2025 Father Son and Parent Child Day 2 Recap

Scores

MALVERN, Pa. – It took seven years, but Don and A.J. Donatoni are once again Pennsylvania Golf Association (PAGA) Father-Son Champions, as are 2025 Parent-Child medalists Makensy and Brandon Knaub at the PAGA 7^th Annual Parent-Child and 16^th Father-Son Championship at Chester Valley Golf Club on Tuesday afternoon.

The pair of Donatonis last won the title in 2018 – and this year, had to battle round one leaders Benjamin and Nicholas Saggers (USGA/GAP GC, Applecross CC), with the teams trading the Championship lead back and forth multiple times in the final round.

Trailing the Saggers by two shots to begin the day, the Donatonis went two-under on the front nine, with birdies on holes 3 and 5, and took the overall lead after the Sagger duo went three-over on the front. Two bogeys from the Donatonis on 12 and 13 and two birdies from the Saggers on 10 and 14 flipped the lead again late in the day, but the Donatonis responded yet again, with birdies on 15, 17, and 18, to secure the 2025 title.

“It’s awesome to win,” said Don. “I came into this with low expectations. I hadn’t been playing very well so I figured just tee it up, let it fly, and if we can make some putts, we’ll be in the hunt. AJ’s been playing really well and he showed it the last two days. He hit some incredible irons and my putter got hot. I switched putters before this event and for some reason, this one just got the job done.”

“I didn’t know exactly where we stood going down the stretch but I figured we needed at least one birdie,” said A.J. “We both hit the shots we needed to on 17 and 18. On 17, Dad hit a great approach and I made a 12-footer and on 18 I hit a 6-iron to about six feet and he rolled in the putt. We both contributed equally in different ways on the last two holes. Didn’t expect to finish birdie-birdie but that was a really cool way to end the tournament.”

“There is pressure,” said Don. “You’re playing with your son and you don’t want to let him down so you want to hit important shots and deliver at the right time, and vice-versa. So there’s that little extra pressure in the Chapman format but we teamed together very well and we know each other’s game. He’s 30 yards past me (I’m shorter than anyone anymore), but that’s okay. I’ll hit it in the fairway, he hits it on the green, and I’ll make a putt from time to time, just like on 18!”

The Saggers finished as runners-up with a final tally of two-over, while Grayson and James Wingerter (Llanerch CC) claimed third place. The Wingerters were six strokes back to begin the day but shot a two-under 68 on Tuesday to rocket up the leaderboard. Thomas and Andrew Porsch (CC of Harrisburg), the 2019 champions, finished in fourth place at five-over.

In the Parent-Child Championship, Makensy and Brandon Knaub flipped the script from a year ago – when they lost the lead they had built after round one – and put on a dominant performance, shooting 68 on both days and four-under for the tournament to claim medalist honors. The pair had to complete their first round early on Tuesday morning due to Monday’s rainstorms, but didn’t let the circumstances affect them in the second round. They birdied hole No. 2 and were one-under on the front nine, adding three more birdies (on 12, 14, and 16) on the back nine to win their first PAGA Parent-Child Championship.

McKylie and Daniel Boreman (Carlisle CC) finished in second place at five-over for the Championship, while two-time defending champions Ella and Craig McRoberts (Valley Brook CC) were tied for third at 13-over with Mia and Ryan Pace (Whitford CC.)

It was a home club victory in the Father-Son Forward Division for Chester Valley’s own Brian and Gary Grimes, following up on Monday’s two-over 72 with a round two 75, finishing the week at seven-over yet maintaining the same five-stroke gap between them and the field. The two closest teams ended tied for second, with Mike and Michael Todd (Coatesville CC) and Patrick and George Marshalek (Whitford CC, Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association) going 78 on Monday and 74 on Tuesday to total 12-over for the week.

Next up on the PAGA schedule is a pair of Open Championship Qualifiers (Northeast and West) at Schuykill Country Club and Hannastown Golf Club, respectively, on Thursday, July 17.

The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Chester Valley Golf Club for the hospitality shown during this week’s Championships. Additional thanks go to DICK’S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event as the title sponsor of the PAGA.