew significantly in numbers of vets (over 1000 per session) and sites (20 HOPE chapters) in 2023. We will need to step up our funding to keep up with the demand. Also, please consider going through the training to become a certified HOPE instructor! Yes, you will get paid for your time, but I promise you will receive way more than the pay!

Again, I can see and feel how busy you all are at your facilities. I caringly ask that you MAKE THE TIME for yourself (play golf, you deserve it) and your family. It is important to keep your mind and body right and have balance in your life in these unique times. We know that your Association is further down the list of your priorities, but keep us in mind, too. I hope you have a strong finish to your season and please continue to do your part for your Association, our Foundation and our game!

Sincerely,

Jon Guhl Executive Director jguhl@pgahq.com

The PGA HOPE Secretary's Cup celebrates the PGA HOPE Program by providing a unique and memorable experience for our military Veterans and the PGA Professionals who work tirelessly to positively impact Veterans' lives. This annual event in conjunction with the week of PGA Championship, began in 2016 and is named after the Secretary of Veteran Affairs in recognition of the Memorandum of Understanding between PGA REACH and the Department of Veteran Affairs. Each team is made up of four Veterans from a PGA HOPE program and one PGA or LPGA Professional

The Middle Atlantic Section was lucky enough to send a team to compete in the 2023 Secretary’s Cup at Penfield Country Club in Penfield, NY. For a weekend these Veterans felt like they were on top of the world. From the moment they stepped foot onto the facility the cameras were rolling and the red carpet was laid out.

Our team consisted of 4 Navy Veterans out of the Tidewater HOPE Chapter led by PGA Professional Adam Relan. Cassie Patterson is a Navy veteran that served for 6.5 years. Kyle Keith is active duty Navy and has served for 9 years. Sean Bowman is a Navy veteran, serving for 17 years and is our PGA HOPE Ambassador. Matthew Sheeley was also in the Navy for 17 years and ended his career as an E-6 rank.

During the team's time in Penfield they were lucky enough to get up close and personal with the Wannamaker trophy, attend 2 PGA Championship Practice Rounds and make friendships that will last forever. Nothing else mattered for the 3 hours they were out there competing. Between discussing what shot to use to deciding on which way the putt was going to break everything that happened brought them closer together.

Although the score did not matter the team finished (-3), two shots off the winning team. Veteran Sean Bowman explains how it was "an unbelievable experience, filled with friendships, stories and laughter. These memories will last a lifetime."

The Middle Atlantic Section is set to host the Secretary’s Cup in 2030 when the PGA Championship comes to Congressional Country Club.

Kaylyn Noh (a) Claims Inaugural Women’s Open Title

By Chris Lang of the VSGA

MIDLOTHIAN — Kaylyn Noh’s trip back east to see family came with a bonus: A chance to hold the trophy at the end of the inaugural Women’s Open of Virginia.

Noh, a rising junior at the University of California, made the best of awful playing conditions at Independence Golf Club, posting a third-round 1-under-par 35 to finish with a three-day total of 2-under 178 and a fourshot win in the 1st Women’s Open of Virginia.

The final round was cut to nine holes after persistent rain and wind delayed the competition for more than five hours. The first group went off at 8 a.m. and four groups had teed off when play was suspended due standing water on several greens. After a lengthy delay, it was determined that the best chance of deciding a champion was to cut the final round to nine holes. As the final grouping finished their round just after 4 p.m., driving rain and wind intensified, and it was almost certain that the competition would have been delayed indefinitely had it started as an 18-hole round.

Noh, from Rocklin, Calif., was the only player to shoot an under-par round on Wednesday. She finished four strokes clear of Keswick’s Sky Sload, a former Virginia and Missouri player, who posted a 2-over 38 on Wednesday for a three-day total of 182. Delaware’s Christina Carroll and newly turned pro and former UNC Wilmington standout Phu Khine tied for third at 3-over 183.

Notable:

• Noh entered the final round tied with Brambleton’s Julie Shin, who plays at Penn, and Khine. Shin shot a 6-over 42 on Wednesday and finished tied for fifth at 5-over 185 with rising James Madison freshman Amber Mackiewicz and former Virginia Tech standout Jessica Spicer, a past VSGA Women’s Stroke Play and Women’s Four-Ball champion.

• Noh has family in both Chantilly and Alexandria and several family members made the trip to support her.

• Khine was making her professional debut.