Hustlers
PGA Championship 2024: Low club pro at Valhalla drives from Kentucky to Pennsylvania for local tourney, breaks course record and wins event
Scott Taetsch/PGA of America
We didn't quite see the magic produced by Michael Block at Oak Hill last year, but the 21 club pros in the field at this week's PGA Championship did themselves proud.
Block didn't make it to the weekend this time, but two players, Braden Shattuck and Jeremy Wells did. And Shattuck showed just how dedicated he is to the game after completing his final round at Valhalla on Sunday.
The director of instruction at Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa., finished at one under for the week to claim low club-pro honors. And Shattuck said that after being honored in the ceremony along with the new winner of the Wanamaker Trophy, he plans to drive through the night to another tee time in a Philly section event.
"Yeah I'm going to be hanging around for awhile for the ceremony at the end and then once all that's over with I'll be driving back with my friends," Shattuck said, who made $22,830 for finshing 72nd. "I think it's about a 10-hour drive back, and try and make my tee time for tomorrow at Bellwood for the section event. It's one of the Silver Crest Cup qualifiers, so I need to show up and play so that I can get points to qualify."
Now that's a pro's (club) pro right there.
UPDATE: Well, it’s a good thing Shattuck and co. made the trek from Kentucky to Pennsylvania. The low club pro at Valhalla didn’t just have a solid showing, he broke the Bellewood Country Club course record by two strokes. The 29-year-old recorded a bogey-free eight-birdie 63 to win the Delaware Valley Open by two over Louis Kelly. In case you’re wondering, this year’s Delaware Valley Open did take place at a Pennsylvania course.
"I didn’t get into too much trouble today,” Shattuck said of his dynamite round. "I had a lot of short clubs in my hand, which made it a little easier, having a 130-yard approach compared to 230 yards at Valhalla. I couldn’t be happier.
“Being on the road for a long time can be hard, and I’m lucky to have everyone around supporting me.”
That’s quite the week for Shattuck who has put himself in a solid position to repeat as Philadelphia PGA Player of the Year. The crowd size might have been a bit lower at Bellewood compared to Valhalla, but a win’s a win. And more importantly, a check’s a check.
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