PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Championship rookie Troy Muller of Deltona, Fla., recorded a 4-under-par 68 Friday to jump into the lead at 6-under-par 138 midway through the $100,000 TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship. Chris Moody of Provo, Utah, turned in a 68 of his own and sits a stroke off the pace. First-round leader Greg Bisconti of South Salem, N.Y., Anthony Johnson of San Antonio, Texas, Matt Larson of Alpharetta, Ga., and Mike Townsend of Wilmington, N.C., remain two-strokes behind the leader.
Muller, a 29-year-old assistant professional at Derbary Golf and Country Club in Deltona, Fla., battled back from another tough start to his round.
"I started my round off with two consecutive bogeys," said Muller. "I kind of found my niche after that, getting three birdies on the front nine and another four on the back nine. It was a great feeling I had after my first two holes."
Muller admits the biggest reason for his success so far this week has been his hot putter.
"I have made everything I have looked at so far," said Muller. "It has been a great change and one that I have certainly welcomed."
Moody, a 32-year-old assistant professional at Riverside Country Club in Provo, Utah, credited his solid iron play and clutch putting during his round at The PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker Course.
"I played really well all day," said Moody, competing in his third Assistant's National Championship. "I hit 15 greens, only had 30 putts and other then the first hole I really can not complain."
Moody acknowledges, however, that even though the first hole gave him trouble, it also boosted his confidence heading into the rest of the round.
"I blocked my tee shot completely right on the first hole and had no shot at all at the green and had to punch out," said Moody. "I to hit a pitching wedge to about 10 feet and made the quick putt. Being able to start off with a par instead of a bogey really sets you off on a good foot."
Bisconti, a 34-year-old assistant professional at St. Andrews Golf Club in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., continued his solid play with a second consecutive sub par round.
"I was able to birdie the 10th, my final hole, and get it back to under-par for the day," said Bisconti, who competed in the 89th PGA Championship last August at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. "I hit a 4-iron to about 10 feet and sank the putt, which gave me some extra confidence going into the weekend."
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, shot a second-round 76 and missed the cut by three-strokes. Her experience at Assistant's National Championship, however, is one that she will not soon forget.
"The guys that I was paired with this week were absolutely wonderful," said Sasse-Kildow, who has never attempted to qualify for the Championship prior to this year. "You never know how you will be received but I take a whole bunch of great memories with me from this tournament."
Sasse-Kildow admits that a lack of tournament play recently may have contributed to her not making the cut this week.
"I do not play much anymore," said Sasse-Kildow, who won the Nebraska PGA Section qualifier by six-strokes. "Between teaching, being a new Mom and having a whole bunch of other responsibilities at the course, you just do not play as much as you would like."
Three-time Champion Kyle Flinton of Edmond, Okla., an assistant professional at Quail Creek Golf & Country Club in Oklahoma City, Okla., shot a 69 and is currently in a tie for 8th place. Flinton captured titles in 2002, '03 and '05.
The field was trimmed to the low 70 scorers and ties, with 71 players advancing at 6-over-par to play the final two weekend rounds at the Wanamaker Course.
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 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.
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.
Second Round Scores
Troy Muller, Deltona, Fla. 70-68--138
Chris Moody, Provo, Utah 71-68--139
Greg Bisconti, South Salem, N.Y. 69-71--140
Matt Larson, Alpharetta, Ga. 72-68--140
Mike Townsend, Wilmington, N.C. 70-70--140
Anthony Johnson, San Antonio, Texas 72-68--140
David Von Hoffmann, Palm Bch Grdns, Fla. 71-70--141
Tim Feenstra, Issaquah, Wash. 75-67--142
Kyle Flinton, Edmond, Okla. 73-69--142
Alan Zimmerman, North Palm Beach, Fl 70-73--143
Andy Blanton, Columbus, Ga. 71-72--143
Bob Jacobson, Pasadena, Calif. 73-70--143
Davidde Giordano, Rochester, N.Y. 74-69--143
Travis Deibert, Doylestown, Pa. 71-72--143
David Solomon, Long Beach, Calif. 72-71--143
Geoff Keffer, Lakewood, Colo. 73-70--143
Jon Stanley, Phoenix, Ariz. 74-70--144
Steven Scott, Wellington, Fla. 71-73--144
Cory Schneider, Powells Point, N.C. 72-72--144
Jim Herman, Cincinnati, Ohio 71-73--144
Jack Steinicke, Pickerington, Ohio 74-71--145
Jonathan Lupton, England 77-68--145
Eric Manning, Utica, N.Y. 73-72--145
Burke Cromer, Chapin, S. C. 72-74--146
Joe O'Brien, Wayzata, Minn. 74-72--146
Scott Medlin, Hamlet, N.C. 75-71--146
Paul Scaletta, Palm Bch Grdns, Fla. 77-69--146
Ryan Sikora, Greensburg, Pa. 75-71--146
Ray Otis, San Jose, Calif. 72-74--146
Paul Norris, Dallas, Texas 73-73--146
Chris Happ, Winnetka, Ill. 76-70--146
Trent Rommann, El Paso, Texas 76-71--147
Todd Lancaster, Aurora, Ohio 75-72--147
Bryant Odom, Sea Island, Ga. 73-74--147
Dean Larsson, Dallas, Texas 75-72--147
David Hutsell, Baltimore, Md. 76-71--147
Samuel Kang, Rockaway, N.J. 77-70--147
Blake Watts, Louisville, Ky. 71-76--147
Mike Meehan, Locust Valley, N.Y. 74-73--147
Ricky Touma, Olney, Md. 75-73--148
Michael Suhre, Edwardsville, Ill. 75-73--148
Cory Etter, Heflin, Ala. 78-70--148
Joey Pohle, Ardmore, Pa. 74-74--148
Adam Corson, State College, Pa. 76-72--148
Rich Dukelow, Orland Park, Ill. 78-70--148
Boomer Erick, Naples, Fla. 73-75--148
Jay Lindell, Lakewood, N.Y. 73-75--148
Stephen Ubernosky, Kingwood, Texas 73-75--148
Thomas Wolfenberger, Houston, Texas 75-73--148
Jon Jones, Warren, Ohio 76-72--148
Keith Burdette, Chattanooga, Tenn. 74-75--149
Jeff Page, Memphis, Tenn. 74-75--149
J. D. Auping, St. Charles, Mo. 73-76--149
Chris Griffin, Tacoma, Wash. 76-73--149
Jeff Martin, Warwick, R.I. 76-73--149
Brian Brodell, Madison, Wis. 74-75--149
Matt Dobyns, Croton-On-Hudson Ny 76-73--149
Brent Amaral, Westport, Mass. 75-74--149
Bob Rittberger, Garden City, N.Y. 76-73--149
Chad Penman, Fort Wayne, Ind. 71-78--149
Marty Jertson, Cave Creek, Ariz. 75-74--149
Kurt Mantyla, Milwaukee, Wis. 74-75--149
Steve Parker, Houston, Texas 77-73--150
Chris Gilley, Costa Mesa, Calif. 74-76--150
Michael Labrutto, Cranford, N.J. 77-73--150
Michael Scott, Bettendorf, Iowa 76-74--150
Rick Leal, W. Springfield, Mass 77-73--150
Mark Owen, Draper, Utah 73-77--150
Charles Pasco, Beverly Hills, Mich. 77-73--150
Nate Gilchrist, Hillsdale, Mich. 76-74--150
Adam Turner, Galesburg, Ill. 77-73-150
(Missed Cut)
Bob Blean, Glendale, Ariz. 75-76--151
Josh Hillman, Williamstown, Mass. 77-74--151
Bill Hancock, Highlands Ranch Colo 80-71--151
J.Randy McGohan, St. Joseph, Mo. 76-76--152
Austin Meyer, Louisville, Ky. 76-76--152
Kris Isackson, Eagle Point, Ore. 75-77--152
Chris McDermott, West Orange, N.J. 76-76--152
Tony Frabizzio, Purchase, N.Y. 74-78--152
Jon Antunes, Waco, Texas 77-75--152
Rob Hunt, Highlands Ranch, Col 77-75--152
Billy Judah, Chesapeake, Va. 76-76--152
Robert Deruntz, Roslyn Harbor, N.Y. 76-76--152
Remi Bouchard, Canada 77-75--152
Michael Downey, Fernandina Beach, Fl 78-75--153
Daniel Dwyer, Gloucester, Mass. 77-76--153
Ryan Helminen, Appleton, Wis. 79-74--153
Sarah Sasse-Kildow, Lincoln, Neb. 77-76--153
Danny Balin, Rockville, Md. 75-78--153
Simon Allan, Chicago, Ill. 74-79--153
John Bushka, Stratford, Conn. 74-79--153
Matt Norgaard, Rochester, Minn. 74-79--153
Patrick Coyner, Bel Air, Md. 75-79--154
Donnie Rogers, Indianapolis, Ind. 81-73--154
Robert Mcclellan, Butler, Pa. 77-77--154
Kris Kroetsch, Fargo, N.D. 75-79--154
Joe Zimmerman, Indianapolis, Ind. 75-79--154
Shane Abe, Honolulu, Hawaii 75-79--154
Chip Zimmerman, Cumming, Ga. 76-78--154
Josh Luehmann, Columbus, Ohio 78-76--154
Tony Traci, Pittsburgh, Pa. 80-74--154
Ben Meyers, Maple Grove, Minn. 76-78--154
Brett Kleinkopf, Boise, Idaho 78-77--155
Grant Strobel, San Diego, Calif. 80-75--155
Tom Ryan, Seguin, Texas 74-81--155
Adam Howell, Raleigh, N.C. 79-76--155
Alva Wendland, Kailua Kona, Hawaii 80-75--155
Brian Brown, Glencoe, Ill. 80-76--156
Robert Quaratino, Commerce City, Colo. 78-79--157
Eric Goettsch, Monterey, Calif. 79-78--157
Marshall Hoiness, Shakopee, Minn. 80-77--157
Mike Larkin, White Plains, N.Y. 83-75--158
Robert Makoski, Novi, Mich. 80-78--158
Richard Burlett Iii, Fredonia, N.Y. 76-84--160
Travis Hofland, Twin Falls, Idaho 84-76--160
Allen Fennell Jr., Kingsport, Tenn. 80-80--160
Andrew Gruss, Kensington, Conn. 79-81--160
Weston Maughan, Draper, Utah 84-77--161
Hugh Smith, Frederick, Md. 87-83--170
Kirk Satterfield, Manhasset, N.Y. NC--NC
