“PGA REACH Philadelphia is proud to provide scholarships that will inspire youth in our community by providing a program designed to promote social skills, self-esteem, leadership, and athleticism through the game of golf,” said PGA REACH Philadelphia Director Leila Mackie. “This year’s scholarship winners were chosen among many other youth golfers who applied, and were selected based on their academic success, passion for the game, and references from coaches and teachers.”

Curstan Bunch is a 14-year-old hailing from Wilmington, Del. In her scholarship application essay, Bunch encouraged everyone to “embrace and celebrate the rich dimensions of diversity deep-seated within everyone. No matter what goes on in your life, no matter what the circumstances are, when we learn to tap into that diversity within, it has a way of bringing us all together.”

“We are ecstatic to know that [PGA REACH Philadelphia] has our young golfer’s passion and her best interest at heart in addition to providing valuable opportunities,” said Dawn Bunch, Curstan’s mother.

Emma DiPatri is a 10-year-old from Franklinville, N.J., who credits golf with helping her to become more confident in her decision-making and boosting her self-esteem.

“I am thankful and honored to share in the privilege of having been chosen as a 2020 Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour Diversity Scholarship winner,” said DiPatri. “I am beyond excited to be able to pursue my love of golf and improve my skills in the coming years through the generosity of this scholarship. I would have never had this opportunity if not for this program.”

Brayden Mitchell is an 11-year-old residing in Merchantville, N.J. In his application essay, Brayden acknowledged that being from around the Camden area has made it difficult to play golf on a regular basis. After discovering the Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour and learning about the scholarship program, he is hopeful that his access to courses will grow and that he will be able to make new friends.

“This scholarship means a lot to my family and me because it will help me focus on golf along with providing me easier access to the game,” said Mitchell.

The Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour Diversity Scholarship program is one of many programs and initiatives managed by PGA REACH Philadelphia and is the foundation’s flagship program under its Diversity pillar, helping to positively impact lives through the game of golf. PGA REACH Philadelphia’s goal is to grow the game by providing financial assistance, coaching, instructional materials, mentoring, equipment and scholarships to individuals and organizations throughout the region, with the help of the Philadelphia PGA Section’s 900 PGA Professionals, who work at more than 300 public and private golf facilities in eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Delaware and northeastern Maryland.

The Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour leads the region in competitive youth golf with over 90 events held seasonally at many of the area’s top facilities, covering all of the Section’s geographic areas.* In addition, the tour hosts four major championships throughout the season, including nationally ranked events that provide exposure for youth golfers looking to play competitively. With opportunities to learn, grow, and compete, many tour members graduate to play at the college level and beyond.

About the PGA REACH Philadelphia 
PGA REACH Philadelphia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2018 as the charitable arm of the Philadelphia PGA Section, one of the 41 Sections within the PGA of America. PGA REACH Philadelphia is committed to serving our communities and growing the game of golf through our three pillars: Youth, Military, and Diversity. 

For more information on PGA REACH Philadelphia and its mission to positively impact lives through golf, visit https://www.pgareach.org/philadelphia. To donate to PGA REACH Philadelphia, please click here.

Contacts: 

Leila Mackie, PGA 
Director, PGA REACH Philadelphia
lmackie@pgahq.com

Courtney Curcio
Coordinator, PGA REACH Philadelphia
ccurcio@pgahq.com

Matt Frey, PGA
Communications Director, Philadelphia PGA Section
mfrey@pgahq.com

*The Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour’s 2020 season has been shortened due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.