2026 Art Wall Preview

22^nd Wall winners to be decided at Scotch Valley

The 22^nd Art Wall Jr. Memorial Championship hosted by the Pennsylvania Golf Association will take place at Scotch Valley Country Club in Hollidaysburg September 14-15, 2026. The event, honoring one of the state’s all-time great golfers, is limited to players 40 years of age and older and will crown champions in three divisions: Overall, Senior and Super Senior. The tournament is presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

Winners will be determined in Overall Championship including competitors 40-54 years of age), seniors (55-64 years of age) and super seniors (65 years or older). The Overall and Senior divisions will play from approximately 6,600 yards, allowing a player to win both divisions with the low two-day total.

Connoquenessing Country Club’s Rick Stimmel, currently ranked seventh in the latest world senior amateur golf rankings, is defending the title he won a year ago in this event in both the overall and senior divisions. Stimmel birdied the third playoff hole last year at Old York Road Country Club to defeat Kevin Fajt (Hannastown Golf Club) after both players finished tied at even par. It was Stimmel’s second overall title, the other coming in 2022, and third senior title in the last four years.

Fajt, along with past overall champions Eric Williams (Glenmaura National Golf Club), Clay Davidson (West Shore Country Club) and Mark Johnson (USGA/Western Pennsylvania Golf Association) are entered in pursuit of the 2026 title.

Mike Vassil (Country Club of Scranton), a two-time overall winner, and Mike Capotis (The Kawkwa (Club), a past senior division winner, will head a very solid super senior field. Vassil won the recent state super senior four-ball championship at Toftrees Golf Resort with Byron Whitman (Berkshire Country Club). The field includes past super senior winners Don Erickson (Indiana Country Club, Brian Rothaus (Five Ponds Golf Club), Greg Osborne (Overlook Golf Course) and Bob Allshouse (Hannastown Golf Club).

Scotch Valley, a privately owned facility, was designed by James Harrison in 1968 and purchased by the DeGol family in 1982. The layout stretches to 6,874 yards and par is 72.   

The tournament’s namesake, Art Wall Jr., had 31 professional victories, including 14 on the PGA tour.  None is remembered more than the 1959 Masters when the Honesdale, Pa. native got his biggest career win with five birdies in the final six holes to capture the coveted green jacket by a stroke. That season he won the tour’s money title, Vardon Trophy and PGA player of the year honors. Mr. Wall passed away in 2001.