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Pennsylvania Golf Association gears up for 2008

  The 2008 Pennsylvania Golf Association schedule, the 99th in the organization's history, once again contains events for players of various ages and skill levels throughout the commonwealth.

  Beginning in April, and encompassing six months, the schedule visits all four corners of the state for its 22 tournaments and 35 days of competition.

  The season tees off with four straight days of tournament play. First off is the 69th running of the two-day George Dressler Amateur Public Links Championship on May 10-11 at scenic Dauphin Highlands GC, followed by the 5th edition of the R. Jay Sigel Amateur Match Play Championship at Stonewall (Old Course) in Elverson, Pa.

  Arnold Cutrell of Totteridge GC, the winner of the first two Sigel Match Play events, is the top seed. The field of 16 is determined by the William C. Fownes Player of the Year standings.

  The Senior Amateur Match Play bracket, which started last year, features top-seeded and Senior Player of the Year Paul Schlachter of The Club at Nevillewood and defending champion John Benson of Totteridge GC.

  The Better-Ball series visits Woodloch Resort on May 28-29 with the 19th Better-Ball Championship and then heads west for the 16th annual Senior Better-Ball Championship on June 2-3 at Toftrees Resort in State College, Pa.

  A little over a month later, the schedule ventures into the Amateur Championship leg of the tournament calendar when defending Junior Champion Robert Galbreath Jr., of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., looks to cap off his junior golf career with a win at the 58th Junior Championship at Hershey Country Club on July 7-8.

  In the three-day Amateur Championship, held on July 28-30 at venerable Saucon Valley CC (Old Course), Adam Hofmann of Pittsburgh hopes to defend his title. While Ray Thompson will try and do the same on the senior level when he joins the field on Aug. 4-5 at the 49th Senior Amateur Championship held at The Club at Nevillewood.

  Rounding out the Amateur Championship series is the 15th Middle-Amateur Championship on Sept. 15-16 at Rolling Green GC where defending titleholder James Sullivan Jr., of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., looks for the three-peat.

  At the 92nd Robert L. Fryer Memorial Open Championship on Aug. 11-13 at Old York Road CC in Spring House, Pa., amateur Mike Van Sickle of Wexford, Pa., the son of renowned Sports Illustrated golf writer Gary Van Sickle, looks to repeat history. The Marquette University senior looks to become the third consecutive amateur to earn the Open crown.

  Formerly known as the Hemlock Championship, the Art Wall, Jr. Major, named after the 1959 Master’s Champion, takes place on Sept. 22-23 at Totteridge GC in Greensburg, Pa. Sean Knapp of the Longue Vue Club won last year’s contest at Chambersburg CC with a two-round total of 139, five shots clear of the field.

  And lastly, the Senior Team Championship travels to Hanover CC and Regents’ Glen CC for the 10th installment of the two-day event on Oct. 13-14. St. Clair CC’s Ned McFarland, Don Lamb, Bill W. Douds and Bob MacWhinnie are set to defend their win at the final event of the year.

  Created in 1909 with the intention of promoting the interests of golf throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Golf Association (PGA) is the authoritative body of amateur golf in the state. The Association’s focus is to promote growth, preserve traditions and protect the integrity of the game through its competitions and member services. The Association’s individual members and more than 300 Member Clubs are spread across the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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