THE LATEST HEADLINES FROM
NEW JERSEY GOLF NEWS
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
Galloping Hill Golf Course will host the First Stage of the 2025 PGA Tour Q-School from October 14-17
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Jennifer Kupcho on her one shot victory over Ilhee Lee at the 2025 ShopRite LPGA Classic (June 2025)
Another year, another Major Champion triumphs at the ShopRite LPGA Classic. Rising LPGA Tour star Jennifer Kupcho captured her fourth career victory—and first since 2022—with a calm, clutch birdie on the 479-yard 18th hole at Seaview’s historic Bay Course on Sunday.
Kupcho’s birdie-par-birdie finish sealed the win at 15-under par (68-64-66), edging South Korea’s Ilhee Lee by a single stroke. Kupcho rolled in seven birdies in her final round, including the decisive six-footer at 18, after a pinpoint chip left her with the go-ahead putt.
Lee, who held a one-stroke lead (-11 to -10) entering the final round, surged late with back-to-back birdies on holes 17 and 18 to tie Kupcho at -14—briefly. Kupcho then responded with a nerveless up-and-down and closing birdie to reclaim the lead and clinch victory.
Coming off a missed cut at last week’s U.S. Women’s Open, the 28-year-old from Colorado bounced back with poise, capping her week with a 5-under 66 on Sunday.
“I really wasn’t thinking about anybody else,” said Kupcho. “I had my mind set on 14-under. Obviously, I did a little better, but I just stayed in my zone the whole time. This feels really nice.”
Kupcho, a former NCAA champion at Wake Forest University, becomes the third American to win on the LPGA Tour in 2025, joining Yealimi Noh (Founders Cup) and Angel Yin (Honda LPGA Thailand). She’s also the 16th different American to win the ShopRite LPGA Classic in its 37-year history, and the first since Lexi Thompson in 2019.
READ THE FULL STORY AT LATEST UPDATES & NEWS
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Three New Jersey golfers – Max Greyserman, Chris Gotterup, and Ryan McCormick, are playing in the US OPEN at Oakmont Country Club
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Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand closed with a 3-under 69 for a four shot vicotry over Celine Boutier of France in the 3rd year of the Mizuho Americas Open (May 2025)
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Will Harman (of Charlotte, C) and Tyler Mawhinney (of Fleming Island, FL) both part of the inaugural class of the USGA National Development Program defeated Mid-Amateur champion Evan Beck and Dan Walters in the 18-hole final of the 10th US AmateurFour-Ball Championship played this year at Plainfield Country Club/Echo Lake. Both Harman and Mawhinney are teenagers and will be playing together for Vanderbilt University.
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CONGRATULATIONS - SCOTT PARIS (Plainfield Country Club)
Photo Courtesy of the PGA of America
WINNER OF THE 2025 PGA OF AMERICA
GOLF PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Scott Paris, PGA, the Director of Golf at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey, is the recipient of the 2025 PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year Award. This is the highest annual honor given to a PGA of America Golf Professional, which is awarded for leadership, strong moral character and a substantial record of service to the Association and the game of golf.
A PGA of America Golf Professional since 1994, Paris has played an integral role in the success of the historic Plainfield Country Club, both locally and nationally, since 1997 when he was hired as PGA Head Golf Professional. He has served as Director of Golf since 2006 and also served as the Chief Operating Officer from 2018-2024.
Paris was instrumental in Plainfield Country Club hosting two PGA Tour FedEx Cup Playoff events (2011, 2015) and in the awarding of three future USGA Championships (2025 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, 2031 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, 2037 U.S. Senior Open).
His passion for mentorship has led to over 20 former Assistant Golf Professionals becoming either PGA Directors of Golf or Head Golf Professionals at facilities throughout the country. Paris has strived to inspire career advancement for his staff by providing interview training, objective goal setting and career seminars.
Paris helped establish the First Tee of Plainfield in 2009, the first First Tee program located at a private club. Additionally, he serves as an Evans Caddie Scholarship PGA Ambassador and helped implement the Evans program at Plainfield CC. The first Evans Scholar from the facility was named in 2023.
A native of Avon, Connecticut, Paris graduated from Bucknell University in 1989, where he competed on the golf team and earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration. Following graduation, he moved to Florida to play mini tour events while working for DeLand Country Club. Prior to Plainfield, he worked for Aronimink Golf Club (1993-97) in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, and spent winters at Bonita Bay Club (1993) and the Simon Holmes Academy (1994-96).
Already a national award winner, Paris was the recipient of the 2013 PGA of America Merchandiser of the Year (Private). A multiple-award winner at the New Jersey Section level, he received the Golf Professional of the Year Award (2013, 2017), Bill Strausbaugh Award (2009), Merchandiser of the Year (Private-2004) and Plainfield CC received the Club of the Year Award (2004).
An accomplished player, Paris qualified for the 2019 U.S. Senior Open, Senior PGA Professional Championship (2024, 2021, 2019) and 2015 PGA Professional Championship.
Paris has extensively served the New Jersey PGA Section, serving as President (2015-16), Vice President (2013-14) and Secretary (2011-12) following his service on the Section’s Board of Directors as well as the New Jersey Golf Foundation Board of Directors.
Paris, his wife Rachel and their three children Jack, Kate and Will reside in Westfield, New Jersey. He will offically receive the award at the PGA of America's annual meeting in Frisco, Texas in early November, 2025.
(Courtesy of the PGA of America)
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PINE VALLEY GOLF CLUB WILL HOST THE 2044 WALKER CUP
The USGA recently announced the following championship updates:
- Pine Valley Golf Club will host the 2044 Walker Cup Match
- Stu Francis named USA Captain, 2025 Men’s World Amateur Team Championship
- Kendra Graham named USA Captain, 2025 Women’s World Amateur Team Championship
- Meghan Stasi named 2026 USA Curtis Cup Captain. Stasi is a native of Voorhees, NJ
Pine Valley Golf Club, in Pine Hill, N.J., will host its fourth USGA championship, having previously hosted the 1936 and 1985 Walker Cup Matches. The renowned venue will also host the 2034 Curtis Cup Match. (Above photo is courtesy of the USGA/ Pine Valley Golf Club)
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CONGRATULATIONS - 2025 NJ GOLF HALL OF FAME
The former NJSGA (now calling themselves NJ Golf) has announced their 2025 Hall of Fame inductees. They are former LPGA player Marina Alex, former NJSGA Executive Director Steve Foehl and amateur standout, Brian Komline. Alex, who recently retired from the LPGA TOUR, had two career victories and 35 career top-10 finishes.. Foehl was the Executive Director of the NJSGA for many years and still remains actuve in the organization. Komline, as a amateur, is the only competitor to have won all of NJSGA "Majors" (Open, Amateur, Mid-Amateur and Four-ball). They were inducted into the NJ HOF in April, 2025.
FUTURE USGA/PGA TOUR EVENTS IN NEW JERSEY
2027 BMW Fed-Ex Cup Championship at Liberty National (August 2027)
Plainfield Country Club to host the the 2031 US Senior Women's Open and the 2035 US Senior Men's Open
2025 NJ GOLF EVANS SCHOLARSHIPS
CLICK HERE FOR SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS
Congratulations to the 2025 NJ Golf Evans Scholarship winners. This four year scholarship, for both full room and board, is afforded to local caddies who have met the caddying, academic and financial qualifications of the scholarship, Most will attend Rutgers University starting in Fall, 2025. The scholarship is valued at around $125,000.
| Name |
Hometown |
Club |
High School |
| Peter Tadrick |
Brick |
Hollywood GC |
Brick Twp. |
| Edison Moya |
Butler |
Essex County CC |
Butler |
| Molly Craffey |
Garnerville, NY |
Edgewood CC |
North Rockland |
| Giovanni Piro |
Lincoln Park |
North Jersey CC |
Don Bosco Prep |
| Pedro Chicas |
North Bergen |
Crestmont CC |
Saint Benedict's Prep |
| Brian Ramirez |
North Plainfield |
Baltusrol GC |
Saint Benedict's Prep |
| Luke Phillips |
Red Bank |
Rumson CC |
Christian Brothers Academy |
| Lindsay Gilbert |
Wall |
Spring Lake GC |
Communications HS |
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