100K prize makes Haverford Classic area players' priority

Of all the tournaments played by the club professionals that make up the more than 28,000 members of the PGA of America working in the nation's 41 PGA sections, the most lucrative one for years has been contested in the Philadelphia area.

However, now that the founder and sponsor of the Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic has raised the first-prize amount this year to a cool $100,000, the local pros - some of whom don't earn that much in an entire season - fervently hope to have their A games with them for Tuesday's event at Sunnybrook Golf Club in Plymouth Meeting.

Philadelphia Section PGA president John Pillar calls the tournament a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"As a club professional, $100,000, that's a life-changer," said Pillar, head pro at Woodloch Springs in northeastern Pennsylvania. "That can make things a lot easier, whether it's college, debt, homes, weddings. That's a lot of money."

The tournament is the creation of George Connell, the owner of Drexel Morgan & Co., a bank holding company that owns the Haverford Trust Company, the title sponsor. The event is in its 19th year.

"The real thing is to give a guy a break," Connell said. "If you're an assistant pro and you're making 25 to 30 grand a year, and you've got a shot at 100 [grand], that to me is pretty good. So it's giving back a little bit thinking, wouldn't it be nice if one of these guys could make some real money?"

The $100,000 prize - double what it was just three years ago - for a one-day event is more than the $75,000 check that will go to the winner of next month's PGA Professional National Championship at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, a four-day competition for the nation's best club pros. Connell said that fact went into his thinking to increase this year's top payout.

Darrell Crall, the chief operating officer of the PGA of America, praised Connell and Haverford Trust for its "continued investment and commitment to the PGA professionals in the Philadelphia area.

"The opportunity to compete for and win a $100,000 prize is transformational for the winner and exciting for all involved," he said.

Yes, but it also can be a nerve-racking experience for someone with a chance to win.

"One time I got to a point where I was 4-under through eight or nine holes and then things started happening," said Pillar, who has finished second in this event but never won. "You get ahead of yourself. When you're playing well, you're not thinking about anything but the next shot. But here, you're playing well, there's pressure."

There also is pressure when a player factors in the difference between the first prize and the $5,000 that goes to the runner-up, especially if there is a sudden-death playoff. Of the 126 players in the field, only the top 40 contestants - 35 plus the top five seniors - will walk away with some cash.

Philadelphia Section PGA executive director Geoff Surrette said he spoke briefly with Connell about spreading the extra first-prize money around but that Connell "wanted to make this opportunity in this event for our members."

Connell said distributing the money throughout the field is "completely different with my thinking.

"If you come in second, you're doing pretty good. Five grand's not bad," he said.