Dietsche overcomes triple to take first-round lead
The 43-year-old PGA Head Professional at Arrowhead Country Club in San Bernardino, Calif., who had never broken 70 in four previous appearances in the Championship, overcame a triple-bogey 7 on the 15th hole at Reynolds Landing by finishing with a birdie for a 6-under-par 66 in the showcase event for PGA Professionals.
He owns a one-stroke lead over Scott Hebert of Traverse City, Mich., who turned in a bogey-free 67, while Ryan Benzel of Bothell, Wash., the hero of the 2007 U.S. PGA Cup Team, led a seven-player group at 68.
Seven of the top nine finishers and 13 of the top 23 competed at the 6,926-yard Reynolds Landing layout, which yielded a 74.87 scoring average. The remainder of the leaders battled at 7,043-yard Great Waters under perfect conditions, averaging 75.57.
Dietsche had cruised to 8 under par through 14 holes before his one-hole hiccup at the 445-yard, 15th that derailed his chance to match or shatter the course and Championship record of 63.
"I tried to block out the hole from my mind, but the one mistake I made was at 15. I hit the tee shot a little right and there was a tree that I was trying to cut the ball around," said Dietsche.
"The ball hit the false front and came down in front of the green. I had a decent lie and tried not to be greedy and play it long of the hole, but it rolled back and gave me a bad lie and I rolled it all the way back again."
Once Dietsche did bump his 9-iron on the green, he missed a six-footer and settled for a triple bogey.
There was salvation on the greens, however, as Dietsche honed his stroke, needing just 26 putts on what competitors were calling the most challenging surfaces of the two Championship courses.
"I have been hitting the ball well recently but I have been putting the ball terrible, so this wasn't expected," said Dietsche. "But I picked up a new putter at the Titleist van this week and it feels so comfortable and I made a whole lot of putts to show for it. The putter just seems to line up with my eyes really good. Whatever I was seeing out there seemed to work."
Hebert, who had tied for 13th last year in his Championship debut, had just celebrated the birth of his second child last Monday, and turned in a steady round that featured 30 putts and hit 15 of the Reynolds Landing greens in regulation. He carried over memories from a year ago when he advanced to the PGA Championship.
"That confidence level in my game has definitely carried over to this year. Well, we just had a baby last Monday night, and she was six weeks early and is coming home today so nothing was going to get me down out there today," said Hebert.
"Being able to hit 16 greens was very critical because you don't want to be hitting of the rough on to these dry, fast greens. I didn't make any long bombs I just got around the course and took advantage of my good play," he added. "I wanted to come in here this week and win, because it does so many great things for your career. "Everything I did this winter was geared toward doing well in this Championship. I had a little speed bump with the baby being born, in terms of not being able to play, but sometimes not playing for a few days isn't such a bad thing."
Benzel, the PGA Head Professional at Mill Creek (Wash.) Country Club, opened his round at Reynolds Landing with birdies on three of his first four holes, then bogeyed 12 and 15, before rallying with birdies on the 16th and 17th holes.
Benzel came into the Championship with pleasant PGA Cup memories and momentum from last fall when had given the U.S. a vital half-point last fall in a singles match against Great Britain & Ireland, thanks to birdies on his final two holes for a 13 1/2 to 12 1/2 American triumph. That feat was accomplished at the nearby Oconee Course.
Moving to the Bob Cupp-designed Reynolds Landing layout, Benzel went out in 4 under par, bogeyed the 12th and 15th holes, and came home with birdies on two of his final three holes.
"I have incredible memories of Reynolds Plantation so coming back here was a lot of fun, even though we are not playing the same courses, we are in the area and with all the great things we did here at the PGA Cup it was neat," said Benzel. "I came into the Championship last year and got beat on the last day but it should be that I really could play with these guys and compete. I liked courses in my practice rounds and I have been hitting the ball well and playing well. In my mind it was a matter of just getting started and seeing what happens."
The low 20 scorers earn berths into the 90th PGA Championship, August, 7-10, 2008, at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, Mich.
In addition to the Walter Hagen Cup, the PGA Professional National Championship winner also receives an exemption into the next five PGA Professional National Championships, a spot on the 2009 PGA Cup Team and exemptions into six PGA Tour events over a 12-month period.
Established in 1968, The PGA Professional National Championship roster of Champions includes past and present Tour professionals: Sam Snead, Bob Rosburg, Don Massengale, Ed Dougherty, Larry Gilbert and Bruce Fleisher.
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