PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Former PGA Tour player Brad Lardon of Austin, Texas, came from behind on Sunday to capture the 30th TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club.
Lardon began the final 18 holes two shots behind third-round leader Faber Jamerson of Amherst, Va., and battled back with a 4-under-par 68 for a Championship total of 14-under 274. Jamerson finished in second place two shots back with a 12-under 276.
Lardon and Jamerson played in the final group along with Ryan Helminen of Appleton, Wis., who finished in tie for fifth place. They went head-to-head throughout the round and Lardon took the lead on the par-5 542-yard sixth hole, where he hit a 4-iron into the green and two-putted for a birdie while Jamerson carded a par. From that point on, Lardon never looked back and took complete control of the national Championship.
"I played very solid today and kept the ball in play and birdied all the par 5s," said Lardon, the PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Escondido in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, who won the 2006 Southern Texas PGA Assistant Professional Championship earlier this year. "I never took anything for granted, and I was fortunate that Jamerson didn't have his best day and opened the door to let me back in the game early."
Jamerson did, in fact, have a difficult day early with three bogeys on the front nine on Nos. 4, 7, and 9. He then made the turn determined to fight back into the Championship. He carded birdies on Nos. 13 and 14, then followed with a bogey on No. 16, but ended on a strong note with two closing birdies.
"The atmosphere for my day was hitting the ball close to the hole but not making any putts," said Jamerson, who recorded his highest round of the tournament with an even-par 72. "When I birdied No. 14 from 12 feet, I knew that I still had a realistic chance to win the Championship if I could take advantage of my length on the upcoming par 5. However, I unfortunately left the ball short and was not able to capitalize."
Three-time Champion (2002, 2003, 2005) Kyle Flinton of Edmond, Okla., entered the clubhouse with the lowest round of the day, 6-under 66, to jump from a tie for 15th place after the third round to a tie for third place for the Championship at 70-72-71-66-279. Joining Flinton in a tie for third position was Grant Masson of Little Rock, Ark.
"I am honored to win this PGA of America national Championship, which is full of tradition," said Lardon, who earned a first-place check of $9,000 out of the total purse of $100,000. "The field was very strong and I am so proud to come out on top as the Champion this year."
Jamerson is invited to participate in the 2007 Australian PGA National Futures Championship, by finishing as the low apprentice in the Championship.
The 30th TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship was comprised of 41 PGA Section assistant champions, section qualifiers, the defending Champion Kyle Flinton and assistant/apprentice champions from Australia, Canada and Great Britain. TaylorMade-adidas Golf returned as the title sponsor for the seventh consecutive year and was joined by Bank of America, Buick and MasterCard who serve as the supporting sponsors.
Celebrating its 90th anniversary, The PGA of America was founded in 1916, and is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.
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