2026 PA Open Day 3 Recap

LIGONIER, Pa. – A pressure-packed two-hole playoff was needed to decide the Pennsylvania Golf Association’s (PAGA) 110^th Open Championship at Laurel Valley Golf Club, with Zac Oakley (Bidermann G.C.) and Jake Haberstumpf (Saucon Valley Country Club) vying for the 2026 title. Both players finished 54 holes with totals of -8 (208) and thus, had to break the tie, heading back to the 18^th green for the first playoff hole. Both players parred 18, then headed next to the par-four 10^th hole – where Oakley would par the hole to secure medalist honors for both the Overall and Professional leaderboards.

“It’s unbelievable to have my name on the Arnold Palmer cup, especially with all the history and prestige,” said Oakley. “And then to do it at Laurel Valley, this place is special. It’s a hidden gem and I was lucky to play so well and win the PA Open.”   

Oakley (67-72-69—208) withdrew from last year’s PAGA Open Championship but topped an incredible field of competitors this summer. He bogeyed his second hole of the final round but bounced back with a birdie on No. 3 and an eagle on six. Another pair of birdies on nine and 11 rounded out his incredibly solid round.

“The day started well and I hit a lot of greens and fairways,” said Oakley. “The eagle on six was big – I just hit driver, four iron, and then made a 20-footer. Then I stuck it to about a foot with a 5-iron on nine so those two holes were huge. I played the par threes really well, and parred both of them on the back nine with some perfect 4-iron shots. Getting a par on those is almost like picking up a full shot. I just stayed together, made pars, and hit it well.”

Haberstumpf (67-70-71—208), who tied for 8^th at last summer’s 2025 PAGA Open, birdied holes 3, 6, and 13 today but three bogeys kept him even through 17 holes. He came through in the clutch with a birdie on 18 to force the playoff with Oakley – and despite the loss, still remained atop the Amateur leaderboard for the week.

Another pair of Amateur competitors, Austin Lemieux (Allegheny CC) and Davis Conaway (Fieldstone GC) tied for third place overall at -6 (210) for the week. Defending Open champion Patrick Sheehan (Talamore CC) fired a -4 (68) in the final round to finish in a five-way tie for fifth place at -5 (211), along with JD Hughes (CC of Harrisburg, who shot a tournament-best 65 on Wednesday), Riley Wheeldon (Aronimink GC), Alec Stopperich (Valley Brook CC), and Mark Goetz.

Finishing tied for 10^th place  at -4 (212) were a pair of co-leaders after round two in Talon Kriebel (Glengarry Golf Links) and Timothy Peters (Toftrees Golf Resort). Both shot a +3 (75) on Wednesday.

Complete results from this week’s 110^th Open Championship can be found here: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/12434322497665543840

Next up on the PAGA schedule are four Middle Amateur Championship Qualifiers, scheduled from August 17-25^th, followed by the 34^th Men’s and 6^th Women’s Senior Four-Ball Championship from Toftrees Golf Club on August 31 and September 1.

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