After making history in 2005 by becoming the first three-time winner of the TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship, Kyle Flinton of Edmond, Okla., is excited about returning to PGA Golf Club for this year's Championship, Oct. 26?29.
"PGA Golf Club is a home away from home for my wife, Tracy, and me," says the 40-year-old Flinton, who also was victorious in 2002 and 2003. "There is not any added pressure to defend this year as I am extremely comfortable with this wonderful facility, the staff and national Championship.
"Furthermore, I am comfortable playing in South Florida with the winds that can be strong at times, as I know how to control the ball in the winds from my past experiences."
Last year, Flinton converted a double-eagle, eagle, birdie, birdie run during the second round of the Championship for a back-nine 29 and finished with a 4-under-par 68, good for a 7-under-par 137 total and a four-stroke lead over defending Champion Kirk Satterfield of Manhasset, N.Y., at the midpoint. From there, Flinton never looked back, continuing to distance himself from the rest of the field, and cruised ahead for the win. Flinton was the only player in the field who finished the national Championship with an under-par score at 6-under-par 282 (69-68-70-75).
"My four-hole stretch last year instantly turned a poor round into an unbelievable round," says Flinton, the PGA apprentice assistant at Quail Creek Golf & Country Club in Oklahoma City, Okla., for the past eight years. "I try to have the same mental (approach) as Tiger Woods when I am in the lead -- to never let up and to keep making birdies, because you never know if someone in the field is going to make a move to the top of the leaderboard."
PGA Golf Club will host the TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship for the 11th consecutive year. The course on which the Championship will be contested will be announced on Oct. 1, following the completion of course renovations. Following the first 36 holes of play, the field for the final two rounds of play will be reduced to the 70 players having the lowest scores and those tied for 70th place.
The winner of the TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship will collect $9,000 of the $100,000 purse and the low apprentice will be invited to participate in the 2007 Australian PGA National Futures Championship. Furthermore, the Champion, if eligible, will earn a berth in the 2007 PGA Professional National Championship at Sunriver (Ore.) Resort, June 21?24.
