SEASIDE, Calif. – Three-time champion Mike Small of Champaign, Ill., who makes his living coaching players less than half his age, took his peers to school Sunday by turning in a near flawless 6-under-par 66 to grab the opening-round lead of the 45th PGA Professional National Championship.
Small, the 46-year-old University of Illinois golf coach, celebrated his ninth appearance in the showcase event for PGA Professionals by matching his lowest first-round performance, which came in 2004. The National Champion in 2005, ’09 and ’10, Small needed only 26 putts at Black Horse, one-putting 10 greens, on his way to collecting seven birdies. His only scorecard blemish was a bogey at the 13th hole.
A field of 312 PGA Professionals, representing 42 states and the District of Columbia, began play in the $550,000 Championship at Bayonet and Black Horse. Twenty-five players broke par and are within five shots of the lead.
Leading the chase behind Small was Paul Scaletta of Jupiter, Fla., who finished a stroke back at 67 after a back-nine flourish. He had four birdies and a bogey, finishing the day with a birdie on the 18th hole at Black Horse.
Brian Gaffney of Monmouth Beach, N.J., fresh from a week at the U.S. Open, was among a foursome at 68, that included Matt Dobyns of Lake Success, N.Y.; Jim Estes of Germantown, Md., and Frank Bensel of Greenwich, Conn. Former National Champion Darrell Kestner of Glen Cove, N.Y., making his 21st Championship appearance at age 58, led a group at 69, and was joined by Kelly Mitchum of Southern Pines, N.C.; 2007 PGA Assistant Champion Chris Moody of Provo, Utah; and Alan Morin of Royal Palm Beach, Fla.
“I took advantage of the short holes today, which was huge,” said Small, who guided Illinois to its fourth consecutive Big Ten Conference Championship in May. “I birdied four of the short par- 4s. That was the key for me. When the wedge was in my hand, I birdied those.”
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
First-Round Scores
Mike Small, Champaign, Ill. 34-32—66
Paul Scaletta, Jupiter, Fla. 34-33—67
Brian Gaffney, Rumson, N.J. 34-34—68
Jim Estes, Germantown, Md. 35-33—68
Frank Bensel, Jupiter, Fla. 35-33—68
Matt Dobyns, Lake Success, N.Y. 35-33—68
Chris Moody, Provo, Utah 34-35—69
Darrell Kestner, Glen Cove, N.Y. 34-35—69
Alan Morin, Royal Palm Beach, Fla. 36-33—69
Kelly Mitchum, Southern Pines, N.C. 33-36—69
Bob Sowards, Dublin, Ohio 36-34—70
Jeffrey Templeton, Fullerton, Calif. 33-37—70
Charles Pasco, Beverly Hills, Mich. 35-35—70
Jeff Olson, Powell, Ohio 34-36—70
Corey Prugh, Spokane, Wash. 36-34—70
Mark Brown, Glen Head, N.Y. 36-35—71
Brendon Post, Lincoln University, Pa. 35-36—71
Faber Jamerson, Appomattox, Va. 36-35—71
Mike Northern, Colorado Springs, Colo. 37-34—71
Jeff Coston, Blaine, Wash. 37-34—71
Jason Witczak, Phoenix, Ariz. 36-35—71
Brian Cairns, Walled Lake, Mich. 35-36—71
Stuart Smith, Reno, Nev. 35-36—71
Rob Horak, Fairport, N.Y. 36-35—71
Steven Gotsche, Great Bend, Kan. 36-35—71
Jason Schmuhl, Windsor, Calif. 35-37—72
Scott Berliner, Delmar, N.Y. 36-36—72
Troy Pare, Seekonk, Mass. 36-36—72
Steve Orrick, Mt. Zion, Ill. 38-34—72
David Hutsell, Lutherville, Md. 36-36—72
Chad Proehl, Urbandale, Iowa 35-37—72
Danny Balin, Rockville, Md. 35-37—72
Stephen Schneiter, Sandy, Utah 39-33—72
Tim Weinhart, Johns Creek, Ga. 35-37—72
Rod Perry, Port Orange, Fla. 38-34—72
Sean Dougherty, Overland Park, Kan. 35-37—72
Jaysen Hansen, Toledo, Ohio 33-39—72
Frank Esposito, Florham Park, N.J. 37-35—72
Matt Ganshaw, Opelika, Ala. 37-35—72
David Damesworth, Orlando, Fla. 37-35—72
Mark Mielke, East Norwich, N.Y. 35-37—72
Jay Westerlund, Estero, Fla. 35-37—72
Stuart Deane, Arlington, Texas 35-37—72
Jason Alexander, The Woodlands, Texas 36-36—72
Rick Witt, Madison, Wis. 38-34—72
Mitch Lowe, San Francisco, Calif. 36-36—72
Carl Cooper, Humble, Texas 36-36—72
John Seltzer, Ann Arbor, Mich. 39-34—73
Dustin Volk, Layton, Utah 36-37—73
Don Berry, Brooklyn Park, Minn. 36-37—73
Frank Dully, Salem, Mass. 37-36—73
Burke Cromer, Columbia, S.C. 34-39—73
Roger Gunn, Oak Park, Calif. 35-38—73
Bill Murchison, Canton, Ga. 37-36—73
Kyle Owen, Marietta, Ga. 39-34—73
Mike Russell, Oro Valley, Ariz. 35-38—73
Micah Rudosky, Cortez, Colo. 37-36—73
Ron Philo, Stowe, Vt. 39-34—73
Chip Sullivan, Troutville, Va. 37-36—73
Lee Stroever, Jupiter, Fla. 36-37—73
Scott Hebert, Traverse City, Mich. 35-38—73
Craig Stevens, Dallas, Ga. 38-35—73
Doug Wade, Dayton, Ohio 37-36—73
Robert McClellan, Butler, Pa. 36-37—73
Joey Carranza, Fall City, Wash. 38-35—73
Matt Seitz, Hutchinson, Kan. 35-38—73
Kirk Satterfield, Harrison, N.Y. 37-36—73
Mark Faulkner, Marion, Ill. 35-38—73
Dave Bahr, Cincinnati, Ohio 35-38—73
George Forster, Blue Bell, Pa. 35-38—73
Joran Meeks, Kingwood, Texas 38-35—73
Rick Lewallen, Kannapolis, N.C. 37-36—73
Dean Larsson, Frisco, Texas 38-35—73
Aaron Krueger, Norwalk, Iowa 37-36—73
John DalCorobbo, Carmel, Ind. 37-36—73
Reed Hughes, Senatobia, Miss. 36-37—73
Gordon Vietmeier, McKees Rocks, Pa. 38-35—73
Chase Brannon, Nashville, Tenn. 34-39—73
Tim Feenstra, Issaquah, Wash. 37-36—73
Todd Camplin, Pinehurst, N.C. 35-38—73
Trent Rommann, Wichita, Kan. 37-36—73
Perry Savetski, Cleveland, Ohio 38-35—73
Casey Fowles, St. George, Utah 36-37—73
Darin Fisher, Albia, Iowa 38-36—74
Steve Hummel, Reno, Nev. 38-36—74
Wayne DeFrancesco, Columbia, Md. 38-36—74
Mark McCormick, Middletown, N.J. 37-37—74
Stu Ingraham, Newton Square, Pa. 36-38—74
Judd Gibb, West Des Moines, Iowa 37-37—74
Casey Paulson, Keller, Texas 38-36—74
Brad Lardon, College Station, Texas 39-35—74
David Quinn, Marlton, N.J. 36-38—74
Tom Harding, South Lyon, Mich. 38-36—74
Adam Guili, Brooklyn Park, Minn. 37-37—74
Chris Wiemers, Omaha, Neb. 38-36—74
Tracy Phillips, Tulsa, Okla. 40-34—74
Kevin Shields, Pittsburgh, Pa. 37-37—74
Kevin Boyle, Cordova, Tenn. 34-40—74
Jon Fiedler, Camarillo, Calif. 36-38—74
Edward Whitman, Blairstown, N.J. 37-37—74
Bill Sautter, Ocean City, N.J. 39-35—74
Mark Tucker, New Hartford, N.Y. 36-38—74
John O’Leary, Reston, Va. 39-35—74
Bill Britton, Rumson, N.J. 37-37—74
Mark Owen, Draper, Utah 38-36—74
Craig Thomas, White Plains, N.Y. 37-38—75
Bruce Smith, Frisco, Texas 38-37—75
Cary Cozby, Wichita, Kan. 37-38—75
Kevin Muir, Birmingham, Mich. 38-37—75
Michael Frye, Sedona, Ariz. 38-37—75
Joe Norman, Elmira, N.Y. 36-39—75
John Ogden, Castle Pines, Colo. 38-37—75
Ryan Benzel, Woodinville, Wash. 37-38—75
Ricky Arnett, Austin, Texas 37-38—75
Dan Olsen, Chicago, Ill. 38-37—75
Greg Bisconti, South Salem, N.Y. 41-34—75
Larry Emery, Carterville, Ill. 37-38—75
Jim Empey, Boise, Idaho 38-37—75
Eric Dugas, Waikoloa, Hawaii 38-37—75
Phil Taylor, Dunwoody, Ga. 37-38—75
Charles Frost, Pineville, N.C. 38-37—75
Henrik Simonsen, Ooltewah, Tenn. 37-38—75
Matt Slowinski, Glen Ellyn, Ill. 38-37—75
Michael Hopper, Phoenix, Ariz. 36-39—75
JC Anderson, O’Fallon, Mo. 40-35—75
Luke Varner, Overland Park, Kan. 37-38—75
Lance Reid, Denver, N.C. 38-37—75
Ryan Helminen, Appleton, Wis. 37-38—75
Jeff Kringen, Wayzata, Minn. 39-36—75
Mike Kullberg, Houston, Texas 39-36—75
Brett Melton, Washington, Ind. 35-40—75
James Blair, Ogden, Utah 39-36—75
Steve Pellegrine, Kingsburg, Calif. 36-39—75
Caine Fitzgerald, Parker, Colo. 38-37—75
Kevin Roman, Roswell, Ga. 38-37—75
Audie Johnson, Lebanon, Tenn. 37-38—75
Jakob Gerney, Mantua, N.J. 35-40—75
Chris Dachisen, Warren, N.J. 36-39—75
Rick Morton, Jacksonville, N.C. 39-37—76
Gus Ulrich, Whispering Pines, N.C. 38-38—76
Barry Evans, Charleston, W. Va. 40-36—76
Jim Woodward, Edmond, Okla. 35-41—76
Craig Brischke, Forest Lake, Minn. 38-38—76
Shane Blankenship, Owensville, Mo. 38-38—76
Brett Upper, Scottsdale, Ariz. 37-39—76
David Tentis, Woodbury, Minn. 37-39—76
Jim White, Lincoln, Neb. 35-41—76
Adam Decker, Richmond, Va. 35-41—76
Ken Martin, Wellington, Fla. 39-37—76
Gary Robison, Canton, Ohio 40-36—76
John Bierkan, Devon, Pa. 36-40—76
Rich Steinmetz, Gilbertsville, Pa. 39-37—76
Brian Smith, Leominster, Mass. 40-36—76
Zac Gavlak, Prairie Village, Kan. 40-36—76
Jerry Tucker, Stuart, Fla. 37-39—76
Chris Starkjohann, Oceanside, Calif. 38-38—76
Ryan Kalista, Moodus, Conn. 37-39—76
Luke Bennett, Bellingham, Wash. 36-40—76
Bradley Turner, Apopka, Fla. 37-39—76
Steve Gillie, Pingree Grove, Ill. 38-38—76
Jeffrey Anderson, Mill Valley, Calif. 37-39—76
John Bushka, Stratford, Conn. 38-38—76
Brad Faller, Hillsboro, Ore. 39-37—76
Kris Moe, Santa Rosa, Calif. 37-39—76
Ron Beurmann, Jackson, Mich. 36-40—76
Matthew Freitag, Long Valley, N.J. 37-39—76
Jon Stanley, Phoenix, Ariz. 37-39—76
Brian Thornton, Sumner, Wash. 38-38—76
John Pillar, Hawley, Pa. 40-36—76
Jim Schuman, Verona, Wis. 35-41—76
Greg Lee, Athens, Ga. 42-34—76
Mark Summerville, San Diego, Calif. 38-38—76
Tim Frazier, Fort Wayne, Ind. 37-39—76
Ivan Foster, Fort Wayne, Ind. 38-38—76
Rob Phelps, Fayetteville, N.Y. 40-36—76
Mike Miles, Huntington Beach, Calif. 38-38—76
Barry Milstead, Centennial, Colo. 38-39—77
Matt Viguerie, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. 38-39—77
Clark Spratlin, Toccoa, Ga. 36-41—77
Mark Evenson, Ellicott City, Md. 38-39—77
Dennis Miller, Canfield, Ohio 40-37—77
Chris Johnson, Castle Rock, Colo. 38-39—77
Jeffrey Martin, Warwick, R.I. 37-40—77
Brett Robertson, Midlothian, Va. 37-40—77
David Hronek, North Port, Fla. 36-41—77
Billy Anderson, Wilmington, N.C. 38-39—77
Matt Newman, Boca Raton, Fla. 39-38—77
Don Sweeting, Pinehurst, N.C. 41-36—77
Rob Hunt, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 38-39—77
Patrick Hawkins, Richmond, Va. 42-35—77
Larry King, Trenton, Ohio 37-40—77
Sean Gorgone, Plymouth, Fla. 39-38—77
Robert Moss, Broadview Heights, Ohio 40-37—77
Brad Apple, Perrysburg, Ohio 38-39—77
Kevin Hayashi, Hilo, Hawaii 37-40—77
Chris Black, Independence, Iowa 39-38—77
Tim Straub, Huntersville, N.C. 38-39—77
John Hickson, Topsham, Maine 37-40—77
Bryan Heim, Bartlesville, Okla. 41-36—77
Lee Houtteman, Glen Arbor, Mich. 40-37—77
Stephen Parker, Hamburg, N.Y. 41-37—78
Liam Friedman, Lackawanna, N.Y. 38-40—78
Marty Jertson, Phoenix, Ariz. 38-40—78
Lonny Alexander, New Braunfels, Texas 40-38—78
Jeffrey Cranford, La Quinta, Calif. 40-38—78
Bryan Sullivan, Kitty Hawk, N.C. 38-40—78
Jeff Sorenson, Blaine, Minn. 38-40—78
Scott Holly, Lincoln, Neb. 38-40—78
Zachary Wyman, Williston, Vt. 40-38—78
Ricky Smallridge, Auburn, Ala. 40-38—78
Frank O’Connell, Phoenix, Ariz. 38-40—78
Jim Karr, West Palm Beach, Fla. 37-41—78
Jon Petersen, Omaha, Neb. 37-41—78
Bob Darling, Lewiston, Maine 39-39—78
Adam Martens, Meridian, Idaho 40-38—78
David Newsom, Leesburg, Va. 40-38—78
Brooks Blackburn, Aiken, S.C. 36-42—78
Jason Martin, Wheeling, W. Va. 40-38—78
Eddie Terasa, Waukesha, Wis. 37-41—78
John Appleget, Dorothy, N.J. 37-41—78
Jeff Ritchey, Westlake, Ohio 37-41—78
Eric Bogar, Houston, Texas 36-42—78
David Paeglow, DeKalb, Ill. 38-40—78
Matt Kayson, Washington, D.C. 37-42—79
William Street, Granite City, Ill. 37-42—79
Gary Trivisonno, Aurora, Ohio 40-39—79
Grant Masson, St. Louis, Mo. 37-42—79
Tim Fries, East Amherst, N.Y. 40-39—79
Tony DeMaria, White Plains, N.Y. 39-40—79
Mike Burke, Towaco, N.J. 40-39—79
Matt Trevino, Boerne, Texas 39-40—79
Rob Labritz, Pound Ridge, N.Y. 40-39—79
Scott Erdmann, Tigard, Ore. 39-40—79
Bob Ackerman, West Bloomfield, Mich. 41-38—79
Tom Sovay, Mukilteo, Wash. 42-37—79
Wesley Weston, Las Vegas, Nev. 39-40—79
Ian Breen, Lake Placid, N.Y. 40-39—79
Tom Michaels, Perryville, Md. 41-38—79
Bill Mackedon, Port Jefferson, N.Y. 40-39—79
Keith Ohr, Louisville, Ky. 38-41—79
Chris Case, Mount Kisco, N.Y. 40-39—79
Shawn Wills, Pueblo, Colo. 39-40—79
Rob Shuey, Shippensburg, Pa. 40-39—79
Brent Amaral, Westport, Mass. 40-39—79
Quinn Griffing, Fort Wayne, Ind. 38-41—79
Steve Isley, Oak Island, N.C. 40-39—79
Andy Shuman, Lake Zurich, Ill. 39-40—79
Devin Gee, Oakmont, Pa. 39-40—79
Brian Brodell, Lafayette, Ind. 40-39—79
Bryan Luedtke, Woodstock, Ill. 40-40—80
Roger King, Barre, Vt. 40-40—80
Shawn Hall, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. 40-40—80
Kevin Burton, Boise, Idaho 40-40—80
Michael Jack, Placentia, Calif. 38-42—80
Jeffrey Barton, Dallas, Texas 40-40—80
Colby Wollitz, Louisville, Ky. 40-40—80
Harry Dixon, Petoskey, Mich. 38-42—80
Tim Lewis, Norfolk, Va. 43-37—80
Dominic Curran, Silver City, N.M. 42-38—80
Chris Krueger, Rehoboth Beach, Del. 38-42—80
Billy Rosinia, Burr Ridge, Ill. 38-42—80
Luke Benoit, Maple Grove, Minn. 38-42—80
Troy Schleicher, The Woodlands, Texas 39-41—80
Charlie Brown, Sturtevant, Wis. 41-39—80
Grant Sturgeon, Cave City, Ky. 44-36—80
Michael LaBrutto, Cranford, N.J. 43-37—80
Brian Brown, Naperville, Ill. 41-39—80
Sam Kang, Rockaway, N.J. 39-41—80
Jonathan Duppler, Elgin, Ill. 42-39—81
Ben Meyers, Maple Grove, Minn. 39-42—81
Rick Durocher, Princeton, Mass. 39-42—81
Ed Slattery, Torrington, Conn. 41-40—81
John Gibson, Houston, Texas 40-41—81
Jim Marinelli, Byron, Ill. 39-42—81
Connie DeMattia, Golf, Ill. 42-39—81
Blake Watts, New Albany, Ind. 39-42—81
Mike Flaherty, Inver Grove Heights, Minn. 40-41—81
Joe Pollack, Grand Rapids, Mich. 42-39—81
Damien Hamlett, Annandale, N.J. 42-39—81
Frank Hohenadel, Tinley Park, Ill. 38-43—81
Richard Woodson, Sachse, Texas 40-41—81
Mike Gilmore, Mamaroneck, N.Y. 39-42—81
Anthony Price, Terry, Miss. 38-44—82
Jack Seltzer, Linden, Mich. 44-38—82
Gabriel Dorosh, Boise, Idaho 41-41—82
Glen Griffith, Tucson, Ariz. 38-44—82
Gary Miller, Athens, Ga. 41-41—82
Olly Thomson, Canton, Miss. 43-39—82
Doug Rhea, Orlando, Fla. 44-39—83
Jordon Arnold, Dawsonville, Ga. 40-43—83
Adam D’Amario, West Hartford, Conn. 42-41—83
Keith Henry, Tuscaloosa, Ala. 41-42—83
Bret Hartman, Troy, Mich. 41-42—83
Brian Kelly, Lewisburg, Pa. 43-40—83
John Fields, Belmont, Mass. 37-46—83
Pete Hagen, Omaha, Neb. 40-43—83
Brendan McGrath, Centreville, Va. 46-37—83
Henry Stetina, Phoenix, Ariz. 41-43—84
Sean Driscoll, Sewell, N.J. 43-41—84
Bob Miller, Yarmouthport, Mass. 42-42—84
Matt Pakkala, Honolulu, Hawaii 43-41—84
Chris Stacy, Big Stone Gap, Va. 39-45—84
Jason Stilley, Paducah, Ky. 42-42—84
Paul Norris, Dallas, Texas 42-42—84
Bill Pollert, Indianapolis, Ind. 44-41—85
Ted Parker, Long Beach, Calif. 43-42—85
RJ Ziats, Warren, Vt. 40-45—85
John Traub, Rochester Hills, Mich. 45-41—86
Tony Saraceno, Cortland, N.Y. 43-43—86
Charles DeLorey, Indio, Calif. 41-45—86
Jody Barrett, Cranberry Township, Pa. 42-45—87
Carmen Costa, Bethel Park, Pa. 45-45—90
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