112th Pennsylania Amateur Preview

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For the first time, Huntsville Golf Club in Shavertown, an acclaimed Rees Jones design, will be the host site of the Pennsylvania State Amateur Championship on July 28-30.

The players in the 112th Championship will experience the vision of the club’s deceased owner and founder Richard “Dick” Maslow.

A true champion of the game of golf, though he came to it later in life, Maslow saw the need for another golf course in Northeastern Pennsylvania in the early 1990s.

“He knew people were looking for a great golf course in Northeastern Pennsylvania, so he sought out people with the expertise to make it happen,” Huntsville Golf Club General Manager Jeff Fry said of Maslow.

Maslow and designer Jones looked long and hard for the right piece of property and the course was opened in 1994. In 1995, it was named as the No. 2 Best New Private Club in the U.S. and Canada by Golf Digest.

Since 1909, the Pennsylvania State Amateur has brought the best amateurs in the Commonwealth together on the best courses. Legendary Jay Sigel won the championship 11 times.

“You look at the great clubs and the legendary names associated with the Pennsylvania Amateur and Huntsville is proud to be a part of it too,” Fry said.

Huntsville is no stranger to bigger events having served as the site of the following PA Golf Association championships: Senior Amateur in 2009; R. Jay Sigel Match Play in 2012; and the Mid-Amateur in 2015.

The 2024 winner Patrick Sheehan has turned professional and will not defend his title but runner-up Jon Rusk of LuLu Country Club should be back if his shoulder injury cooperates. A reinstated amateur Rusk know the vagaries of the tournament grind.

“In general, it’s just realizing that it’s a three-round event and there is no reason to panic early if you make a few mistakes,” Rusk said of the ingredients needed for success at the State Amateur. “I’ve seen a lot of players in my career, me included, who panic after a tough two- or three-hole stretch. Guys need to understand it’s not that big of a deal in a 54-hole event and you have plenty of time to make it up. You need to make every shot count and realize you are putting a score next to your name at the end and never give up. I have never played Huntsville but have heard wonderful things.”

Andrew Mason of Huntingdon Valley Country Club, the champion in 2011 and 2012, is in the field of 120 players and recognizes the quality of field and the administration of the event.

“In my opinion Pennsylvania golf, and the golf associations within the state are all truly first class, and I'd put them against any associations in the country,” said Mason, who finished fourth in 2024. “The competition at the state level is as good as it gets, and these are events all amateurs in the state have circled on their calendars to start the year. With exemptions now into the U.S. Amateur given at the state level, and within the GAP, there is more incentive than ever for the best players in the state to participate.”

The winner of the 2025 championships earned a spot in the U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club near San Franciso in August as well as the 2026 Sunnehanna Amateur.

Also in the field are Patrick Isztwan of Huntingdon Valley C.C., who finished third in 2024 and John Aber of Allegheny C.C. and Amani D’Ambosio of Longue Vue Club, who tied for fourth with Mason last year.

D’Ambrosio was runner-up at the recent of the R. Jay Sigel Match Play Championship, won by Nick Turowski of Hannastown C.C., who is also entered.

Following 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 40 players and ties.

Huntsville G.C. is anticipating a great experience for the competitors.

“We hope the players enjoy our golf course and we hope that they’ll notice the hospitality and the number of volunteers from Northeast Pennsylvania who will be helping the week of the competition, Fry said.”

Dick’s Sporting Goods is the title sponsor of the Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Championships.