The Northern Ohio PGA Section is proud to announce its team for the 2026 PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup, taking place May 9–11 at Chester Valley Golf Club in Malvern, Pennsylvania, in conjunction with the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club. This marks the second time in the event’s ten-year history and the second year in a row that the section was selected as one of 12 teams from across the country to compete.
The PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) Program is the flagship military outreach initiative of the PGA of America REACH Foundation, introducing veterans to the game of golf to enhance their physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being. The Secretary’s Cup celebrates the impact of PGA HOPE by bringing together veterans and PGA Professionals from across the country for a national team competition centered on camaraderie, healing, and service.
The Northern Ohio PGA team will consist of the following veterans and PGA Professional:
Jeff Raver – U.S. Army
Kevin Halbrook – U.S. Air Force
Francis Rawlings – U.S. Air Force
Zackery Bennett – U.S. Marine Corps
Trevor Hazen, PGA – Team Captain, Medina Country Club
The event includes a welcome celebration, official practice round, and the Secretary’s Cup competition on Monday, May 11. Teams from across the country will gather for several days of fellowship and competition, highlighted by opening ceremonies, team introductions, and a five-person scramble event.
“Being selected to captain this team is an incredible honor,” said Trevor Hazen, PGA, Team Captain. “PGA HOPE has a profound impact on Veterans and being involved has been the highlight of my career.”
The Northern Ohio PGA team will arrive in Pennsylvania on Saturday, May 9, with activities throughout the weekend including welcome celebrations, practice rounds, and team-building experiences before competition begins Monday morning. Following the event, participants will attend practice rounds at the PGA Championship before departing on Tuesday.
For more information on PGA HOPE and the Secretary’s Cup, visit PGAREACH.org.
MEET THE TEAM
Zackery Bennett – Marine Corps
Military Branch: United States Marine Corps
Rank & Specialty: E-4 Corporal
Years Served: 2006–2011
PGA HOPE Program: Medina Country Club
PGA HOPE Professionals: Trevor Hazen, PGA & Jim Wise, PGA
Hometown: Wadsworth, Ohio
Zackery Bennett served in the United States Marine Corps from 2006–2011 and found PGA HOPE through another veteran. Through the program at Medina Country Club, Zackery discovered a supportive environment that helped him reconnect with others while strengthening his confidence and focus.
“PGA HOPE has made a meaningful and positive impact on my life by giving me a welcoming space to grow, learn, and feel supported,” Bennett said.
Zackery credits PGA HOPE with helping him navigate challenges many veterans face after service, including stress, isolation, and adjusting to civilian life. Through golf, he found healthy coping tools, structure, and a renewed sense of belonging.
Kevin Halbrook – Air Force
Military Branch: United States Air Force
Rank & Specialty: Senior Airman
Years Served: 2011–2017
PGA HOPE Program: Chagrin Falls & Mentor
PGA HOPE Professionals: Ross Keen, PGA & Kevin Sullivan, PGA
Hometown: Chardon, Ohio
Kevin Halbrook served six years in the United States Air Force and learned about PGA HOPE through his work with the Veterans Benefits Administration. Through the program, Kevin found a renewed sense of community and connection that mirrored the camaraderie he missed after leaving military service.
“PGA HOPE has had a big impact on both my life and my family,” Halbrook said. “The program restored a sense of camaraderie and community that I hadn’t felt since leaving the military.”
Kevin credits PGA HOPE not only for improving his confidence and consistency on the course but also for helping golf become a family activity. His wife now takes lessons, and his children enjoy joining the family at the driving range.
Jeff Raver – Army
Military Branch: United States Army
Rank & Specialty: E-7 Sergeant First Class
Years Served: 2002–2022
PGA HOPE Program: Northern Ohio PGA HOPE Program
PGA HOPE Professional: Barry Friedman, PGA
Hometown: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Jeff Raver served 21 years in the United States Army, retiring as a Sergeant First Class. After years away from the game, Jeff discovered PGA HOPE through family and friends and found a renewed connection to golf.
“PGA HOPE gave me my game back,” Raver said. “I hadn’t picked up a club in years, and honestly, I wasn’t sure I ever would again. The program made golf feel accessible again — not intimidating, not performance-driven, just a place to reconnect with something I used to love.”
For Jeff, PGA HOPE became more than golf instruction. It provided a weekly outlet, a sense of structure, and a healthy way to reconnect with competition and camaraderie.
Francis Rawlings – Air Force
Military Branch: United States Air Force
Rank & Specialty: Sergeant
Years Served: 1982–1988
PGA HOPE Program: Valley of the Eagles Golf Club
PGA HOPE Professional: Barry Friedman, PGA
Hometown: Avon, Ohio
Francis Rawlings served six years in the United States Air Force and joined PGA HOPE through Valley of the Eagles Golf Club. A lifelong golfer, Francis credits the program with restoring a sense of structure, purpose, and camaraderie that he missed after military service.
“PGA HOPE rekindled the structure, discipline, and camaraderie I missed from my military years,” Rawlings said. “Barry’s enthusiasm transformed every session and quickly made it feel like family.”
For Francis, PGA HOPE became more than a golf program. It provided connection and community, helping him move from isolation into meaningful relationships with fellow veterans.
MEET THE CAPTAIN
Trevor Hazen, PGA
PGA Professional Since: 2006
Facility: Medina Country Club
Title: Lead Instructor
Programs: PGA HOPE Instructor running two programs annually at Medina CC
Other Highlight: National Training Team Member
Trevor Hazen, PGA, has dedicated much of his professional career to serving veterans and adaptive golf participants. A PGA Member since 2006, Trevor has spent decades introducing individuals to the game while emphasizing the power of relationships, community, and personal growth.
His involvement with adaptive golf began early in his career through clinics for stroke survivors and programs supporting veterans through organizations such as the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Wounded Warrior Project, and Disabled American Veterans. Trevor also spent nearly two decades running adaptive programming through The Turn before bringing PGA HOPE programming to Medina Country Club.
Trevor has participated in the Northern Ohio PGA HOPE Cup since 2023 and currently hosts two PGA HOPE sessions each season at Medina Country Club. He also serves on the PGA HOPE National Training Team, helping grow the program across the country and mentoring instructors nationwide.
As Team Captain, Trevor hopes to create strong relationships among team members before and during the Secretary’s Cup experience.
“Golf is about people and so are communities,” Hazen said. “These events showcase healing on a grand scale, and the relationships formed through PGA HOPE continue to impact veterans long after the golf is over.”
