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New Blue Shamrock Golf Club head pro Alex Knoll having a big year
April 26, 2019
PHOTO CREDIT – PHILADELPHIA SECTION PGA
2019 has been a breakthrough year for Alex Knoll.
After serving as an assistant golf professional at The Bethlehem Golf Club since 2008, the 34-year-old Knoll was named the head golf professional at Blue Shamrock Golf Club in Palmerton on March 8.
Then on April 22, Knoll ended a six-year win-less streak in Philadelphia Section PGA tournaments when he won the 2019 Philadelphia PGA Callaway Golf TPD Championship at Green Valley Country Club.
Knoll shot 8-under-par 64 to win the Stableford points system event (32 points) by four points.
“It was a six-year drought,” said Knoll, a Hanover Township (Northampton County) native. “I had no expectations. It still hasn’t sunk in. The Philadelphia section is very competitive. Winning is that next step. I did everything almost perfect. I hit 17 of 18 greens. Everything was going my way.”
Next up for Knoll is the PGA Professional Championship, to be played Sunday, April 28 to Wednesday, May 1 at The Belfair Golf Club in Bluffton, South Carolina.
The top-20 finishers in the national club professional event will advance to the 101st PGA Championship, May 16-19 at Bethpage Black.
“I have some positive thoughts going into this,” said Knoll a former golf standout at Liberty High School (2003) and Davidson College (2007). “I want to show northeast PA has some good pros. If I play my game, and stay within myself, and the putter works, you never know.”
Knoll, who resides in Jim Thorpe, has taught mathematics at Palmerton High School since 2010.
After work, he makes the short 1.5 mile trip west to Blue Shamrock.
“It’s gone very well,” Knoll said. “I have gained 30-some members. We have new foot traffic every day. It’s going well. My lesson program is starting to build. I’m very happy where I’m at.”
Alex Knoll
Philadelphia Section PGA Victories
2019 Philadelphia PGA Callaway Golf TPD Championship
2013 Doylestown Open
2013 Taylormade Top 100 Invitational
2013 National Car Rental Philadelphia Section PGA Assistants Championship
2010 Delaware Valley Open
2008 Lehigh Valley Open
Amateur Victories:
2006 Lehigh Valley Medal Play Championship
2005 Pennsylvania State Amateur Championship, Huntington Valley CC
2005 Bethlehem Golf Club Medal Play Championship
2004 Lehigh Valley Medal Play Championship
2001 Eastern Pennsylvania Amateur
USGA Qualifications
2005 U.S. Amateur
(advanced to the 64-player match play field at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA)
2005 U.S. Public Links
2004 U.S. Public Links
2002 U.S. Junior Boys
PGA Professional Championship qualifications: 2013, 2014 (made cut), 2016, 2017 (made cut), 2018
Awards
2000-2009 Lehigh Valley Player of the Decade
2005 Lehigh Valley Player of the Year award
2004 Lehigh Valley Player of the Year award
Lehigh Valley Medal Play Championship
2005: runner-up
2003: tied for third place
2001: PIAA State Tournament, fourth place
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