Link to Photos of Division Champions and Division Top 5 Finishers: Photos courtesy of PGA of America
KOHLER, Wisconsin (Sept. 2, 2025) – The real prize at the 2025 PGA Family Golf Championship was time together on two of Wisconsin’s iconic golf courses. Nearly 160 golfers from 28 states and Canada teed it up August 30–31 at Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run, bridging generations for two fun-filled days of family golf.
Dave DeSantis, PGA, wife Holly, and grandson Gordie Gatrell (Salt Lake City, Utah) lived up to their team name “3-Peaters,” capturing the Professional Division title for the third consecutive year. The trio went bogey-free on both days with a -18 finish (126, 64-62), four shots ahead of second place. Two teams tied for second with a 14-under 130. Team Pickle Chips, made up of Matt Montecucco, PGA (Chambers Bay, Tacoma, Wash.) and his cousin Avery Marie Renggli recorded rounds of 66 and 63. Team Vernon with Timothy Vernon, PGA, son Michael and daughter Laura (Edina, Minnesota), posted rounds of 64 and 66.
“I boldly came up with the name this year,” Dave DeSantis said. “When you are defending a title, you definitely feel the pressure. We set a goal to go bogey-free, and we did. We all stepped up and made the putts when we needed them.”
In the Amateur Division, three-time participants Joe Herrera and his son Philip (GCL Golf) of Las Vegas, Nevada, won the title with a -15 (129, 64-65), finishing two shots ahead of Jon and Brody Lindahl (Team Lindahl) of Roseville, Minnesota, who finished at -13 (131, 66-65).
“Philip only started playing golf three years ago before the first PGA Family Golf Championship at PGA West, and we weren’t overly competitive,” Joe Herrera said. “We played last year in Orlando and loved it, but this year was amazing. We finally cracked the code of playing a scramble, found our rhythm, and we won!”
“My putting really helped us on the first day,” Philip Herrera added. “We hit some shots today that we needed when we needed them.”
The two-day scramble featured teams of 2-4 players, all biologically or legally related, competing in amateur and professional divisions. The professional division included teams with one or more PGA or LPGA Professional, while the amateur side showcased family golfers of all skill levels.
First round action on Friday (Aug. 30) was played on Blackwolf Run’s Meadow Valleys Course with the final round Sunday on Whistling Straits’ Irish Course.
The inaugural event was held in 2023 at PGA West in La Quinta, California, followed by Disney’s Palm Golf Course in 2024.
2025 PGA Family Golf Championship Division Champion and Runnerup:
- Amateur Division
- CHAMPION: Joe Herrera and his son Philip - Team GCL Golf (Las Vegas, Nevada), -15 (129, 64-65)
- RUNNER-UP: Jon Lindahl and his son Brody - Team Lindahl (Roseville, Minnesota), -13 (131, 66-65)
- Professional Division (PGA and/or LPGA Professional)
- CHAMPION: Dave DeSantis, PGA, wife Holly DeSantis and grandson Gordie Gatrell - 3-Peaters, (Salt Lake City, Utah), -18, (126, 64-62)
- RUNNER-UP (tie): Matt Montecucco, PGA and his cousin Avery Marie Renggli - Team Pickle Chips (Chambers Bay, Tacoma, Wash.) -14 (130, 67-63)
- RUNNER-UP (tie): Timothy Vernon, PGA, son Michael and daughter Laura - Team Vernon (Edina, Minnesota), -14 (130, 64-66)
NOTES:
PGA/LPGA PROFESSIONAL FAMILY TIME:
There were 11 PGA/LPGA Professionals playing with their families in the event, including Dave DeSantis, PGA, (Golf Galaxy, Salt Lake City, Utah), wife Holly DeSantis and grandson Gordie Gatrell; Mike Abate, PGA, and his son Nicholas (Divide Golf Club, Concord, N.C.); Matt Montecucco, PGA (Chambers Bay, Tacoma, Wash.) and his cousin Avery Marie Renggli; Timothy Vernon, PGA (Edina, Minn.), son Michael Vernon and daughter Laura Vernon; Rob Reider, PGA (La Crescent, Minn.) and his son Carson Reider (Menominee, Wis.); Josh Wall, PGA Associate, (McLemore Club, Lookout , Ga.) and his father Jim Wall (Green Bay, Wis.); Kelly Kuhlman, PGA/LPGA, (Twin Lakes Golf & Swim Club, Rochester, Mich.) and her son Leo Kuhlman, daughter Lydia Kuhlman, and sister-in-law Alicia Singer, PGA (Colonial, North Richland Hills, Texas); Anthony Vitale, PGA (Home of the PGA, Frisco, Texas) and his father John Vitale (Albuquerque, N.M.); Ed Conway, PGA Associate (Blue Bell Country Club, Hatboro, Pa.) and his son Andrew Conway; Peggy Roberts, LPGA (The Manor, Milton, Ga.) and her daughter Elle Roberts.
FAMILIES FROM 28 STATES AND CANADA REPRESENTED IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Of all the families playing in the PGA Family Golf Championship, one family hailed from Alberta, Canada with the rest from the States, including California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
About PGA Family Golf
In sports, your team is your family. With PGA Family Golf, your family is your team. For more information about PGA Family Golf, visit PGAFamilyGolf.com.
About the PGA of America
The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who love the game, are expert coaches, operators and business leaders, and work daily to drive interest, inclusion and participation in the sport. The PGA of America owns and operates numerous championships and events, including major championships for men, women, seniors and the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s foremost sporting events. For more information, visitPGA.com and follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook.
About Kohler, Wisconsin
The Kohler Co. Hospitality & Real Estate profile includes The American Club and world-renowned championship golf venues Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run. The Inn on Woodlake in the Village of Kohler is a three-diamond property, and LODGE KOHLER in Green Bay’s Titletown entertainment district is a four-diamond property. A sister property, the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa in St. Andrews, Scotland, is located at the birthplace of golf alongside the 17th fairway of the Road Hole – the most famous and difficult par-4 hole in golf.
Herb Kohler created Kohler Co.'s Hospitality & Real Estate Group with the reclamation of The American Club and then built world-renowned championship golf courses, The Straits and The Irish at Whistling Straits, The River and Meadow Valleys at Blackwolf Run, as well as the 10-hole, par-three Baths of Blackwolf Run. The Straits course has hosted three PGA Championships and the 43rd Ryder Cup in 2021. Kohler Waters Spa is the only five-star spa in Wisconsin and has four other locations in St. Andrews, Chicagoland, and Green Bay, Wis. The resort features 12 dining establishments from the remarkable Immigrant Restaurant and Winery Bar to pub fare at The Horse & Plow, to River Wildlife located in a forest next to the Sheboygan River, just outside Kohler.
The resort is located in the Village of Kohler, Wisconsin, one hour south of Green Bay, one hour north of Milwaukee and two and a half hours north of Chicago, just off of I-43.
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