PGA Golf Club to Host 2025 PGA Professional Championship Starting Sunday
The 2025 PGA Professional Championship presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial and Rolex returns this week to a familiar setting—PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, a venue with an extensive history in hosting PGA of America Member Championships. The 57th PGA Professional Championship will be contested April 27-30 on PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker […]
The 2025 PGA Professional Championship presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial and Rolex returns this week to a familiar setting—PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, a venue with an extensive history in hosting PGA of America Member Championships.
The 57th PGA Professional Championship will be contested April 27-30 on PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker and Ryder Courses. This marks the second edition of the Championship to take place at PGA Golf Club (2021), while the Club also has hosted numerous Senior and Assistant PGA Professional Championships as well as the PGA of America’s annual Tournament Series and Winter Championships.
First held in 1968, the PGA Professional Championship is golf’s largest all-professional national championship. The 312-player field of PGA of America Golf Professionals represents all 41 PGA Sections.
The Champion and top 20 finishers will earn a spot in the 107th PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, May 12-18, as members of the Corebridge Financial Team.
Defending Champion Ben Polland (Jackson, Wyo.) will be making his seventh start in the PGA Professional Championship. The 34-year-old shot 2-under-par 286 to win the 2024 PGA Professional Championship by three strokes at Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco. He was the lone player to finish under par and became the first player from the Rocky Mountain PGA Section to win the PPC.
That victory propelled Polland to 2024 PGA Professional Player of the Year honors and earned him six PGA TOUR starts this season. The PGA Director of Golf at Shooting Star of Jackson Hole has made the most of those opportunities, making three consecutive cuts at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, Puerto Rico Open and last week’s Corales Puntacana Championship.
“I’ve had a lot of confidence in general after winning it last year,” said Polland. “It’s a big deal. It’s our National Championship. I know how many great golfers there are and how difficult it is to win. Last year on that last day coming down the stretch on the back nine and holding onto the lead gave me a lot of confidence. That has helped me in these TOUR events this year, making these cuts. All of these experiences are feeding me for the next one.”
Polland looks to take full advantage of that confidence and valuable experience as he defends his title.
“There are obviously a lot of great players that qualified for this,” said Polland. “The experience of playing in a four-day tournament isn’t necessarily there for everyone. Making the cut is the first goal and that is a really hard one to do, 312 players cut down to 90. You have to really play conservative, smart golf to do that and not make any silly mistakes. The last two days is managing everything to make sure you have a chance to win or finish in that top 20. That’s everyone’s goal.”
Polland owns a strong track record at PGA Golf Club, highlighted by a fifth-place finish in the 2021 PGA Professional Championship and a victory at the 2016 Assistant PGA Professional Championship.
“I was excited to see that venue,” said Polland. “I’ve played there before, won before, but so have 100 other players. We play that course a lot in the winter series events and a bunch of other tournaments. Everyone is really familiar with it. There’s not really an advantage there to who knows the course better than others because everyone knows it.
“I think it’s great, especially the Wanamaker, a great Championship course because of how demanding it is with the wind and water on so many holes. You have to plot your way around and play smart, which I think is a strength of mine.”
Polland is one of 16 past PGA Professional Champions in the field: Alex Beach (2019), Rich Berberian Jr. (2016), Michael Block (2014), Matt Dobyns (2012 & 2015), Scott Hebert (2008), David Hutsell (2011), Darrell Kestner (1996), Jesse Mueller (2022), Rod Perry (2013), Ron Philo Jr. (2006), Jeff Roth (1993), Steve Schneiter (1995), Braden Shattuck (2023), Bob Sowards (2004) and Ryan Vermeer (2018).
Evan Bowser
The South Florida PGA Section will be represented by 21 players in the field, the most of any PGA Section. Evan Bowser (LaPlaya Golf Club), Matt Cahill (Seminole Golf Club), Dakun Chang (Seminole Golf Club), Tyler Collet (John’s Island Club), Tom Cooper (Pine Tree Golf Club), Eric Costa (West Bay Club), Drew Dietter (The Club at Olde Cypress), Andrew Filbert (West Bay Club), Domenico Geminiani (Old Corkscrew Golf Club), Ashley Grier (The Legacy Golf and Tennis Club), Justin Hicks (Stonebridge Golf & Country Club), Jared Isaacs (Adios Golf Club), Michael Kartrude (The Bear’s Club), David Ladd (Champions Club at Summerfield), Nick Latimer (Medalist Golf Club), Justin McCarraher (Heritage Bay Golf & Country Club), Mike Midgette (Delaire Country Club), (Alan Morin – The Club At Ibis), Ron Philo Jr. (Palm Beach State College), Justin Smith (Bonita Bay Club) and Jeremy Wells (Cypress Lake Golf Club).
Preston Cole, the Lead Assistant PGA Golf Professional at Quail Hollow Club, will attempt to become the first PGA of America Golf Professional from that year’s PGA Championship host site to earn a spot in the field through the PGA Professional Championship.
Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth
Darrell Kestner, PGA Director of Golf at Deepdale Golf Club, is slated to compete in his 31st PGA Professional Championship and surpass Jim White’s record for most PGA Professional Championship appearances.
Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth, PGA Teaching Professional at San Jose Country Club and 2023-24 Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year, returns for her fourth PPC following a T-26 finish in 2024. Connelly Eiswerth is one of 10 women in the field.
The Championship will offer a $750,000 purse and $66,700 to the Champion. A 36-hole cut will take place Monday to the low 90 scorers and ties, and a 54-hole cut Tuesday to the low 70 scorers and ties.
All four rounds will be broadcast by NBC/Golf Channel. All times listed are Eastern.
Sunday, April 27: 4-6 p.m. (NBC Sports App & Web) and 7-9 p.m. (GOLF Channel tape delay)
Monday, April 28 – Wednesday, April 30: 3 – 6 p.m. (GOLF Channel)
I-44 snow pile caused McKendree University coach death
ST. LOUIS — A large pile of snow on the highway caused the car crash that killed a McKendree University water polo coach, her husband alleges in a suit filed this week. Colleen Lischwe, 35, was driving her Toyota Prius early one January morning on eastbound Interstate 44 near the Vandeventer Avenue overpass when a […]
ST. LOUIS — A large pile of snow on the highway caused the car crash that killed a McKendree University water polo coach, her husband alleges in a suit filed this week.
Colleen Lischwe, 35, was driving her Toyota Prius early one January morning on eastbound Interstate 44 near the Vandeventer Avenue overpass when a problem with her car prompted her to pull over toward the shoulder, the suit says.
But a large snow bank was in the way, so she couldn’t get off the road. Her car was hit by a semitrailer going 60 mph, catapulting her over the snow pile and down onto Vandeventer.
The suit says the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, which is in charge of snow removal on public highways, is to blame.
“As a result of the subject collision, and the severe injuries sustained, Colleen Lischwe, loving wife and mother, died,” the suit says.
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A spokeswoman for the highways and transportation commission declined to comment on pending litigation.
Lischwe, of St. Louis, had worked since 2017 as the head coach of the McKendree University women’s water polo team in Lebanon, Illinois. A year later, she took over the men’s team as well.
Her death on Jan. 15 came after a string of winter storms in January dumped inches of ice and snow on the region, prompting days of business and school closures and complaints about inadequate snow removal.
Loved ones remembered her as a compassionate, yet tough coach who brought out the best in her players.
She is survived by her husband, Casey Colgan, and a 3-year-old daughter.
The lawsuit is seeking an unspecified amount of damages. A hearing has not been set in the case.
Victim of deadly I-44 crash was water polo coach at McKendree University
Wolf leads hungry Oakville squad into girls water polo final
Post-Dispatch photographers capture hundreds of images each week; here’s a glimpse at the week of April 27, 2025. Video edited by Jenna Jones.
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Women’s Track & Field Competes at West Point Twilight
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WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Franklin & Marshall women’s track & field team was chasing personal bests and national qualifying times at the West Point Twilight Meet in New York on Thursday afternoon. The Diplomats finished the qualifier with a pair of top 10 individual finishes. A multi-event […]
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Franklin & Marshall women’s track & field team was chasing personal bests and national qualifying times at the West Point Twilight Meet in New York on Thursday afternoon. The Diplomats finished the qualifier with a pair of top 10 individual finishes.
A multi-event athlete throughout the season, Amanda Imhauser put all of her efforts into the long jump where her mark of 5.02 meters placed her sixth in the field.
Jordyn Collie represented the Diplomats on the track as her time of 2:26.95 was good for a top 10 finish in the 800 meters.
Women’s track & field will now turn its attention to the All-Atlantic Regional Championships. Hosted by Williams College, that meet will run from Wednesday, May 14 through Thursday, May 15.
Noblesville’s Sam Wolf (9) and Elijah McNamara (3) both had two blocks for the Millers during their win over Lawrence North on Wednesday. (Julie Brown) Posted By: Richie Hall May 9, 2025 The REPORTER The Noblesville boys volleyball team swept Lawrence North on Wednesday, 25-18, 25-20, 25-22. Anas Sakkah led the Millers’ offense with 17 […]
Noblesville’s Sam Wolf (9) and Elijah McNamara (3) both had two blocks for the Millers during their win over Lawrence North on Wednesday. (Julie Brown)
Posted By: Richie Hall May 9, 2025
The REPORTER
The Noblesville boys volleyball team swept Lawrence North on Wednesday, 25-18, 25-20, 25-22.
Anas Sakkah led the Millers’ offense with 17 kills, followed by Gael Esqueda with 12 kills. Sakkah also collected 15 digs, followed by 13 for Sam Wolf and 11 for Esqueda. Wolf dished out 33 assists.
Five different Noblesville players made two blocks: Elijah McNamara, Wolf, Esqueda, Ben Sandahl and Nathan Lamantia.
The Millers played at Hamilton Southeastern on Thursday for their regular-season finale. A score from that match was unavailable at press time.
Long Beach State’s Moni Nikolov Named NCAA Player of the Year – The562.org
The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2024-25 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl. Long Beach State star freshman setter Moni Nikolov’s historic season continues this week at the NCAA Tournament, as he’s led the Beach to the No. 1 overall seed and a Final Four match on Saturday against Pepperdine at 2pm. Nikolov […]
The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2024-25 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
Long Beach State star freshman setter Moni Nikolov’s historic season continues this week at the NCAA Tournament, as he’s led the Beach to the No. 1 overall seed and a Final Four match on Saturday against Pepperdine at 2pm. Nikolov has added another huge accomplishment to his resume–he was named the AVCA’s National Player of the Year, shortly after being named Freshman of the Year.
He is just the second-ever freshman to win National Player of the Year, after his brother Alex did it with Long Beach State a few years ago.
“I think when you look at Moni’s year, I think this is the most impact one player has ever had on men’s volleyball in one season that I’ve ever been around,” said LBSU coach Alan Knipe. “In every part of the game. His athleticism, his play, his leadership, all those things. We’ve had five teams with their biggest crowd when they’ve played us on the road this season–we’ve had extra security just to get him on the bus. None of that stuff’s nearly as important as what he does on the court, but when you package it all together it’s so special.”
Nikolov guided the Beach to a nation-best .399 attack while also setting a Big West record for most aces in a season, and now No. 2 in history as he approaches 100. He also killed, blocked, and dug balls in a way that few setters ever have, using his 6-8 physique to stress defenses in a unique way.
Nikolov said that he was happy to join his brother in making history.
“Before I came here it was kind of a joking rivalry with him,” he said. “But I didn’t come here to win this. It just so happened that I played well and helped my team and got the award.”
Nikolov said that Knipe called him into his office and shook his hand and said that only he and one other player had achieved this accomplishment: he and his brother Alex.
Nikolov also stressed that as fun as it was to win the award, his goal is two more wins.
“This is not the goal, this is not what I came here for,” he said. “If I could trade it for winning the championship with my team I would always trade it, it’s always the team first. I’m coming here for winning the Final.”
Men’s Track and Field With Strong Showing Against Strong Field at West Point Twilight
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WEST POINT, N.Y. – Joseph Perriello set a personal-best and an all-time program Top 10 mark in the 110-meter hurdles and Cooper Kinsley set a personal-best in the shot put, falling less than one inch short of an all-time program Top 10 mark for the Stevens Institute of Technology […]
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Joseph Perriello set a personal-best and an all-time program Top 10 mark in the 110-meter hurdles and Cooper Kinsley set a personal-best in the shot put, falling less than one inch short of an all-time program Top 10 mark for the Stevens Institute of Technology men’s track and field team Thursday evening at the West Point Twilight event.
The first-year Perriello posted a time of 15.97 seconds in the 110 hurdles, shaving one-tenth of a second off his previous personal-best set last weekend at the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Outdoor Championships, becoming just the 10th man in program history to run under 16 seconds in the event.
The junior Kinsley finished Thursday with a top throw of 41 feet, 3.75 inches with 41 feet, four inches currently serving as the 10th-best mark in outdoor program history.
In addition to various D-3 teams like Rowan, Rutgers-Newark, Farmingdale State, Merchant Marine, Mount St. Mary, the event featured such D-1 and D-2’s as UAlbany, Hofstra, Fordham, Colgate, Lafayette, Vermont, American International College, Adelphi, St. Thomas Aquinas, and the host Black Knights, with the Ducks holding their own in several events.
Ryan Paradine ran 1:59.24 in the 800m — besting runners from American International and Fordham –, Connor Robinson ran 58.37 in the 400m hurdles – besting an Adelphi competitor –, William Ladd cleared 1.86 meters in the high jump – tying two Army-West Point athletes –, and Braedan Joyce topped out in the javelin throw at 141 feet, four inches – four feet clear of another Army-West Point competitor.
UP NEXT
The Ducks will compete at the Widener Final Qualifier in Chester, Pa. next Monday, May 12, at 11:00 a.m.
The Montana track and field program will wrap up the regular season with the Tom Gage Classic in Bozeman on Friday. The Grizzlies will send a small squad over for a last chance meet before the Big Sky Championships in Sacramento next week. While many athletes will rest this weekend in preparation for the […]
The Montana track and field program will wrap up the regular season with the Tom Gage Classic in Bozeman on Friday. The Grizzlies will send a small squad over for a last chance meet before the Big Sky Championships in Sacramento next week.
While many athletes will rest this weekend in preparation for the conference meet, the Tom Gage Classic represents an opportunity for plenty of others. Montana’s travel roster is limited, but there are still spots up for grabs for any Grizzlies that have a strong performance in Bozeman.
“This is a very meaningful meet for several kids who are trying to grab one of those last couple of roster spots that are available,” head coach Doug Fraley said. “It’s a do-or-die situation for those kids, and it’s very exciting for them to be in that position. It’s going to be interesting how it shakes out and who will step up to grab those last few roster spots.”
It’s been a fantastic season for the Grizzlies, carrying over the momentum that they built during indoors. Montana currently has 55 individuals or relay teams ranked inside the top 10 in the Big Sky Conference.
They had their biggest week of the season at the Bengal Invitational in Pocatello last weekend. Montana knocked out three school records in Pocatello with Tara Ohlwiler (100m), Samantha Serex (pole vault), and the women’s 4×400-meter relay team all etching their names into program history.
The weekend also saw four Grizzlies move into regional qualifying position. The top 48 athletes in the NCAA West Region will compete at the NCAA First Round meet in College Station, Texas at the end of the month.
Serex’s school record boosted her into 44th in the region. Ashley Carroll also moved into the top 48 in the women’s javelin with a PR of 152-7. The men also had two athletes jump into the top 48 with Carson Weeden (17-0.25, pole vault) and Patrick Kremer (6-10.25, high jump).
While many event groups will be resting this week, Montana’s top pole vaulters will be chasing new bars to either solidify a regional spot or break into the top 48. In addition to Serex, who still may need another centimeter to make regionals in the most talented pole vault region in NCAA history, Shealyne McGee and Molly Chambers are also inside the top 100 in the region.
Weeden is currently 37th in the region, and teammates Kevin Swindler, Corbin Luce, and Carson Hegele are all inside the top 80.
“The pole vaulters will all be going and we’ve got some kids that are currently inside the bubble and some just outside the bubble for regionals, so those are the highest level performances we’ll be looking to get at this meet because we have vaulters that are really close one way or another,” Fraley said. “It looks like it’s going to be a good day to up that mark by a centimeter or two and either solidify their spots inside the bubble, or move into the top 48 if they are outside of the bubble.”
For many of Montana’s athletes making the trip to Bozeman, this meet will cap off seasons or even careers. The forecast calls for sunny weather in the 70s, which should provide a great environment for a final meet.
“It’s great that a lot of our athletes will have the opportunity to go up to Bozeman and either close out their season, or in some cases, close out their careers,” Fraley said. “It looks like it’s going to be great weather and a good opportunity for them to finish up their season or career on a positive note.”
MONTANA MEN’S ENTRIES 100m- Brody Thornsberry 200m- Brody Thornsberry, Cody Lease 400m- Garrett Dahlke, Landon Shilhanek 800m- Truman Thompson, Keagen Crosby, Morgan Amano, Michael Jump, Colin Shaules 1,500m- Lane Cole, Kanoa Blake, Zachary Giesch, Luke Mest 5,000m- Luke Mest, Zachary Giesch 400mH- Adam Maxwell Pole Vault- Carson Weeden, Carson Hegele, Corbin Luce, Carter Petersen Long Jump- Gordon McMillion, Brody Thornsberry Discus- Tyler Bates Shot Put- Wade Rykal Hammer Throw- Tyler Bates, Wade Rykal, Memphis Black
MONTANA WOMEN’S ENTRIES 100m- Isabelle Berry, Audrey Smith, Destiny Santiago 200m- Cosley Bruno, Isabelle Berry, Destiny Santiago 400m- Cosley Bruno 800m- Mackenzie Morgan 1,500m- Heidi Olson, Abigail Kotran, Shay Pederson, Olivia Coll, Kayla Ingraham, Sofia Hinderman, Lucy Thompson, Ashtyn Wagner 100mH- Isabelle Berry Pole Vault- Samantha Serex, Shealyne McGee, Molly Chambers, Emma Zimmerman-Weeden, Hannah Moses, Ani Smith Long Jump- Emily Maughan Discus- Mary Mickelson, Cathlene Van Zyl, Morgan Thomas Shot Put- Cathlene Van Zyl, Calista Ousley Hammer- Morgan Thomas, Mary Mickelson, Scout Nadeau, Calista Ousley
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