Philadelphia Cricket Club pro returns to major tournament play at Women’s PGA

BETHESDA, Md. — Meaghan Francella was one of nine PGA/LPGA professionals to compete at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship last week at Congressional Country Club. Francella, an LPGA teaching professional, is a golf instructor at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in Flourtown.

Although Francella is a veteran at the tournament — making her eighth appearance this weekend — this was her first major competition in nine years. Francella shot 7-over-par 151 in missing the weekend cut, which was at 147. She shot even-par 72 in the second round.

As an amateur, Francella was a two-time New York state junior champion and was an ACC champion and All-American at the University of North Carolina. After graduation, she transitioned to professional golf. During her rookie year in 2007, she won the MasterCard Classic over Annika Sörenstam, the defending champion.

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She stayed on the LPGA tour for six more years. Between 2014 and 2018, Francella had caddie experience for LPGA players including Michelle Wie and Marina Alex. During her break from competition, Francella also worked for Major League Baseball in the digital media department.

Francella couldn’t stay away from golf. She returned to the LPGA in 2017, but this time as the director of golf for the LPGA Amateur Golf Association. She worked at the LPGA headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla., and organized tournaments for its members.

She transitioned to teaching, first with Dormie Network in Egg Harbor and then with the Philadelphia Cricket Club in 2021. As an LPGA-certified teaching professional, Francella found her true calling.

“I hate to admit it, but they were right. Dormie Network gave me the opportunity to find my passion and discover what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” she told the LPGA. “The ironic thing is that while I’ve been teaching, my own game has never been better. My swing has improved because I’m showing students the right things to do. And, I’m playing golf pressure-free and having fun.”

Wanting a chance to get back into the action, she competed at the 2021 Women’s PGA Professionals Championship to secure a spot at the 2022 Women’s PGA Championship. She made the cut at her first competition in years and qualified for the major.

As a warmup to Congressional, Francella competed at the ShopRite LPGA Classic in Galloway, N.J., at the beginning of the month, where she shot 1-over-par in two rounds.

“I know that when she started looking at playing in these events, she was really concerned about not being at work and worrying that members were going to get mad that she wasn’t working,” Philadelphia Cricket head professional Chris Cerven said. “At that first event at Seaview, we had a lot of people following her, a lot of support from the members. They couldn’t have been happier for her, to see her back in the ropes. Same thing going for this week. Everyone’s just really excited for her.”

Francella triple-bogeyed the first hole in Thursday’s first round, shooting 7-over on the front nine and finishing that way. She finished third among PGA professionals.

The purse for this year’s Women’s PGA Championship was doubled from $4.5 million to $9 million, with the winner earning $1.35 million. Francella looked back on how far women’s golf has come and how she is part of the movement as a teacher.

“Obviously, what KPMG is doing for women’s golf is phenomenal,” she said. “I’m just grateful to be a part of it.”