Two share lead at PGA Pro Championship
Sunriver, OR - Ryan Benzel, an assistant pro at Seattle Golf Club, fired a five-under 66 Friday to share the lead with Illinois Golf Coach Mike Small after two rounds of the PGA Professional National Championship.
Benzel’s round included a 90-foot birdie putt at the 13th hole.
‘My putter was a little bit hot today and a little bit yesterday, too,’ said Benzel, 28. ‘I made a couple of good putts yesterday and then I had the ridiculous putt today — a 90-footer for birdie at 13…I putted very well and I don’t think I’ve had a three-putt yet. I’m rolling it pretty good.’
Small, the 2005 champion, shot a four-under 67 to join Benzel at six-under 137 overall. He finished with a 25-foot birdie putt on his last hole.
‘My putter saved me today,’ said Small. ‘I didn’t hit it particularly great, but I hit some good putts, had a couple of good saves and with two stupid bogeys coming in it was a decent score for the way I hit it, it really was.’
The leaders were one shot ahead of Craig Thomas, who had a 66 Friday to move to five-under 138.
Bob Sowards, the 2004 champion, vaulted 96 places into a tie for fourth place with a six-under 65 in the second round, which tied the course record. He was joined at four-under 139 by Jason Panter (70).
First-round leader Chris Starkjohann stumbled to a four-over 76 and dropped into a tie for 16th place at one-under 142.
Defending champion Ron Philo Jr. avoided the cut by shooting a five-under 66 Friday. Philo, the brother of LPGA Tour player Laura Diaz and a former Nationwide Tour member, had opened with a 77 in the first round.
The cut line fell at three-over 146 with just 80 players in a field of 307 making it to the weekend.
The PGA Professional National Championship is a tournament for golf club professionals and teachers who are members of the PGA of America. The top 20 finishers this weekend all will gain entrance to the PGA Championship in August.
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