Stephanie “Steph” Urban
Stephanie “Steph” Urban was born on April 3, 1972. She is married to Matt Urban, and they have one daughter, Taylor. Steph is an only child to Gail Heubel (Steve) and Guy Santone (Vicki).
Stephanie has been employed with the United States Postal Service since 1996. She has held numerous management positions including Supervisor of Customer Service Support.
Steph’s golf journey began as an infant when she was literally escorted into the game as a spectator. While pulling her own clubs around the Downing Golf Course, Steph’s mother Gail also pushed Stephanie in a stroller. It was not long before Steph abandoned the pushcart to stroll the fairways as a player and competitor. As a freshman at North East High School, Steph competed on the Grape Picker’s Girl’s Golf Team. Quickly honing her skills, she qualified as an individual for the District 10 championships in both her junior and senior years. In addition to standing out on the links for four years, Stephanie excelled on the mound as pitcher for Noth East’s softball team for four years. Later, she would return to the diamond to coach North East Little League baseball.
After graduating from North East in 1997, Stephanie attended Bradford Business School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She earned an Associate Degree in Accounting.
Steph joined the Downing Golf Course in 1992, and she remained a member through 1997. Before moving down the road to Lawrence Park Golf Club, her current home course, Steph captured at a club championship at Downing. While she was willing to change the address to her new home away from home, she has not been willing to give up her place on the winner’s podium. Steph has clutched the Lawrence Park Club Champion’s Cup 17 times since 2002. Impressively, considering the history of famous female linksters who played out of LP, including the likes of Jean Forsyth, Sally Schickler, Judy Meister, Kay Hebert and Elaine Satyshur, Stephanie Urban is the owner of the women’s course record, shooting 66 (35-31) in 2022.
Steph began her EDWGA play in 2001 when she advanced to the finals of the first flight. She lost in the championship to Natalie Maleno.
Three years later, she meticulously worked her way through the championship flight defeating former champion Sue Lefaiver, Amy Gierlak and Char Sperduto. After a tough battle, Maleno prevailed, defeating Urban 2&1 in the finals.
Persistence and good play in the EDWGA Match Play finally paid off for Steph in 2009. She was the medalist in the qualifier with 78, defeating two-time champion Adrienne Hassenplug in a playoff. Interestingly, had she lost that playoff, Steph would have faced her mentor in the first round, the woman she called “Mom.” After picking up wins in her first few matches, Steph squared off again with Adrienne in the semi-finals, defeating her 2&1. The round included a near hole in one on the ninth, which turned the match. The gorgeous Saturday turned into a rain-soaked Sunday for the final against Jackie Dill. Steph used that same 9th hole to turn the match around again having been 3 down through 8. Winning 3 more holes on the back she went to the last hole 1up. But Jackie tied the match with a par to send the match to extra holes. Dill could not maintain the brief momentum she garnered on 18 and, with a bogey on hole 1, Urban only need to two-putt for her first title.
Stephanie’s title defense fell short when she lost to eventual champion Kelly Moylan in 2010 at Lake Shore. She continued to knock on the door, making it to the finals in 2011 only to lose to Colleen Miller 1up. Her next two events ended at the hands of Karlie Zabrosky, in the semi-finals in 2012 and in the finals in 2013. Megan Moylan ended Steph’s 2014 tournament in the semi-finals and then Urban lost Kelly Moylan in 2016, this time in the finals at Lake Shore.
In 2017, the frustration continued as Silver Steph lost in a sudden death playoff to Ari Capotis. Happily for the next four years, Steph traded her silver for gold during an incredible run. In 2018 Steph avenged a prior loss to Megan Moylan, defeating her in the finals 3&2 halting Moylan’s quest for consecutive titles. A year later she settled the score with Megan’s sister Kelly, but it was not easy. The match went into sudden death with Steph winning on the first extra hole. In 2020 she took on the new face and rising star in local women’s golf … Lydia Swan. Steph was not to be denied, winning her third consecutive title 1 up. In 2021, Seph picked up the EDGA hardware for the fourth year in a row defeating another “youngster”, Zoe McClain at Lake View.
The hot streak put Steph in position to tie the EDWGA record for 5 consecutive titles, held by her friend, Turk Hamilton (1981-85). Stephanie advanced to the finals, but she was unable to defeat yet another young phenom, Anna Swan.
In 2011 the EDWGA started a new major, a 36-hole stroke play event. It only took two years for Steph to engrave her name on that trophy. In 2013, Stephanie fired rounds of 75 and 76 to earn a playoff spot. She then defeated Karlie Zabroski with a birdie on the first extra hole at Erie. She won again in 2014, this time defeating Megan Moylan at Downing. In 2019, she added a third stroke play title at Lake Shore with rounds of 74 and 78 to defeat Sarah White by a single stroke.
Always lurking at the top of the leader board, Steph has been runner up 5 times, beginning with the inaugural event in 2011 and then again in 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2024.
Stephanie’s great play can travel too. Outside of the Erie area, Steph shined at the highest levels of amateur golf. She won the 2022 Western Pennsylvania’s Women’s Senior Amateur Championship at Allegheny Country Club. In 2023 after finishing second, with a 74 at Ligonier Country Club, she qualified for the US Senior Women’s Amateur Championship in Scottsdale, Arizona. She won the 2024 Pennsylvania State Senior Women’s Match Play Championship in Philadelphia at Northampton Country Club. She placed 4th at the 2024 Pennsylvania State Senior Amateur Championship in Philadelphia at Waynesborough Country Club. She again qualified for the 2024 US Senior Women’s Amateur Championship as medalist with a 75 at Ligonier Country Club.
Harkening back to her days on the mound, Steph is also a great teammate. She has been an instrumental part of nine winning teams for EDWGA Interclub for Lawrence Park, most recently in 2024. She competed for Lawrence Park in the Northwestern competitions where she also served as Treasurer of the organization. She won the 2021 and 2022 EDWGA Better Ball tournament with her mom. Not to leave her father out of the winner’s circle, Steph paired with him to win the 2004 EDWGA Couples. With teammate Georgia Capotis, Steph placed 1st low net in the 2024 Pennsylvania State Women’s Four-Ball Tournament at Radley Run Country Club, in Philadelphia.
Since turning 50, Stephanie has added two Senior titles to her collection, with wins in 2022 and 2024. She is ranked in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings, and she is a leading candidate for the Pennsylvania State 2024 Women’s Senior Player of the Year. Stephanie remains competitive and there is no reason to believe she is done adding to her trophy case. She is thankful to all who have made her success possible..
