His final round 65, the lowest final-round score in the Championship’s 38-year history, earned him $9,000 and a berth in next year’s PGA Professional National Championship. Kenny Pigman of Goose Creek GC finished second.
Grant Sturgeon, PGA Assistant Professional at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., used a record-breaking final round to cruise to victory on November 2nd in the 38th National Car Rental PGA Assistant Championship, held at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Sturgeon, who closed with a final-round, 7-under-par 65 for a 275 total on the club’s Wanamaker Course, won the Championship by seven strokes over Kenny Pigman, PGA Apprentice at Goose Creek Golf Club in Mira Loma, Calif.
Brian Norman of The Colony, Texas, finished third at 283.
With his victory, Sturgeon earned a berth into the 48th PGA Professional National Championship, to be held June 28 – July 1, 2015 at Philadelphia Cricket Club, as well as $9,000 of a $100,000 purse.
Sturgeon entered the final round in a three-way tie for the lead with Norman and Ben Polland, a PGA assistant professional at Deepdale Golf Club in Manhasset, N.Y. But Sturgeon, playing in his third PGA Assistant Championship, took the lead for good after a birdie on the par-4 second hole, and never looked back.
“Today’s the best I ever played when it really mattered,” said Sturgeon. “I hit the ball really well, gave myself a ton of opportunities and made a lot of putts. It’s one of those rounds we all play and practice for, so that everything goes right as it relates to bounces, ball striking and short game. I was fortunate that all happened at the same time.”
Sturgeon’s bogey-free round was the lowest final-round score in the history of the PGA Assistant Championship.
“I’m not going to pretend I’ve shot a ton of 65s in my life, but I did feel completely prepared this week,” said Sturgeon. “I was able to stay out of my own way and everything fell into place.
“It’s huge for me to get into next year’s PGA Professional National Championship,” he added. “I missed getting into this year’s PGA Championship [at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.] by a stroke. So to get into next year’s PGA Professional National Championship and have a chance to qualify for the PGA Championship next year, as a PGA Professional, that’s as good as it gets for us.”
The second-place finisher, Pigman, shot 68 in the final round after entering the day in fifth place. “I came into the final round trying to go as low as I could. I left a few out there, but it was a solid round today,” said Pigman, who was playing in his first PGA Assistant Championship. “I actually hit the ball solidly all week, and I’m really satisfied with my performance.”
Three-time champion Frank Bensel, assistant pro at Century Country Club in Purchase, N.Y., shot a final-round 67 and finished in a tie for seventh.
Past competitors or champions of the PGA Assistant Championship, which has been held at the PGA Golf Club since 1996, have included tour professionals Loren Roberts (champion, 1979), Fred Funk (champion, 1984), Rich Beem (third, 1998) and Tim Thelen (champion, 2009).
For images from the final round and award ceremony, go to http://mediaarchive.pgalinks.com/cgi/viewerlogin.pl?lbjobid=12780
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