SEASIDE, Calif. – Matt Dobyns of Sea Cliff, N.Y., who in a span of nine months became a father and began a new job in a town called Lake Success, carried that special karma to the Monterey Peninsula Monday afternoon. Looking anything but a rookie in the showcase event for PGA Professionals, Dobyns posted a second consecutive 4-under-par 68 to seize a three-stroke lead at the midway point of the 45th PGA Professional National Championship.
The 34-year-old PGA head professional at Fresh Meadow Country Club, capped his five-birdie, one bogey round on Bayonet Golf Course with a birdie on the 18th hole. He needed only 25 putts while matching the day’s low round and posted a 36-hole total of 8-under-par 136.
The University of Texas alum turned heads by his ambidextrous playing style. Since age 19, he has played right-handed from the tee and fairway and putted left-handed with a cross-handed putting grip.
“If you have ever seen me putt right-handed, you would know why I do it. I’m more comfortable that way,” said Dobyns. “I built it from scratch, using the knowledge I had.”
That unusual formula, mixed with a calm demeanor, served him well during a day when Bayonet and nearby Black Horse were buffeted by near 20-mile per hour gusts.
“I’m just happy to be here more than anything else,” said Dobyns. “Just to play golf, whether it is in this, or compete at home with the members, it doesn’t matter what the venue is for me. I just love being out there. The fact that I played well, makes it more enjoyable. I’m looking forward to playing two more days more than anything else.”
Three-time National Champion Mike Small of Champaign, Ill., the first-round leader, struggled home with a 73, and Paul Scaletta of Jupiter, Fla., came in with a 72, yet shared second place at 139.
Dobyns escaped pitfalls on a day that produced unprecedented single-round Championship shotmaking. Overall, 16 players registered an eagle in the round, while Matt Slowinski of Glen Ellyn, Ill., recorded a double eagle-2 on the 518-yard, par-5 10th hole at Bayonet. He used a 5-iron to hole out from 205 yards.
Brian Cairns of Walled Lake, Mich., Jim Estes of Germantown, Md., Kelly Mitchum of Southern Pines, N.C, and Stuart Smith of Reno, Nev., were next at 140, while 2004 National Champion Bob Sowards of Dublin, Ohio, was alone at 141.
Seventy-seven players made the 36-hole cut of 4-over-par 148, and will advance to the final 36 holes Tuesday and Wednesday at Bayonet. The low 20 scorers will earn a berth in the 94th PGA Championship, Aug. 9-12, at The Ocean Course in Kiawah Island, S.C.
A field of 312 PGA Professionals, representing 42 states and the District of Columbia, began play in the $550,000 Championship. The PGA Professional National Championship is presented by Club Car, Mercedes-Benz and OMEGA, and is the second National Championship to visit Northern California, and first since 1970.
45th PGA Professional National Championship
Bayonet Black Horse Golf Courses, Seaside, Calif.
Bayonet Course – Par-72 – 7,105 yards
Black Horse Course – Par-72 – 6,904 yards
Second-Round Scores
Matt Dobyns, Lake Success, N.Y. 68-68—136
Paul Scaletta, Jupiter, Fla. 67-72—139
Mike Small, Champaign, Ill. 66-73—139
Brian Cairns, Walled Lake, Mich. 71-69—140
Stuart Smith, Reno, Nev. 71-69—140
Jim Estes, Germantown, Md. 68-72—140
Kelly Mitchum, Southern Pines, N.C. 69-71—140
Bob Sowards, Dublin, Ohio 70-71—141
Corey Prugh, Spokane, Wash. 70-72—142
Darrell Kestner, Glen Cove, N.Y. 69-73—142
Alan Morin, Royal Palm Beach, Fla. 69-73—142
Jeff Olson, Powell, Ohio 70-73—143
Brian Gaffney, Rumson, N.J. 68-75—143
Rod Perry, Port Orange, Fla. 72-71—143
Frank Bensel, Jupiter, Fla. 68-75—143
Jeff Coston, Blaine, Wash. 71-72—143
Kevin Shields, Pittsburgh, Pa. 74-70—144
Mitch Lowe, San Francisco, Calif. 72-72—144
Steven Gotsche, Great Bend, Kan. 71-73—144
Jason Schmuhl, Windsor, Calif. 72-72—144
Mark Brown, Glen Head, N.Y. 71-73—144
Chad Proehl, Urbandale, Iowa 72-72—144
Danny Balin, Rockville, Md. 72-72—144
Rob Horak, Fairport, N.Y. 71-74—145
Scott Berliner, Delmar, N.Y. 72-73—145
Kyle Owen, Marietta, Ga. 73-72—145
Chris Moody, Provo, Utah 69-76—145
Ron Philo, Stowe, Vt. 73-72—145
Craig Stevens, Dallas, Ga. 73-72—145
Robert McClellan, Butler, Pa. 73-72—145
David Quinn, Marlton, N.J. 74-71—145
JC Anderson, O’Fallon, Mo. 75-71—146
Michael Hopper, Phoenix, Ariz. 75-71—146
Greg Lee, Athens, Ga. 76-70—146
Mark Mielke, East Norwich, N.Y. 72-74—146
Stuart Deane, Arlington, Texas 72-74—146
Burke Cromer, Columbia, S.C. 73-73—146
Troy Pare, Seekonk, Mass. 72-74—146
Brendon Post, Lincoln University, Pa. 71-75—146
David Hutsell, Lutherville, Md. 72-74—146
Chip Sullivan, Troutville, Va. 73-73—146
Marty Jertson, Phoenix, Ariz. 78-68—146
Frank Esposito, Florham Park, N.J. 72-74—146
Dean Larsson, Frisco, Texas 73-74—147
Eric Dugas, Waikoloa, Hawaii 75-72—147
Charles Frost, Pineville, N.C. 75-72—147
Charles Pasco, Beverly Hills, Mich. 70-77—147
Tim Feenstra, Issaquah, Wash. 73-74—147
David Paeglow, DeKalb, Ill. 78-69—147
Todd Camplin, Pinehurst, N.C. 73-74—147
Jason Alexander, The Woodlands, Texas 72-75—147
Audie Johnson, Lebanon, Tenn. 75-72—147
Frank Dully, Salem, Mass. 73-74—147
Darin Fisher, Albia, Iowa 74-73—147
Bill Murchison, Canton, Ga. 73-74—147
Scott Hebert, Traverse City, Mich. 73-74—147
Lonny Alexander, New Braunfels, Texas 78-69—147
Jeffrey Cranford, La Quinta, Calif. 78-69—147
Tom Harding, South Lyon, Mich. 74-74—148
Kevin Hayashi, Hilo, Hawaii 77-71—148
Chris Black, Independence, Iowa 77-71—148
Brett Melton, Washington, Ind. 75-73—148
Rick Witt, Madison, Wis. 72-76—148
Tim Straub, Huntersville, N.C. 77-71—148
Trent Rommann, Wichita, Kan. 73-75—148
Casey Fowles, St. George, Utah 73-75—148
John Seltzer, Ann Arbor, Mich. 73-75—148
Steve Hummel, Reno, Nev. 74-74—148
Michael Frye, Sedona, Ariz. 75-73—148
Sean Dougherty, Overland Park, Kan. 72-76—148
Doug Wade, Dayton, Ohio 73-75—148
Ricky Arnett, Austin, Texas 75-73—148
Greg Bisconti, South Salem, N.Y. 75-73—148
Ryan Kalista, Moodus, Conn. 76-72—148
Dave Bahr, Cincinnati, Ohio 73-75—148
Luke Bennett, Bellingham, Wash. 76-72—148
Rick Lewallen, Kannapolis, N.C. 73-75—148
Missed the Cut
Frank O’Connell, Phoenix, Ariz. 78-71—149
Tracy Phillips, Tulsa, Okla. 74-75—149
Reed Hughes, Senatobia, Miss. 73-76—149
John Appleget, Dorothy, N.J. 78-71—149
Jeff Kringen, Wayzata, Minn. 75-74—149
Eric Bogar, Houston, Texas 78-71—149
Perry Savetski, Cleveland, Ohio 73-76—149
Bill Britton, Rumson, N.J. 74-75—149
Mike Miles, Huntington Beach, Calif. 76-73—149
Don Berry, Brooklyn Park, Minn. 73-76—149
Steve Orrick, Mt. Zion, Ill. 72-77—149
Lee Stroever, Jupiter, Fla. 73-76—149
Mark McCormick, Middletown, N.J. 74-75—149
Tim Weinhart, Johns Creek, Ga. 72-77—149
Matt Seitz, Hutchinson, Kan. 73-76—149
Jeff Sorenson, Blaine, Minn. 78-71—149
Dan Olsen, Chicago, Ill. 75-74—149
Casey Paulson, Keller, Texas 74-75—149
John Bushka, Stratford, Conn. 76-74—150
Patrick Hawkins, Richmond, Va. 77-73—150
Ron Beurmann, Jackson, Mich. 76-74—150
Matthew Freitag, Long Valley, N.J. 76-74—150
Jon Stanley, Phoenix, Ariz. 76-74—150
Chris Case, Mount Kisco, N.Y. 79-71—150
Jason Witczak, Phoenix, Ariz. 71-79—150
Edward Whitman, Blairstown, N.J. 74-76—150
Caine Fitzgerald, Parker, Colo. 75-75—150
Steve Pellegrine, Kingsburg, Calif. 75-75—150
Jay Westerlund, Estero, Fla. 72-78—150
Mark Tucker, New Hartford, N.Y. 74-76—150
Steve Isley, Oak Island, N.C. 79-71—150
Rick Morton, Jacksonville, N.C. 76-74—150
Dustin Volk, Layton, Utah 73-77—150
Roger Gunn, Oak Park, Calif. 73-77—150
Gus Ulrich, Whispering Pines, N.C. 76-74—150
Stephen Schneiter, Sandy, Utah 72-78—150
Joey Carranza, Fall City, Wash. 73-77—150
Ken Martin, Wellington, Fla. 76-74—150
Rob Hunt, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 77-74—151
Adam Guili, Brooklyn Park, Minn. 74-77—151
David Damesworth, Orlando, Fla. 72-79—151
Aaron Krueger, Norwalk, Iowa 73-78—151
Matt Slowinski, Glen Ellyn, Ill. 75-76—151
Lance Reid, Denver, N.C. 75-76—151
Gordon Vietmeier, McKees Rocks, Pa. 73-78—151
Brian Thornton, Sumner, Wash. 76-75—151
John O’Leary, Reston, Va. 74-77—151
Mark Owen, Draper, Utah 74-77—151
Sam Kang, Rockaway, N.J. 80-71—151
Chris Dachisen, Warren, N.J. 75-76—151
Micah Rudosky, Cortez, Colo. 73-78—151
Mike Russell, Oro Valley, Ariz. 73-78—151
Ryan Benzel, Woodinville, Wash. 75-76—151
Adam Decker, Richmond, Va. 76-75—151
Matt Ganshaw, Opelika, Ala. 72-79—151
Kirk Satterfield, Harrison, N.Y. 73-78—151
Chris Starkjohann, Oceanside, Calif. 76-75—151
Joran Meeks, Kingwood, Texas 73-78—151
Jim Empey, Boise, Idaho 75-76—151
Steve Gillie, Pingree Grove, Ill. 76-76—152
Wesley Weston, Las Vegas, Nev. 79-73—152
Phil Taylor, Dunwoody, Ga. 75-77—152
Jeffrey Anderson, Mill Valley, Calif. 76-76—152
Blake Watts, New Albany, Ind. 81-71—152
Adam Martens, Meridian, Idaho 78-74—152
Larry King, Trenton, Ohio 77-75—152
Henrik Simonsen, Ooltewah, Tenn. 75-77—152
Chris Wiemers, Omaha, Neb. 74-78—152
Chris Krueger, Rehoboth Beach, Del. 80-72—152
Mike Kullberg, Houston, Texas 75-77—152
Jon Fiedler, Camarillo, Calif. 74-78—152
Frank Hohenadel, Tinley Park, Ill. 81-71—152
Bill Sautter, Ocean City, N.J. 74-78—152
Ivan Foster, Fort Wayne, Ind. 76-76—152
Bryan Heim, Bartlesville, Okla. 77-75—152
Lee Houtteman, Glen Arbor, Mich. 77-75—152
Craig Thomas, White Plains, N.Y. 75-77—152
Bruce Smith, Frisco, Texas 75-77—152
Jim Woodward, Edmond, Okla. 76-76—152
Faber Jamerson, Appomattox, Va. 71-81—152
Brett Upper, Scottsdale, Ariz. 76-76—152
Clark Spratlin, Toccoa, Ga. 77-75—152
Kevin Muir, Birmingham, Mich. 75-77—152
John Ogden, Castle Pines, Colo. 75-77—152
Rich Steinmetz, Gilbertsville, Pa. 76-76—152
Brad Lardon, College Station, Texas 74-78—152
Larry Emery, Carterville, Ill. 75-77—152
Jim Karr, West Palm Beach, Fla. 78-75—153
Jon Petersen, Omaha, Neb. 78-75—153
Robert Moss, Broadview Heights, Ohio 77-76—153
John DalCorobbo, Carmel, Ind. 73-80—153
Brooks Blackburn, Aiken, S.C. 78-75—153
Eddie Terasa, Waukesha, Wis. 78-75—153
Ryan Helminen, Appleton, Wis. 75-78—153
Kevin Boyle, Cordova, Tenn. 74-79—153
Chase Brannon, Nashville, Tenn. 73-80—153
Mark Summerville, San Diego, Calif. 76-77—153
Kevin Roman, Roswell, Ga. 75-78—153
Mike Northern, Colorado Springs, Colo. 71-82—153
Dennis Miller, Canfield, Ohio 77-76—153
Mark Evenson, Ellicott City, Md. 77-76—153
Jeffrey Martin, Warwick, R.I. 77-76—153
Stu Ingraham, Newton Square, Pa. 74-79—153
Billy Anderson, Wilmington, N.C. 77-76—153
Jerry Tucker, Stuart, Fla. 76-77—153
Scott Holly, Lincoln, Neb. 78-75—153
George Forster, Blue Bell, Pa. 73-80—153
Ian Breen, Lake Placid, N.Y. 79-75—154
Kris Moe, Santa Rosa, Calif. 76-78—154
Jason Martin, Wheeling, W. Va. 78-76—154
John Pillar, Hawley, Pa. 76-78—154
Jim Schuman, Verona, Wis. 76-78—154
Troy Schleicher, The Woodlands, Texas 80-74—154
James Blair, Ogden, Utah 75-79—154
Mike Gilmore, Mamaroneck, N.Y. 81-73—154
Tim Frazier, Fort Wayne, Ind. 76-78—154
Charlie Brown, Sturtevant, Wis. 80-74—154
Stephen Parker, Hamburg, N.Y. 78-76—154
Barry Evans, Charleston, W. Va. 76-78—154
Wayne DeFrancesco, Columbia, Md. 74-80—154
Bryan Sullivan, Kitty Hawk, N.C. 78-76—154
Gary Robison, Canton, Ohio 76-78—154
Brian Smith, Leominster, Mass. 76-78—154
Jeffrey Templeton, Fullerton, Calif. 70-84—154
Luke Varner, Overland Park, Kan. 75-80—155
Rob Shuey, Shippensburg, Pa. 79-76—155
Grant Sturgeon, Cave City, Ky. 80-75—155
Rob Phelps, Fayetteville, N.Y. 76-79—155
Quinn Griffing, Fort Wayne, Ind. 79-76—155
Devin Gee, Oakmont, Pa. 79-76—155
Barry Milstead, Centennial, Colo. 77-78—155
Matt Viguerie, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. 77-78—155
Craig Brischke, Forest Lake, Minn. 76-79—155
Joe Norman, Elmira, N.Y. 75-80—155
Jaysen Hansen, Toledo, Ohio 72-83—155
Jim White, Lincoln, Neb. 76-79—155
David Hronek, North Port, Fla. 77-78—155
Jason Stilley, Paducah, Ky. 84-72—156
Shawn Wills, Pueblo, Colo. 79-77—156
Jeff Ritchey, Westlake, Ohio 78-78—156
Richard Woodson, Sachse, Texas 81-75—156
Olly Thomson, Canton, Miss. 82-74—156
Liam Friedman, Lackawanna, N.Y. 78-78—156
Kevin Burton, Boise, Idaho 80-76—156
Cary Cozby, Wichita, Kan. 75-81—156
Rob Labritz, Pound Ridge, N.Y. 79-77—156
John Bierkan, Devon, Pa. 76-80—156
Zac Gavlak, Prairie Village, Kan. 76-80—156
Judd Gibb, West Des Moines, Iowa 74-82—156
Matt Newman, Boca Raton, Fla. 77-79—156
Tim Lewis, Norfolk, Va. 80-76—156
Zachary Wyman, Williston, Vt. 78-78—156
Ricky Smallridge, Auburn, Ala. 78-79—157
Brad Faller, Hillsboro, Ore. 76-81—157
Sean Gorgone, Plymouth, Fla. 77-80—157
David Newsom, Leesburg, Va. 78-79—157
Joe Pollack, Grand Rapids, Mich. 81-76—157
Michael LaBrutto, Cranford, N.J. 80-77—157
Brian Brown, Naperville, Ill. 80-77—157
Brian Brodell, Lafayette, Ind. 79-78—157
Gary Trivisonno, Aurora, Ohio 79-78—157
Rick Durocher, Princeton, Mass. 81-76—157
Chris Johnson, Castle Rock, Colo. 77-80—157
Bradley Turner, Apopka, Fla. 76-82—158
Connie DeMattia, Golf, Ill. 81-77—158
Dominic Curran, Silver City, N.M. 80-78—158
Mike Flaherty, Inver Grove Heights, Minn. 81-77—158
Damien Hamlett, Annandale, N.J. 81-77—158
Luke Benoit, Maple Grove, Minn. 80-78—158
John Hickson, Topsham, Maine 77-81—158
Andy Shuman, Lake Zurich, Ill. 79-79—158
Matt Kayson, Washington, D.C. 79-79—158
William Street, Granite City, Ill. 79-79—158
Mike Burke, Towaco, N.J. 79-79—158
Ben Meyers, Maple Grove, Minn. 81-77—158
David Tentis, Woodbury, Minn. 76-82—158
Scott Erdmann, Tigard, Ore. 79-79—158
Bob Ackerman, West Bloomfield, Mich. 79-79—158
Harry Dixon, Petoskey, Mich. 80-78—158
Mark Faulkner, Marion, Ill. 73-85—158
Jim Marinelli, Byron, Ill. 81-77—158
Glen Griffith, Tucson, Ariz. 82-76—158
Tom Sovay, Mukilteo, Wash. 79-80—159
Bill Mackedon, Port Jefferson, N.Y. 79-80—159
Brad Apple, Perrysburg, Ohio 77-82—159
Billy Rosinia, Burr Ridge, Ill. 80-79—159
John Fields, Belmont, Mass. 83-76—159
Bryan Luedtke, Woodstock, Ill. 80-79—159
Shawn Hall, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. 80-79—159
Tony DeMaria, White Plains, N.Y. 79-80—159
Shane Blankenship, Owensville, Mo. 76-83—159
Michael Jack, Placentia, Calif. 80-79—159
Jeffrey Barton, Dallas, Texas 80-79—159
Brett Robertson, Midlothian, Va. 77-82—159
Don Sweeting, Pinehurst, N.C. 77-82—159
Brent Amaral, Westport, Mass. 79-81—160
Jakob Gerney, Mantua, N.J. 75-85—160
Brendan McGrath, Centreville, Va. 83-77—160
Grant Masson, St. Louis, Mo. 79-81—160
Colby Wollitz, Louisville, Ky. 80-80—160
Matt Trevino, Boerne, Texas 79-81—160
Bob Darling, Lewiston, Maine 78-83—161
Tom Michaels, Perryville, Md. 79-82—161
Keith Ohr, Louisville, Ky. 79-82—161
Doug Rhea, Orlando, Fla. 83-78—161
Jonathan Duppler, Elgin, Ill. 81-80—161
Ed Slattery, Torrington, Conn. 81-80—161
Jack Seltzer, Linden, Mich. 82-79—161
Chris Stacy, Big Stone Gap, Va. 84-78—162
Pete Hagen, Omaha, Neb. 83-79—162
Roger King, Barre, Vt. 80-82—162
Tim Fries, East Amherst, N.Y. 79-83—162
Matt Pakkala, Honolulu, Hawaii 84-79—163
Anthony Price, Terry, Miss. 82-81—163
Adam D’Amario, West Hartford, Conn. 83-80—163
John Gibson, Houston, Texas 81-82—163
Gabriel Dorosh, Boise, Idaho 82-81—163
Keith Henry, Tuscaloosa, Ala. 83-81—164
Bret Hartman, Troy, Mich. 83-81—164
Gary Miller, Athens, Ga. 82-82—164
Brian Kelly, Lewisburg, Pa. 83-81—164
Bob Miller, Yarmouthport, Mass. 84-80—164
Charles DeLorey, Indio, Calif. 86-79—165
Jordon Arnold, Dawsonville, Ga. 83-82—165
Henry Stetina, Phoenix, Ariz. 84-82—166
John Traub, Rochester Hills, Mich. 86-80—166
Sean Driscoll, Sewell, N.J. 84-82—166
Bill Pollert, Indianapolis, Ind. 85-81—166
RJ Ziats, Warren, Vt. 85-82—167
Paul Norris, Dallas, Texas 84-84—168
Carmen Costa, Bethel Park, Pa. 90-79—169
Tony Saraceno, Cortland, N.Y. 86-86—172
Jody Barrett, Cranberry Township, Pa. 87-88—175
Carl COOPER, Humble, Texas 72-DQ—DQ
Ted PARKER, Long Beach, Calif. 85-DQ—DQ
