PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Greg Bisconti of South Salem, N.Y., fired an opening round 3-under-par 69 on a blustery day at The PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., to grab a one-stroke lead in the 31st TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship.
Championship rookies Troy Muller of Deltona, Fla., Mike Townsend of Wilmington, N.C., and Alan Zimmerman of North Palm Beach, Fla., making his third trip, led the chase to Bisconti by each posting a 70.
Bisconti, a 34-year-old assistant professional at St. Andrews Golf Club in Hastings-On-Hudson, N.Y., overcame a double bogey-6 on the ninth hole with four back-nine birdies, including both of the par-5s.
"I played really solid on the back nine today and made a few long putts that turned my round around completely," said Bisconti, making his third appearance in the Championship. "I made a 30-foot birdie on the 12th hole and another 30-foot birdie on the 18th hole, which gave me a lot of confidence going into the weekend."
That confidence will be needed, Bisconti admits, as he is not at his best on Bermuda greens.
"My history on Bermuda greens has not been good, so I am extremely happy and fortunate," said Bisconti. "I just committed all day. So many times you play a round of golf and you hit a bunch of bad putts and you did not trust what you wanted to do or what your read was. I did not do that today. I believed in what I saw and it worked."
Muller, a 29-year-old assistant professional at Derbary Golf and Country Club in Deltona, Fla., battled back from a tough start to finish in a tie for second place.
"It was tough start this morning. I only hit two greens in regulation on the front side," said Muller. "I was able to get up and down from absolutely everywhere, which saved me from a bunch of bogeys."
The key to Muller's solid round came at the par-4 fifth.
"My round was kick-started at the fifth when I made a 65-footer for birdie," said Muller. "I played really solid golf the rest of the round and that led to a great score for a day like this."
Townsend, a 24-year-old assistant professional at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, N.C., also benefited from a hot putter.
"My lag putting was phenomenal today," said Townsend. "I lagged it up within the putter grip from 40 or 50 feet every time it seemed and that made it pretty easy."
Zimmerman, a 33-year-old assistant professional at Old Palm Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., used his knowledge of the Wanamaker Course and Bermuda grass to his advantage.
"I have played on this course nearly 50 times, going back to my days on the Golden Bear Tour," said Zimmerman. "I think a big advantage is the familiarity with the Bermuda grass as well. A player coming from Wisconsin will not know the same kind of stuff around the greens that I know."
Eight players were another stroke back at 71.
Sarah Sasse-Kildow of Lincoln, Neb., an assistant professional at Holmes Park Golf Course and the first female to compete in the history of the championship, finished with a 77 and is eight strokes off the pace.
Three-time Champion Kyle Flinton of Edmond, Okla., an assistant professional at Quail Creek Golf & Country Club in Oklahoma City, Okla., shot an opening round 73 and is currently in a tie for 19th place with 10 others. Flinton captured titles in 2002, '03 and '05.
Former Champion (2004) Kirk Satterfield of Manhasset, N.Y., an assistant professional at Deepdale Golf Club in Manhasset, N.Y., withdrew from the Championship after just 11 holes, citing a neck injury.
"It just got too hard to continue playing," said Satterfield. "I wanted to try and finish but it was impossible. I hope to get better quickly and make it back here next year."
Following Friday's second round, the field will be trimmed to the low 70 scorers and ties.
TaylorMade-adidas Golf returns is serving as title sponsor for the eighth consecutive year. The field includes assistant professional champions from Canada 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.
The PGA of America is the world's largest working sports organization, comprised of 28,000 men and women golf Professionals who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf while serving millions of people throughout its 41 PGA Sections nationwide. Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position in a $62 billion-a-year industry by growing the game of golf through its premier spectator events, world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives, and award-winning golf promotions. Today's PGA Professional is the public's link to the game, serving an essential role in the operation of golf facilities throughout the country.
First Round Scores
Greg Bisconti, South Salem, N.Y. 37-32--69
Troy Muller, Deltona, Fla. 34-36--70
Mike Townsend, Wilmington, N.C. 36-34--70
Alan Zimmerman, North Palm Beach, Fl 35-35--70
Blake Watts, Louisville, Ky. 36-35--71
Chad Penman, Fort Wayne, Ind. 36-35--71
Jim Herman, Cincinnati, Ohio 35-36--71
Andy Blanton, Columbus, Ga. 37-34--71
David Von Hoffmann, Palm Bch Grdns, Fla. 37-34--71
Chris Moody, Provo, Utah 34-37--71
Travis Deibert, Doylestown, Pa. 36-35--71
Steven Scott, Wellington, Fla. 35-36--71
Matt Larson, Alpharetta, Ga. 38-34--72
Cory Schneider, Powells Point, N.C. 36-36--72
Ray Otis, San Jose, Calif. 36-36--72
Anthony Johnson, San Antonio, Texas 36-36--72
Burke Cromer, Chapin, S.C. 36-36--72
David Solomon, Long Beach, Calif. 35-37--72
Mark Owen, Draper, Utah 37-36--73
Geoff Keffer, Lakewood, Colo. 37-36--73
Boomer Erick, Naples, Fla. 38-35--73
Jay Lindell, Lakewood, N.Y. 37-36--73
Stephen Ubernosky, Kingwood, Texas 38-35--73
Paul Norris, Dallas, Texas 35-38--73
Eric Manning, Utica, N.Y. 39-34--73
Kyle Flinton, Edmond, Okla. 36-37--73
Bob Jacobson, Pasadena, Calif. 36-37--73
J. D. Auping, St. Charles, Mo. 34-39--73
Bryant Odom, Sea Island, Ga. 35-38--73
Brian Brodell, Madison, Wis. 38-36--74
Simon Allan, Chicago, Ill. 37-37--74
Mike Meehan, Locust Valley, N.Y. 37-37--74
John Bushka, Stratford, Conn. 38-36--74
Matt Norgaard, Rochester, Minn. 40-34--74
Kurt Mantyla, Milwaukee, Wis. 37-37--74
Keith Burdette, Chattanooga, Tenn. 37-37--74
Jon Stanley, Phoenix, Ariz. 41-33--74
Jack Steinicke, Pickerington, Ohio 36-38--74
Jeff Page, Memphis, Tenn. 37-37--74
Joe O'Brien, Wayzata, Minn. 36-38--74
Chris Gilley, Costa Mesa, Calif. 35-39--74
Joey Pohle, Ardmore, Pa. 38-36--74
Davidde Giordano, Rochester, N.Y. 40-34--74
Tony Frabizzio, Purchase, N.Y. 38-36--74
Tom Ryan, Seguin, Texas 36-38--74
Brent Amaral, Westport, Mass. 37-38--75
Tim Feenstra, Issaquah, Wash. 39-36--75
Danny Balin, Rockville, Md. 38-37--75
Ryan Sikora, Greensburg, Pa. 38-37--75
Marty Jertson, Cave Creek, Ariz. 39-36--75
Thomas Wolfenberger, Houston, Texas 37-38--75
Ricky Touma, Olney, Md. 39-36--75
Kris Isackson, Eagle Point, Ore. 39-36--75
Patrick Coyner, Bel Air, Md. 39-36--75
Michael Suhre, Edwardsville, Ill. 38-37--75
Todd Lancaster, Aurora, Ohio 38-37--75
Kris Kroetsch, Fargo, N.D. 38-37--75
Joe Zimmerman, Indianapolis, Ind. 37-38--75
Scott Medlin, Hamlet, N.C. 39-36--75
Shane Abe, Honolulu, Hawaii 38-37--75
Dean Larsson, Dallas, Texas 37-38--75
Bob Blean, Glendale, Ariz. 37-38--75
David Hutsell, Baltimore, Md. 36-40--76
Matt Dobyns, Croton-On-Hudson Ny 38-38--76
Nate Gilchrist, Hillsdale, Mich. 38-38--76
Bob Rittberger, Garden City, N.Y. 39-37--76
Ben Meyers, Maple Grove, Minn. 37-39--76
Billy Judah, Chesapeake, Va. 39-37--76
Robert Deruntz, Roslyn Harbor, N.Y. 40-36--76
Jon Jones, Warren, Ohio 40-36--76
Chris Happ, Winnetka, Ill. 40-36--76
Richard Burlett Iii, Fredonia, N.Y. 35-41--76
J.Randy Mcgohan, St. Joseph, Mo. 38-38--76
Austin Meyer, Louisville, Ky. 38-38--76
Trent Rommann, El Paso, Texas 37-39--76
Chris McDermott, West Orange, N.J. 40-36--76
Chris Griffin, Tacoma, Wash. 38-38--76
Michael Scott, Bettendorf, Iowa 36-40--76
Adam Corson, State College, Pa. 36-40--76
Jeff Martin, Warwick, R.I. 36-40--76
Chip Zimmerman, Cumming, Ga. 38-38--76
Charles Pasco, Beverly Hills, Mich. 41-36--77
Samuel Kang, Rockaway, N.J. 40-37--77
Paul Scaletta, Palm Bch Grdns, Fla. 39-38--77
Adam Turner, Galesburg, Ill. 40-37--77
Rob Hunt, Highlands Ranch, Col 39-38--77
Josh Hillman, Williamstown, Mass. 43-34--77
Remi Bouchard, Canada 39-38--77
Steve Parker, Houston, Texas 41-36--77
Daniel Dwyer, Gloucester, Mass. 40-37--77
Robert Mcclellan, Butler, Pa. 37-40--77
Michael Labrutto, Cranford, N.J. 36-41--77
Jonathan Lupton, England 38-39--77
Rick Leal, W. Springfield, Mass 37-40--77
Jon Antunes, Waco, Texas 39-38--77
Sarah Sasse-Kildow, Lincoln, Neb. 40-37--77
Robert Quaratino, Commerce City, Colo. 38-40--78
Josh Luehmann, Columbus, Ohio 39-39--78
Rich Dukelow, Orland Park, Ill. 41-37--78
Michael Downey, Fernandina Beach, Fl 38-40--78
Brett Kleinkopf, Boise, Idaho 38-40--78
Cory Etter, Heflin, Ala. 37-41--78
Eric Goettsch, Monterey, Calif. 35-44--79
Adam Howell, Raleigh, N.C. 38-41--79
Andrew Gruss, Kensington, Conn. 38-41--79
Ryan Helminen, Appleton, Wis. 37-42--79
Tony Traci, Pittsburgh, Pa. 44-36--80
Alva Wendland, Kailua Kona, Hawaii 39-41--80
Allen Fennell Jr., Kingsport, Tenn. 42-38--80
Bill Hancock, Highlands Ranch Colo 40-40--80
Robert Makoski, Novi, Mich. 39-41--80
Marshall Hoiness, Shakopee, Minn. 39-41--80
Brian Brown, Glencoe, Ill. 40-40--80
Grant Strobel, San Diego, Calif. 39-41--80
Donnie Rogers, Indinapolis, Ind. 40-41--81
Mike Larkin, White Plains, N.Y. 39-44--83
Travis Hofland, Twin Falls, Idaho 40-44--84
Weston Maughan, Draper, Utah 41-43--84
Hugh Smith, Frederick, Md. 43-44--87
Kirk Satterfield, Manhasset, N.Y. -- NC
