June 25, 2015
PGA Professional National Championship homepage
By Art Garcia | @ArtGarcia92
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington golf coach Stuart Deane is pickup up his clubs again to compete in the 48th PGA Professional National Championship. The Philadelphia Cricket Club is playing host to the showcase event for PGA Professionals from Sunday to Wednesday.
"Playing the PGA National Championship is always a great experience," Deane said. "When you have a chance to win a national title, it's aways a great thing. I am playing well and looking forward to the challenge of the four rounds, and in the end have a chance coming down the stretch to win."
Deane recently claimed the E-Z-Go Eastern Championship on Tuesday at the Dallas Athletic Club. He fired a 2-under-par 70 in the second round to solidify his victory, including stringing together four consecutive birdies on the back nine. Deane finished 8-under in the two-round event.
Deane was hired as men's and women's golf coach on May 19 after previously serving as assistant men's coach since February. Deane is also a PGA teaching professional at Rolling Hills Country Club in Arlington, which is one of the facilities used by the golf program.
The Championship will bring a field of 312 to Philadelphia Cricket Club, located 20 minutes northwest of downtown Philadelphia, Pa. The Championship will utilize the Wissahickon Course (formerly Flourtown), built by renowned golf architect A.W. Tillinghast in 1922; and the Militia Hill Course, a 2002 design by Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry. Wissahickon, named after the creek that borders one side of the property and dedicated to Tillinghast, will host the Championship's final 36 holes.
Founded in 1854, The Philadelphia Cricket Club is one of the oldest clubs in the U.S. devoted to the playing of games. Its English founders played cricket on available grounds before the club's first golf course, St. Martins, was built in 1895 by Willie Tucker. It was expanded to 18 holes two years later. The course hosted the 1907 and 1910 U.S. Open, before the club purchased its current property. The original nine-hole St. Martins layout exists today.
"We're very honored to host the 2015 PGA Professional National Championship, with our historic Wissahickon Course designed by our legendary member, A.W. Tillinghast," said Philadelphia Cricket Club 2015 Tournament Chair Bob Bauer.
