2026 Art Wall Day 2 Recap

Jon Pratkanis, Rick Stimmel and Bob Gill Win Art Wall Titles

HOLIDAYSBURG, Pa. –  For the second consecutive year, the Pennsylvania Golf Association’s (PAGA) Art Wall Jr. Memorial Championship needed a playoff to determine an overall champion. This week’s 22^nd edition of the Championship, held at Scotch Valley Country Club, was decided on the first playoff hole – as round one leader Jon Pratkanis (Butler Country Club) won his first state title, outdueling Kevin Fajt (Hannastown Golf Club), who has now finished as Art Wall runner-up on six separate occasions.

Rick Stimmel (Connoquenessing Country Club) claimed a second consecutive Senior Division title while Bob Gill (Fox Hill Country Club) earned the victory in the Super-Senior Division.

The final pairing of Pratkanis, Fajt, and Stimmel battled each other all day long. Pratkanis held a one-stroke advantage after Monday’s first round and fired an even-par 72 on Tuesday for a two-day total of 143. He birdied 11 and 16 – and heading into the 18^th hole, all three were still tied at -1. Pars from Pratkanis and Fajt sent them to a playoff, where Pratkanis would win the first playoff hole to become this year’s medalist.

“The win feels good and it’s been a while,” said Pratkanis. “I think when I was 14 I won the Northeast Junior Golf Championship here but it’s good to be back with my first state championship. Today had a lot of ups and downs, literally. Kevin was playing great on the front and I think at one point I was four down. So I really grinded it out on the back and had some wild pars which saved me, made a birdie late, and got Kevin in the playoff. It feels great but it’s a long time coming.”

Fajt (72-71—143) was -3 on the front nine after a bogey on 3 but birdies on 4, 6, 8, and 9. A triple bogey on 11 proved to be costly, but a birdie on 14 put him back in contention at the end.

Eric Williams (Glenmaura National Golf Club) finished in fourth place with a two-day total of 145 (+1), while William Smith (Allegheny CC) rounds out the top 5 with his 146 (+2).

Stimmel, the Art Wall Senior Division champion in four of the last five years, began his day with a birdie on hole No. 1, added another on 14, and won the division by two strokes over William Smith.

“The round was pretty uneventful – I mean me, Kevin, and John just had a pillow fight all the way until the last hole,” said Stimmel. “I knew I had the Senior portion wrapped up but I was trying to double dip and get them both. I made a sloppy bogey on 18 and I couldn’t root for either one of them in the playoff because they’re both really good friends of mine. I won the Keystone State Amateur here in 1996 and 1997 and then I was medalist in a US Amateur qualifier in 2017, so I’ve been here four times, I’m 4-for-4, and I’m good with that.”

Artie Fink (Sinking Valley CC) finished in third place in the Senior Division at 147 (+3).   

In the Super-Senior Division, Bob Gill (75-74—149) began the day three strokes behind the leader but ended the day at five-over, one stroke clear of the field, with birdies on 5 and 10.

“It feels great,” said Gill. “This is my first state tournament and I’m 68, so it took a while but I finally pulled one out. It was a lot of fun. I played good, played the last five holes one under after making a couple of dumb bogeys, so I felt good about finishing the way I finished.”

Tying for runner-up status in the Super-Senior Division was Larry Martone (Stonewall) and Gregory Osborne (Overlook GC), who both finished the week at +6 (150).

Complete results from this week’s Championship can be found here: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/12394186566027751390

Next up on the PAGA schedule is the 33^rd Middle-Amateur Championship, scheduled for Sept. 21 and 22^nd and LedgeRock Golf Club.

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