If his past play in the TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship serves as a worthy guide, Ryan Helminen of Appleton, Wis., could be holding the Champion's trophy in late October.
This is Helminen's fourth attempt at winning a National Assistant Professional Championship, and he makes this year's bid having improved his finish each of the past three years.
Helminen and 120 other PGA assistant professionals and apprentices will descend upon The PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Oct. 25-28, for the 31st edition of the Championship.
"I keep improving every year," said Helminen, who finished in a tie for fifth last year. "I have focused more each year and learned to become more patient on the course. The first year I played here [2004] I hit the panic button too quickly. But I have learned from my mistakes."
Helminen also credits his recent success to becoming more familiar with the Southern landscape.
"I have played more in the South in recent years," said the Assistant Professional at Sentryworld Golf Club in Stevens Point, Wis. "It is hard to get used to, coming from the North, but playing in Mexico and all over Florida have helped me get accustomed to how differently these courses play."
Two past Assistant's Champions are set to compete later this month. Three-time winner Kyle Flinton (2002, '03, and '05) of Edmond, Okla. and Kirk Satterfield (2004) of Manhasset, N.Y. will both be seeking another title.
Defending Champion Brad Lardon of Austin, Texas, will not be defending his title this year as he was recently named PGA Director of Golf at Miramont Country Club in Bryan, Texas, and is no longer eligible to compete.
Lardon's victory gave him an exemption into the 40th PGA Professional National Championship in June, where he finished in a tie for 16th. That finish also gave him an exemption into the PGA Championship in August, where he missed the cut by one stroke.
Helminen knows that trying to play for an exemption, however, is not to his advantage.
"Thinking about playing in any other tournament when you have not finished the one your playing in is not a good combo," said Helminen. "I am going to take it just one shot at a time and see how it plays out."
Following the first 36 holes of play, the field for the final two rounds will be reduced to the low 70 scorers and ties.
TaylorMade-adidas Golf returns as the title sponsor for the seventh consecutive year. The field includes an international flavor with assistant professional champions from Canada, Australia and England.
For more then 30 years, this Championship has produced many outstanding PGA Professionals who have gone onto successful careers in teaching and administering the game, as well as competing at the highest level on the PGA and Champions Tours.
The winner of the TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship will collect $9,000 of the $100,000 purse and if eligible, will earn a berth in the 2008 PGA Professional National Championship at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Ga. And, the low apprentice, if eligible, will be invited to the 2008 Australian PGA National Futures Championship.
