Quechee, VT — The final round of the 2026 New England PGA Pro-Am Championship concluded Tuesday afternoon on the challenging Highland Course at the Quechee Club, delivering a historic finish to the 36-hole Four-Ball Stroke Play event. Entering the day two strokes off the pace, the Vesper Country Club powerhouse duo of Rich Berberian, PGA and amateur Derek Wayman staged a phenomenal final-round charge to leapfrog the competition, successfully defending their 2025 crown and capturing back-to-back championship titles.
Berberian and Wayman followed up their opening-round 65 with a blistering 8-under-par 64 on Tuesday, finishing the tournament at 15-under par overall. The reigning champions wasted no time turning the leaderboard upside down, lighting up the front nine of the Highland Course with six birdies—including a spectacular stretch of five consecutive birdies on holes 2 through 6. They added two more on the back nine to comfortably clear the field by two strokes and solidify their status as the dominant duo of the NEPGA Pro-Am Championship.
While the Vesper Country Club pair locked down their repeat crown, the battle for the remaining top spots was fierce. Overnight leaders Chris Houston, PGA and Noah Farland (a) of Laconia Country Club fought hard to maintain their position, turning in a clean final-round card with 4 birdies and no blemishes for a 4-under 68. Though they finished at a stellar 13-under-par 131 overall to secure a tie for second place, the sheer momentum of the defending champions ultimately pushed past them.
Matching Houston and Farland at 13-under par overall, the duo of John Hickson, PGA and Jesse Johnson (a) mounted the biggest single-day surge of the tournament. They rocketed up the leaderboard into that tie for second with a wild, aggressive final-round 65 that featured an incredible 9 birdies against just two bogeys.
Rounding out the top five were two more teams that put together fantastic two-day performances. Team SNHU, consisting of Matt Arvanitis, PGA and Will McLaughlin (a), remained incredibly consistent by backing up their opening 65 with a 5-under 67 on Tuesday to claim solo fourth place at 12-under par. Right behind them, David Jankowski, PGA and Austin Giroux (a) of Team Golf Garage VT secured fifth place, putting together a solid 4-under 68 in Round 2 to finish the championship at 11-under par overall.
The New England PGA extends its sincerest appreciation to the entire staff at The Quechee Club for being exceptional hosts and providing two world-class, beautifully conditioned tournament layouts in the Lakeland and Highland courses.
The NEPGA would also like to extend a tremendous thank you to our generous sponsors, whose dedication and invaluable support made this premier event possible: Golf Pro Payments, LinkSoul, Fairways to Heaven, Glow Vibe Golf, Homestretch Golf, and Golf Garage VT.