Event Recaps

The 2026 Pen Pushers season concluded at Raspberry Falls Golf & Hunt Club on a picture-perfect fall day. Thirty-nine golfers took part in the season finale, enjoying excellent playing conditions while the course’s greenside bunkers provided a formidable challenge.

Ross Charles capped the season in dominant fashion, winning the Turkey Shootout with 33 Stableford points. He also claimed Lion Man honors with the day’s low gross round of 69 and won the putting contest.

A final thank-you goes to John Sullivan, Kibok Lee, Steve Smingler, and Joe Radakovich for their invaluable assistance with event logistics. Their efforts helped the day run smoothly.

Nine Pen Pushers spent three memorable days in Ocean City playing Rum Pointe, Ocean City Golf Club's Seaside Course, and The Links at Lighthouse Sound. Pleasant late-October weather, coastal views, challenging holes, and plenty of good-natured commentary made the weekend feel like a classic Shore Tour from the opening tee shot to the final trophy presentation.

Friday opened at Rum Pointe, where wind, water, and marshland kept every group thinking. Joe Radakovich handled the conditions best and won the first round with 33 Stableford points. Saturday moved to the Seaside Course, where Ross Charles produced seven birdies and an eagle on his way to 36 points and the Day 2 victory. The round flowed into the traditional dinner at Fager's Island, with scorecards, food, drinks, and stories from the first two days sharing the table.

Sunday's finale at Lighthouse Sound brought sunshine, a steady breeze, rolling terrain, and some of the best views of the trip. Ralph Tener closed the weekend with 33 points to win the final round. Through all three courses, the encouragement, jokes, adventurous recoveries, and applause for the shots that came off exactly as planned mattered just as much as the scores.

Joe Radakovich's steady play across the entire weekend earned him the 2026 Shore Tour championship with 98 total points. Ross Charles finished second with 88, Ralph Tener third with 84, and Kenny Fallon took fourth on the countback over Jon Fraim after both finished with 80.

Watch the weekend video

Relive all three days, from the opening round at Rum Pointe through Joe Radakovich's championship trophy presentation at Lighthouse Sound.

Twenty-eight golfers gathered at Musket Ridge for the next-to-last tournament of the season. Bob Caines scored 40 Stableford points to take the championship, four points ahead of runner-up Jon Fraim. Steve Smingler followed with 35, Ralph Tener with 34, and Gary Pulino and Brian McDonald tied with 33.

Gary Pulino delivered the day's lowest gross round, an even-par 72, to earn Lion Man honors. Ross Charles shot 77, Kibok Lee 78, and Anthony Harris 79.

Jason Lilley successfully defended his Founders Trophy title with an outstanding 44 Stableford points, becoming the 2025 and 2026 champion. Denzel Simmons finished one point back with 43, followed by Anthony Harris with 40, Jon Fraim with 37, and Mark Dudek with 36.

Thirty-six players registered for the Spring Challenge at Stonewall. Temperatures climbed into the 90s under sunny skies, and although the course was in very good condition, it proved challenging and scoring was lower than usual.

Mike Rubin captured his second Spring Challenge title, adding the 2026 championship to his 2014 victory.

The 2026 season marked 25 years since the Pen Pushers began in 2001, and members received a commemorative coin for the milestone. At Westfields, the group played through a frosty start in the low 20s before temperatures reached 42 degrees.

Before the day's results, the group honored Ross Charles for sweeping the 2025 Tour Champion, Birdie Master, and Lion Man titles while playing off a plus-7 handicap. Ross received the Tour Champion Trophy and a special champion bag.

Gary Vanderheiden won the Irish Open with 32 points.

Forty-two players enjoyed blue skies, ideal temperatures, and a birdie-filled day at Piedmont. Jason Lilly earned his second victory of the season with 37 Stableford points.

Ross Charles and Gary Pulino led the year-end awards race as the season headed toward its final events.

Gregg Vest scored 32 Stableford points to win the Summer Championship by one over a group of five players tied at 31. It was Gregg's first Pen Pushers victory.

Jason Lilly broke away from a crowded leaderboard with 37 Stableford points, winning by six for his first Pen Pushers victory.

Kenny Fallon scored 31 Stableford points to edge Mike Rubin by one and earn his first Pen Pushers victory.

Bob Caines scored 35 Stableford points to win by one over Chuck Harrington, capturing his fifth Pen Pushers victory.