Tee Off Classic – Matt Launi

Congrats to Matt Launi for taking the opening tournament of the season at Broad Run. It was a sluggish affair for all on tour, but Matt outlasted Musselman this time to take another victory on Tour. With three wins on Tour, including two majors, Matt is positioning himself nicely to be a first ballot hall of famer.

Old York – Vince Sobocinski

The Tour went private for the first time for the first leg of the YPGA Cup. The individual tournament was won by Vince Sobocinski by shooting a gross score of 89, a dismal score for a winner of a tournament. Congrats to Vince on another victory on Tour.

YPGA Open – Nate Kraynak

The YPGA Open was Nate v. Launi II, and it surely lived up to the billing. After Launi won out in 2020 in a playoff, Nate exacted his revenge this time around at Glen Mills by posting a 91 en route to a one-stroke victory. Matt posted a blistering back-9 backed by a birdie and a string of pars to close the gap on Nate, who limped to the finish with a slew of double bogeys and bogeys. On 18, Matt needed a birdie to force a playoff. A solid drive and second shot got Launi close to the green where he needed to hole out a wedge in order to tie. Matt skulled a chip, allowing Nate to claim victory finally in this budding rivalry. Congrats to Nate on finally notching a win on Tour.

Bumble Cup – Wayne Zimmer

What a roller coaster of an afternoon for newcomer Wayne Zimmer. He gets blasted early by Vince in the second leg of the YPGA Cup, only to come back from 5 down to draw closer. Wayne ended up losing head-to-head to Vince, but he posted a 75 gross score to comfortably win his first tournament. A great round was rewarded, but it’s tough losing to Vince in a match play while posting a 75…

Del Val Invitational – Michael Musselman

The Delaware Valley Invitational featured a skeleton crew this year with only 9 players showing up, by far the lowest turnout in Tour history. Something else must’ve been going on that we didn’t know about. It was a seesaw affair with several players jockeying for the title. Carney jumped out in front early on but fizzled after 7 holes, naturally. BK was nowhere to be found on the course. Zimmer and Torrance posted average scores but never threatened to contend. It became a two-horse race between Vince and Musselman with Launi sneaking in third for another top-3 finish. The real drama came down to the 18th hole when Musselman stroked a drive that landed in the bunker just off the green. With the pressure mounting and both players tied for the lead, Vince hooked his drive into the woods, all but sealing his defeat. The tension was palpable, and Michael was able to get up and down for par to seal a two-stroke victory.

Delaware Classic – David Carney

Deerfield played host to the Delaware Classic as the Tour had to pivot from NJ after Scotland Run refused to host the prestigious YPGA. This tournament featured another 70s round from Matt Kelly where he failed to emerge victorious. This day was reserved for David Carney, who finally tasted victory after posting a blistering 38 on the back 9. Carney was down 2 in the match play to Pook at the turn when he turned on the magic and finished off Pook 3&2. His back-9 was coupled with a birdie after a near hole-in-one and a net score of 66 for a 5-stroke victory over winless Matt Kelly.

YPGA Cup – Team Hybrid Putter Fire

Nate Kraynak

The YPGA Cup final leg was held at Lederach Golf Club, home to the Vince Sobocinski hole-in-one. The day started with the promise of some drama after some intriguing matchups and Hybrid Putter Fire leading by two points. However, the flame burned out quickly for Team Reach Around as they were only able to grab 2.5 points, courtesy of Mike Sabara, Nate Kraynak, and Chris Meyer. Go figure. Dave King trounced Andy; Sabara defeated Tag; Nate beat up Vince; Torrance edged Carney; Launi got the better of Ed; Musselman outlasted Wayne, Pook and Meyer pushed; and Gerry beat Billy. Total Score: Hybrid Putter Fire – 14.5; Reach Around – 9.5

In the individual event, Nate shot a career round of 85 in order to post a three-shot victory over Jason Torrance, who also had a career day. Torrance seemed a bit perturbed he couldn’t best Nate, a la Bryson DeChambeau scolding Patrick Cantlay walking during Bryson’s approach shot. Congrats to Nate who has now earned the privilege of having his YPGA handicap capped at 18.3 going forward!

Lehigh Valley Classic Presented by Ed Grambo – Chris Meyer

Beautiful Phillipsburg was a great host city for the Lehigh Valley Classic Presented by Ed Grambo (soon to be renamed the Jensen-Koch Memorial). Architects presented its fair share of challenges, but the wide-open layout and approachable greens allowed many to spray it and get up and down for par. Not many birdies on the day, but Chris Meyer finally burst on the scene in 2021 in typical Chris Meyer fashion. Sleepwalking through most of the season, Chris showed up with a vengeance by posting an 80 to easily capture another major for his trophy case. He was challenged early by Ed Grambo who duffed his way out of contention. Then Paul Koch traded blows with Chris until he ran out of steam when the transfusions ran out. The Sobodong was also in contention (finished 2nd), but the beach got the best of him. There was not much drama on this day and Chris brought his lunch pail mentality and posted 9 pars, a birdie and sprinkled in some bogeys to go low. He rimmed out a birdie on 18 that would have broken 80 (this may or may not have happened). Congrats to Chris, though, on being another major champion…his fourth of his career. Chris just needs the Del Val Invitational to complete the Grand Slam!

YPGA Tour Championship – Ed Grambo

The Tour Championship returned to Makefield Highlands to culminate the YPGA season. Lots of storylines filled this final tournament – mainly, who would take home the YPGA Cup and would anyone rise up to spoil the day for Matt Launi. Well, there would be a spoiler, but not the way you expected. On this day, Matt Launi strung together a valiant round and a near personal best 83. Mixing in a solid round of bogeys and pars, along with back-to-back birdies had him primed to win outright en route to a YPGA Cup victory. However, Ed Grambo and his brand-new wedge had other ideas. A career best 84 for this Alley Cat included a birdie, and a split of bogeys and pars after a disastrous opening two holes. He ended up splitting 42-42 and became the unlikely winner of the Tour Championship. It was a day that Ed attributed to his brilliant driver and wedge play as he recently added a new wedge to his bag, and it left many pundits wondering if he is the new Wedge Wizard on tour. Congrats to Ed on earning his second major on Tour. He has gone from a one-hit wonder like Smylie Kauffman to perhaps an up-and-coming force on the Tour as we head into the 2022 season.

YPGA Executive Cup Champion – Matt Launi

The 2021 YPGA season was filled with fresh ideas and new faces. It was the first year that the Tour instituted a Ryder Cup format, which lead to five additional tournaments, and added two new members – Jason Torrance and Wayne Zimmer – both of whom provided an injection of fun and competitiveness to the Tour. Will anyone forget their inaugural shotguns at Broad Run to start the season? Not this guy. The story of the season was Matt Launi – who got off to a roaring start at Broad Run and kept it going each and every tournament where he finished toward the top of the leaderboard. He has a minor tournament win to his name this year, but Matt never won a major all season long, joining Paul Koch (2017) and Michael Musselman (2020) to win the YPGA Executive Cup without winning a major in that season.

However, the Tour Championship was not without its share of drama. Heading into the tournament, there was a three-horse race for the Exec Cup – Matt Launi, Vince Sobocinski, and Mike Musselman. Mussman played well as you’d typically expect, but a pair of penalties ultimately doomed him and pushed him out of contention. Number 2 where Vince posted a 10 on par-4 was his demise. Carney posted a 41 on the front 9 to keep Launi honest, but ultimately, he faded away. Others went low on the front 9 to cause some chaos (Billy, Tag, Pook), but Launi was only focused on one thing – that Exec Cup trophy and jacket. Matt put together an epic day. Not only did he arrive at the correct course and without any gastrointestinal illnesses, but he also shook off a duff off the first tee to post a bogey en route to a front-9 score of 42. He connected on a pair of birdies on the back 9, and it was cruise control for Matt from there. However, #18 posted a ticklish situation. Matt was sitting 2 next to the green on 18 and all he needed to do was par the hole and he would have taken home the major victory. However, a duffed chip and four putts later, Launi was in for a triple bogey, opening the door for Grammy to claim his second major. Ultimately, Matt was able to notch a T2 finish, which guaranteed him the YPGA Exec Cup trophy. When asked about #18 after the tournament, Matt said, “All I cared about was the shitty plaid jacket that I’ll get to wear at West Chester dinner parties and my kids’ back-to-school night. I already have two major titles; I wanted the Exec Cup. Can’t wait to do some shrooms to celebrate.” Congrats Matt. You were a force all season long and it is well-deserved. Ever since his performance in Orlando, Matt Launi has been a tour favorite and he has earned the accolades.

What’s Next for the YPGA Tour:

• More golf – global warming – get out there and do it.

• Anonymous Poll – will be posted in the coming weeks and is very influential for 2022 improvements, additions and the 2022 destination trip.

• Exec Dinner – Anonymous poll feedback, suggestion box inquiries and hot button issues are discussed by the Exec Committee over bone-in filets, old fashioneds, and creamed spinach. (Don't worry Sabara, we don't use your Sesame Place allowance to pay for the dinner. We have jobs. We can afford steaks and drinks).