Benzel leads by one at PGA Pro Championship
Sunriver, OR - Ryan Benzel managed just a one-over 73 Saturday, but is alone atop the leaderboard after three rounds of the PGA Professional National Championship.
Benzel, an assistant pro at Seattle Golf Club, completed 54 holes at five- under-par 210. He is one stroke clear of John O’Leary (70) and Chip Sullivan, who carded a 68 to jump 25 places into a tie for second.
Rick Leibovich, two-time champion Tim Thelen and Mike Small, the Illinois golf coach and 2005 champion, are tied for fourth at three-under-par 212.
Benzel was steady in trying conditions as he parred
the first seven holes. After a bogey on No. 8, he stumbled to a bogey on the ninth at the Crosswater Course at the Sunriver Resort.
Around the turn, Benzel fell down the leaderboard with bogeys on 10 and 13. However, he got one stroke back with a 15-foot birdie putt at the 15th. He parred the final three holes to lead by one after three rounds.
‘I felt pretty comfortable. I had a little bit of nerves when I was warming up on the range, but when I got to the tee I actually felt pretty good,’ Benzel said. ‘I kind of got a little short with my golf swing in the middle of the round and hit a few bad drives that led to a couple of bogeys. But I accepted that I was going to make bogey after a bad shot.’
Erik Wolf (71) and Don Yrene (73) are tied for seventh at two-under-par 213.
Bob Ackerman made the big move of the day as he fired a four-under 68. That moved him up 56 places into a share of ninth at minus-one. He was joined there by Craig Thomas (76) and Phil Schmitt (70).
Defending champion Ron Philo Jr., the brother of LPGA Tour player Laura Diaz, is one of 10 players tied for 12th at even-par 215.
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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