For the second consecutive year, the Philadelphia Challenge Matches will return to Saucon Valley Country Club Oct. 5.
The Philadelphia Challenge Matches pits two 12-man teams, including two senior contestants (55 years or older), from the Golf Association of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Section of the PGA in a concurrent individual match and four-ball match. Each match is worth one point. Ties are halved.
In last year's competition held on Saucon's Grace track, the Philadelphia Section defeated the GAP, 11.5–6.5, and currently leads the all-time series, 20–2 with four ties.
Meet the Golf Association of Philadelphia team below.
Honorary Team Captain: Robin McCool, Saucon Valley Country Club
- Two-time Silver Cross Award winner (1990-91)
- Two-time Brewer Cup Senior winner (2010, 2013)
- Senior Amateur Champion (2006)
- Three-time Tournament of Champions winner (2006-07, 2012)
P.J Acierno, Lu Lu Country Club
- BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship Semi-finalist
- T21 in Joseph H. Patterson Cup
- T25 in GAP Open
- Quarter-finalist in R. Jay Sigel Match Play Championship
- Currently 20th in William Hyndman III, Player of the Year Standings
Carey Bina, Radnor Valley Country Club
- Shared medalist honors in U.S. Open Qualifer at West Shore C.C. (Harrisburg, Pa.)
- T21 in Joseph H. Patterson Cup
- T25 in GAP Open
- Finished T8 in Pennsylvania State Amateur
- Finished T9 in Pennsylvania State Open
- Currently 40th in William Hyndman, III Player of the Year standings
John Brennan, Philadelphia Cricket Club
- BMW Philadelphia Amateur stroke-play medalist
- Currently 32nd in William Hyndman, III Player of the Year standings
Stephen Dressel, St. Davids Golf Club
- Tied for runner-up in GAP Middle-Amateur
- Currently 24th in William Hyndman, III Player of the Year standings
Brian Fischer, Commonwealth National GC
- Qualified for BMW Philadelphia Amateur Match Play
- Currently T42 in William Hyndman, III Player of the Year standings
Brian Gillespie, St. Davids Golf Club
- T3 in Joseph H. Patterson Cup
- Finished T5 in Silver Cross Award standings
- T24 in GAP Middle-Amateur
- Reached BMW Philadelphia Amateur Match Play
- Currently 13th in William Hyndman, III Player of the Year standings
Chris Lange, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club
- Tied for runner-up in GAP Middle-Amateur
- Currently 24th in William Hyndman, III Player of the Year standings
Matt Mattare, Saucon Valley Country Club
- GAP Open Champion
- T5 in GAP Middle-Amateur
- T8 in Joseph H. Patterson Cup
- Currently 1st in William Hyndman, III Player of the Year standings
Scott McNeil, Bala Golf Club
- Reached Round of 16 in BMW Philadelphia Amateur
- T31 in Joseph H. Patterson Cup
- Currently 33rd in William Hyndman, III Player of the Year standings
Steve Oh, Philadelphia Cricket Club
- Qualified for BMW Philadelphia Amateur Match Play
- Currently T42 in William Hyndman, III Player of the Year standings
Glenn Smeraglio, Lu Lu Country Club
- GAP Senior Amateur Champion
- Pennsylvania State Senior Amateur Championship
- Senior Silver Cross Award winner
- T10 in Francis B. Warner Cup
- Currently 2nd in Senior Player of the Year standings
Ray Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
- T3 in GAP Senior Amateur
- Senior Silver Cross Award runner-up
- T2 in Frank H. Chapman (Gross) Cup
- T10 in Francis B. Warner (Gross) Cup
- Currently 3rd in Senior Player of the Year standings