NEPA PGA Professional Set to Tee-Off in US Senior Open

Hawley, PA, June 22, 2017 -- John Pillar stopped the car along US-26 where he and his son and caddy, Alex, could get out and admire the majesty of Mt. Hood, just outside Portland, OR.  He took a few moments to collect his thoughts.  Pillar, the PGA Director of Golf at The Country Club at Woodloch Springs, was on his way home from another high-stakes golf tournament. This time it was the PGA Professional Championship at Sunriver Resort with the US Senior Open right around the corner.

John Pillar and his son, Alex, in Mt. Hood, OR. John Pillar, PGA Director of Golf at The Country Club at Woodloch Springs

Pillar has been climbing towards the summit of his game this past year, looking to peak a little higher.  In 2016, he swung his way into the qualifying field for the Professional Championship, an honor only 312 PGA club pros can attain.  Last month, John scaled the PA local qualifier to nab a coveted spot at the US Open Sectional.  The sectional qualifying round, a bit closer to home in Summit, NJ, posed a challenge for Pillar. Though he didn’t qualify for the US Open, his home life has kept him plenty busy..

Fresh off his 50th birthday, John has a lot to celebrate.  His son, Kyle, just graduated from Wallenpaupack Area High School and is playing some impressive golf himself; he just qualified for the Pennsylvania Amatuer.  His son, Alex, was named the Scranton Times-Tribune Player of the Year last year. To top it all off, The Country Club at Woodloch Springs is bustling with activity.

Now, 20 years after first qualifying for the US Open, John has his sights set high as he makes his return to the tournament; this time however, as a senior.  As he was in the midst of managing a tournament at Woodloch Resort, he got the call.  “I answered the phone, and a woman said she was with the US Golf Association and asked me if I would like to play in the United States Senior Open,” Pillar said. “I just had a weird feeling that was going to happen.”

The US Senior Open runs from June 26th to July 2nd at the Salem Country Club in Peabody, MA. “I’m going to try my best, and I’m ecstatic to be in another major, but I’m just really excited to have my entire family along to watch me,” Pillar explained. “That’s what I’m looking forward to most about it.”

“We couldn’t be more proud of John,” remarked John Kiesendahl, President and CEO of Woodloch Resort, “he’s been with us since the beginning, as we celebrate 25 years at Woodloch Springs, and has helped build a world-class golf program here at our resort. Go get ’em,” he concluded.

As John looks ahead at a field full of household names like Couples, Daly, Faldo and Singh, Pillar will recall the majesty of Mt. Hood for some grounding but will draw inspiration from knowing he has the Woodloch Family and the entire NEPA community behind him.

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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/366c6a84-5be7-4f88-bede-019700030049

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/498f7a7b-41fc-4878-98cd-536417d6da87

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c58d53cf-5c1f-470c-aad3-4d4b031fdf1b

Rory O'Fee
Woodloch Resort
570-851-7140
[email protected]