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As 2019 regional amateur golf season begins, Chad Hess seeks to challenge for Lehigh Valley Player of the Year honors again
April 7, 2019
As 2019 regional amateur golf season begins, Chad Hess seeks to challenge for Lehigh Valley Player of the Year honors again
Change is a constant in competitive athletics.
After a six year era where former Northwestern Lehigh and Penn State golfer Cole Miller dominated regional amateur golf with five Lehigh Valley Player of the Year awards, Chad Hess of Upper Macungie Township captured the honor last season over a host of challengers.
When the 2019 regional amateur golf season kicks-off April 27-28 with the 24th annual Northeast PA Stroke Play Championship at Hideway Hills Golf Club in Polk Township, the battle for top honors in the greater Lehigh Valley region figures to be a wide-open affair.
A former Parkland (2014) and Old Dominion University (2018) golfer, Hess accumulated 77 points to edge former Nazareth golfer Kevin Scherr (2017) by 3.5 points for 2018 player of the year honors.
Now a sophomore standout on the Youngstown State golf team, Scherr had 73.5 points.
With other top golfers in close contention last year such as reigning Allentown champion Zach Juhasz (68), Dave Blichar (62), Cody Cox (61), 2018 PA Mid-Amateur winner Matt Mattare (58.5), Jim Maru (57.5) and 2018 Lehigh Valley Amateur champion Jason Wilson (49.5), 2019 shapes up to be a very competitive season.
Hess, 23, is coming off a banner 2018 campaign which saw him the Lehigh Valley Medal Play Championship and Eastern Pennsylvania Amateur titles.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to play golf in the Lehigh Valley with so many talented athletes,” Hess said. “It is an honor and a privilege to be Player of the Year, and I appreciate the challenges one must overcome to claim that prestigious title.”
Hess plans to combine a career in education with his ambitious amateur golf plans.
A student teacher candidate for a Masters in Education at Old Dominion University, Hess is currently student teaching at Springhouse Middle School in the Parkland Area School District.
“I teach social studies, science, and math to sixth grade,” Hess said. “My career plan is to be a lifelong educator and to be a valued member of my community.”
Hess, who works with Bethlehem Golf Club head pro Paul Viola, plans to compete in several tournaments this season:
May 24-26 — Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship
June 19 — Pennsylvania Amateur Qualifier, Huntsville Golf Club
June 21-22 — Lehigh Valley Medal Play, Woodstone Country Club
July 8-10—Jay Sigel Match Play, Llanerch CC (if registration is accepted)
July —Pennsylvania Open Qualifier
Juky 22-23 — Lehigh Valley Open, Northampton Country Club
July 29-31—Pennsylvania Amateur, Aronimink Golf Club
August 2-3—Eastern Pennsylvania Amateur, Whitetail Golf Club, Southmoore Golf Course
August 10-11 — Allentown City Amateur Stroke Play Championship, Allentown Municipal Golf Course
August 12-14—Pennsylvania Open, Waynesborough Country Club
Hess listed several goals for hos golf career.
“To play every round of golf as if it were my last round, to enjoy the game for all that it is, to help grow the game within myself and for others, and to expand my network by meeting new people and fostering relationships,” Hess said. “There is stout competition for the coveted title (player of the year) this year, but the goal I cherish above them all is to repeat as 2019 Player of the Year.”
2019 LEHIGH VALLEY INDIVIDUAL AMATEUR GOLF TOURNAMENTS
INDIVIDUAL “OPEN” TOURNAMENT
July 22-23 – 12th annual Lehigh Valley Open, Northampton CC
Amateur Qualifier: June 9, Bethlehem GC
INDIVIDUAL “MAJOR” AMATEUR TOURNAMENTS
May 24-26 – 30th Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship: Bethlehem GC, Allentown GC, Green Pond CC
June 21-22 ¬- 29th Lehigh Valley Medal Play Championship, Woodstone CC
Sept. 21-29 – 83rd Lehigh Valley Amateur, Green Pond CC. 610-691-9453
Oct. 11-12 – 30th Lehigh Valley Tournament of Champions, Lehigh Country CC
OTHER TOP INDIVIDUAL AMATEUR EVENTS
April 27-28 – 24th Northeast PA Stroke Play Championship, Hideaway Hills GC
July 5 – 24th Lehigh Valley Mid-Amateur Championship, Wedgewood GC
July 13-14 – 64th Bethlehem Golf Club Amateur Stroke Play, Bethlehem GC
July 19-21 – 10th Northeast PA Match Play Championship, Olde Homestead GC
August 2-3 – 28th Eastern Pennsylvania Amateur, Southmoore GC and Whitetail GC
August 10-11 – 66th Allentown City Amateur Stroke Play, Allentown GC
INDIVIDUAL SENIOR “MAJOR” AMATEUR TOURNAMENTS
May 24-26 – 29th Lehigh Valley Senior Inter-Club Championship: Bethlehem GC, Allentown GC, Green Pond CC.
June 1-2 ¬- 26th Lehigh Valley Senior Amateur Medal Play Championship, Green Pond CC
Sept. 21-29 – 28th Lehigh Valley Senior Amateur Match Play Championship, Green Pond CC. 610-691-9453
Oct. 11-12 – 30th Lehigh Valley Senior Tournament of Champions, Lehigh Country CC
OTHER TOP INDIVIDUAL SENIOR AMATEUR EVENTS
August 2-3 – 26th Eastern Pennsylvania Senior Amateur, Southmoore GC and Whitetail GC
August 9 ¬- 1st annual Lehigh Valley Super-Senior Stroke Play Championship, Wedgewood GC
INDIVIDUAL WOMEN’S AMATEUR TOURNAMENTS
June 23 – 13th annual Lehigh Valley Women’s Amateur Stroke Play Championship, Wedgewood GC
NOTE: For tournaments without a telephone number, information is available at www.golfgalv.com.
PENNSYLVANIA GOLF ASSOCIATION (PGA, PA) CHAMPIONSHIPS & QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS
July 18 — PGA, PA qualifying tournament: 103rd Pennsylvania Open qualifying tournament, Schuylkill Country Club
August 28– PGA, PA qualifying tournament: 26th Pennsylvania Middle Amateur qualifying tournament, Northampton Country Club
September 24 — Central / Eastern Division Women’s Four-Ball, Moselem Springs Golf Club
GOLF ASSOCIATION OF PHILADELPHIA (GAP) CHAMPIONSHIPS & QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS
April 13 — GAP qualifying tournament: 36th Middle-Amateur qualifier, Olde Homestead Golf Club
May 18 — GAP qualifying tournament: 119th Philadelphia Amateur qualifier, Brookside Country Club
June 5 — 14th Frank H. Chapman Memorial Cup, Moselem Springs Golf Club
June 19 — GAP qualifying tournament: 115th Philadelphia Open qualifier, Golden Oaks Golf Club
July 2- – USGA qualifying tournament: U.S. Girl’s Junior Championship sectional qualifier, Steel Club
July 23 — GAP qualifying tournament: 117th Joseph H. Patterson Cup qualifier, Great Bear Country Club
September 26 — USGA qualifying tournament: USGA Women’s Amateur Four-Ball qualifier, Lehigh Country Club
October 16– 29th Philadelphia Challenge Matches, Saucon Valley Country Club, Weyhill Course
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