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Sheedy and Kalamar Tied After Day One
FLEETWOOD, Pa. - Any organization's season-opening event is traditionally a special occasion, but few are as prestigious as the Pennsylvania Golf Association's (PAGA) George Dressler Memorial Championship. The 84th annual championship, held at Moselem Springs Golf Club and featuring a stacked field of talent and 12 past Dressler champions, challenged the participants greatly -- with low scores at a premium in all three divisions of the competition.
Only two golfers were able to manage scores under par in the Championship Division on Monday to co-lead the field heading into the second round: Green Pond Country Club's Scott Kalamar and Pilgrim's Oak Golf Course's Raymond Sheedy. Both men fired a two-under-par 68, with Kalamar excelling on the front nine (including three of his five birdies of the round to post a 33 at the turn), while Sheedy closed strong with a 33 of his own on the back nine that also included three birdies (on hole No. 11, 12, and 18) with a bogey on 14.
Sheedy has qualified for multiple USGA championships, reaching the match-play portion of the competition on three occasions, and formerly played NCAA Division I golf at the University of North Carolina - Charlotte. Kalamar was a former minor league baseball player in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, qualified for the 2023 US Mid-Amateur, and also was a former participant in World's Long Drive competition.
Chasing those two at the top of the leaderboard is a trio of golfers just two strokes behind after shooting even-par 70's in round one: Zach Dilcher (LedgeRock GC), Grant Skyllas (LedgeRock Golf Club), and Dylan Ramsey (GAP Youth on Course). Dilcher, the 2023 PAGA Mid-Am champion, will tee off with the co-leaders at 1:32 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. Skyllas has had success at Moselem Springs before, winning the 2014 PAGA Mid-Am Championship at the club. Skyllas, Ramsey, and Moselem Springs Golf Club's Nicholas Vecellio (who shot a one-over 71 to tie for sixth place) will tee off at 1:21 p.m. Tuesday.
Also tied for sixth place is Hannastown Golf Club's Sean Knapp, a former Dressler champion who has six total PAGA titles to his credit. Knapp leads the Senior Division by a single stroke over Rob Stoops (Butler CC), who carded a two-over 72 in round one, as well as a trio tied for third place at 74 (+4): Scott Storck (Philadelphia Cricket Club), Rod James (Schuykill CC), and former Dressler champ Bob Crnjarich (Allegheny CC). Another Dressler champion and two-time defending PAGA Player of the Year Rick Stimmel (75, +5) is also lurking, just four shots back of Knapp heading into Tuesday's action.
It's still anyone's tournament in the Super Senior Division, with Wyoming Valley CC's Joseph Weiscarger pacing the field after his one-under-par 69 on Monday. He totaled four birdies (including three on the front nine) and leads another pair of former Dressler champions in hot pursuit: Overlook GC's Gregory Osborne (73, +3) and Hershey's Mill GC's Don Donatoni (75, +5). That threesome tees off at 9:39 a.m. on Tuesday morning in what should be a dramatic finish to Super Senior competition.
The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Moselem Springs Golf Club for the hospitality shown during today's rounds. Additional thanks go to DICK’S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event as the title sponsor of the PAGA.
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