Stafford, VA – The Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA of America will be represented by 14 of its Professionals at the 47th PGA Professional National Championship (PNC) presented by Club Car, Mercedes-Benz and OMEGA, on June 22-25, 2014 at The Resort Club at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, SC. The PGA PNC is comprised of 312 players from all 41 PGA Sections who advanced through their respective Section championships last fall. Each golfer will play 36 holes of stroke play on the first two days, with the low 90 and ties advancing. After 54 holes, the field will be cut again, this time to the low 70 and ties for the final round. The top 20 finishers will earn a place in the starting field at the 96th PGA Championship on August 7-10 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, KY. Not only are the 312 players competing for a spot at the PGA Championship, they are also competing for a purse of $550,000.
Leading the field from the Middle Atlantic is the 2013 MAPGA Professional Champion Dirk Schultz, PGA from Beaver Creek CC in Hagerstown, MD. Schultz captured his first Section Championship after he was able to hold off Sean English, PGA, from Caves Valley GC in Owings Mills, MD, who shot 7-under on the final day. Schultz finished with a 54-hole total of 204 (10-under par). Along with Schultz and English, Professionals representing the Middle Atlantic include Brice Busse, PGA of Woodmont CC in Rockville, MD; Jon Corliss, PGA of Heron Ridge GC in Virginia Beach, VA; Adam Decker, PGA of University of Richmond in Richmond, VA; Sean English, PGA of Caves Valley GC in Owings Mills, MD; Jim Estes, PGA of Olney Golf Park in Olney, MD; Pleasant Hughes, PGA of Chevy Chase CC in Chevy Chase, MD; Daniel Kinn, PGA of Dick’s Sporting Goods in Sterling, VA; John O’Leary, PGA of Trump National Washington DC in Potomac Falls, VA; Jody Rokisky, PGA of Holly Hills CC in Ijamsville, MD; and Rick Schuller, PGA of Swaders Sports Park in Prince George, VA.
Former PNC Champions from the Middle Atlantic who are exempt into the field are David Hutsell, PGA (2011) of Woodholme CC in Pikesville, MD, Chip Sullivan, PGA (2007) from Hanging Rock GC in Salem, VA, and Wayne DeFrancesco, PGA (2001) from Lakewood CC in Rockville, MD. Sullivan advanced to last year’s PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, NY after finishing tied for fourth at the 2013 PNC. Sullivan is no stranger when it comes to playing in the PGA Championship, as he has played in the major six times, including finishing 31st in the 2004 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.
For more information on the event, and to see results as they come in, please click HERE.
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About the Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA of America
The Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA (MAPGA), located in Stafford, Virginia, is one of 41 Sections of The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA), headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. As a part of The PGA since 1925, the MAPGA consists of over 1,100 members and apprentices in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and small portions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Together, the MAPGA golf professionals, volunteers and staff support the mission of The PGA to promote enjoyment and involvement in the game of golf and to contribute to the game’s growth by providing services to PGA Professionals and the golf industry.
Contact:
Eric Southard
esouthard@pgahq.com
(540) 720-7420 ext. 115
