Scene & Heard at Reynolds Plantation: First Round
Rough Rough: If a player misses the fairway on hole No. 5 at the Great Waters course, there is a steep price to pay. Hole No. 5, already the toughest hole on the course, penalizes players almost a full shot (.945) higher than those who happen to find the short grass off the tee. In contrast, hole No. 11 at the Great Waters course seemed to reward the wayward tee shot as those who missed the rough, and actually scored .245 shots better than those who found the fairway.
How 'Bout them Dawgs: The state of Georgia is proud to host the 41st PGA Professional Championship and just as proud of the 13 PGA Professionals from Georgia who are playing. Matt Peterson, the PGA Head Professional at the University of Georgia Golf Club in nearby Athens, was a popular representative, but Sonny Skinner, the PGA Director of Golf at River Pointe Golf Club in Albany, was the low Georgian with a 4-under-par 68.
Trying to Get Home: Steve Brady, the PGA Director of Instruction at Oakland Hills Country Club, is among the 312 Professionals vying for the 20 spots to play in the PGA Championship. Of course, that championship is being held at Brady's home course in Bloomfield Township, Mich. Unfortunately, Brady is playing through a recent wrist injury and shot a 79 on Thursday on the Great Waters course.
Does Age Matter?: Roy Vucinich, a PGA Life Member who lives in Moon Township, Pa., is the oldest player in the 312-player field. He is 61. Gerrit Gasow, a PGA Assistant Professional at Ardsley Country Club in Ardsley-on-Hudson, N.Y., is the youngest player, at 24. Vucinich shot a 73 at Great Waters, while Gasow shot a 77 at Great Waters.
Jet Lag?: Robert Gaus played last week in one national championship, the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, and then flew across the country to Georgia to compete here at the PGA Professional National Championship. Gaus missed the cut at Torrey Pines after shooting 80-76. He opened with a 76 at the Reynolds Landing course.
Georgia On His Mind: Ryan Benzel, the PGA Head Professional at Mill Creek Country Club in Mill Creek, Wash. started the day with two consecutive birdies. His last visit to Reynolds Plantation was during the 2007 PGA Cup where he birdied the final two holes (including the only birdie on no. 18 by any player all week) to clinch the cup for the United States squad where they defeated their counterparts from Great Britain & Ireland.
In addition to the span of four straight birdies spanning almost nine months, Benzel holed out on the last hole of the 2007 PGA Professional National Championship at Sunriver Resorts in Suriver, Ore., meaning he was 4 under par over a three-hole span in this championship.
QUOTES: (Round 1)
PAUL DIETSCHE
Redlands, Calif.
6-under-par 66 (at Reynolds Landing)
9 Birdies, 16 of 18 Greens in Regulation and 26 Putts.
Take us through your round.
"I had some really nice putts today. I hit it to 10 feet on four, five and six and made each of those and that got the round going. Then I started to hit my approaches a little bit closer. I even made a few from the Ray Charles range."
Where does a front-side 31 rank in your career?
"A 31 on a side is definitely the best I have had in this Championship. In my career I have had a few lower but it is always nice to do it when it matters a little more."
Take us through the hiccup you had at 15 (a triple bogey).
"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. 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. Then I bumped a 9-iron up to the green and missed a six- foot putt for a triple."
You had only 26 putts today. What was the secret?
" have been hitting the ball well recently but I have been putting the ball terrible so this wasn't expected. 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.
"The funny thing is when I wasn't in the fairway, and I hit a bunch, I had a really good lie, it wasn't hampered at all.
"Both of these courses are really fun and different. The greens at Great Waters are closer to what I am used to at home so I am looking forward to continuing the good putting."
What were the goals you set for yourself this week?
"I am the kind of guy who stands on the tee and tries to hit it in the fairway and stands in the fairway and tries to hit it on the green and stands on the green and tries to make the putt. I like that process more then trying to think about the overall outcome of a tournament.
"Or, that seems to be what I tell my students so I better use that same advice."
SCOTT HEBERT
Traverse City, Mich.
5-under-par 67 (at Reynolds Landing)
5 Birdies, 0 Bogeys
"I can't complain at all with the round out there today. I birdied the first and it just was positive from there."
Did a solid finish last year, including playing in the PGA Championship at Southern Hills, give you a boost this week as you began this year's 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.
"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.
"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.
"I made a significant change in my putting stroke and it seems to be paying off so far this week."
What are your thoughts on the courses this week?
"I was happy to get this course out of the way, because this one is a monster for me. To be able to do what I did today really gave me a boost."
How was your experience at the PGA Championship last year?
"I had an absolute blast. To be able to tell my children that I played in the same tournament as Tiger Woods is pretty special."
RYAN BENZEL
Bothell, Wash.
4-under-par 68
You have incredible momentum coming into the Championship this year.
"Absolutely I do. 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.
"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."
Are the greens more difficult at Reynolds Landing?
"Oh yes, definitely. The Bermuda is good, but quick and you can see the grain but it is strong so they affect your putts and they are getting hard and I am glad I played in the morning because I do want to be out here this afternoon with the dry greens how they are and how quick they are.
"I hit a dry spell in the middle of my round where I was just making pars but I came through with two birdies, on 16 and 17, to give me a bit of a lift.
"Being from the Northwest I am trying to guess a little on the grain on some putts but I will take it and run over to Great Waters for the rest of the week.
Take us through the rest of the birdies.
"I made an 18-footer on the first, downhill and breaking to the right. I was on in two on the second and two-putter for birdie. On the fourth I got lucky, I tried to hit the approach to the right center portion of the green and as it got out of the tree line and the wind got it, it hit the green and bounced hard to the left and I had a foot left for a tap in birdie.
"I also made a 10-footer on seven so it was an exciting beginning to my round.
When did you take your new job at Mill Creek (Wash.) Country Club?
"I started in April, and it has been busy. We had a bad spring in terms or weather so it has allowed me to catch up with some things a bit but it has been great.
"Everyone at Mill Creek is very supportive and they want me to go play and excited to see how I play; and maybe they will be watching me this weekend."
SONNY SKINNER
Sylvester, Ga.
4-under-par 68 (at Reynolds Landing)
"I tell you what, I was putting today. I hit 15 greens in regulation. It was a good all around day for me.
"I rolled in a 12-footer on two for birdie, a 10-footer on five for birdie and made another 10 footer on eight for a birdie.
"Then the greens began to get a little quicker because of the weather but I felt real good about my putter today. I made some long putts and almost made a few others.
Have you played either of these courses before?
"I know the Reynolds Landing course very well so I feel like it gave me an advantage this week. I lost our State Open in 2006 by one shot so I have some history on this course.
"I do not know the Great Waters course other than a practice round. But, in person, I like the look of it and I am optimistic about the rest of the week."
Do you have an advantage this week, being a local player?
"I like it hot and it sure was not hot this morning; it was in the 60s and not what I was expecting. That is football weather. But it did get hot as they day wore on so I think that gives me an advantage."
What do you have to do to be successful the rest of the week or to meet your goals?
"Before the week started I said I needed to be 16-under to win. I am part of the way there but I have a long way to go. I have never and will never complain about a 68 in the opening round but I have a long way to go this week."
VINCE JEWELL
Euless, Texas
4-under-par 68 (at Great Waters )
"I don't think I missed a shot today. I hit a lot of greens. I didn't have a putt that was less than 20 feet.
"I played a practice round here Tuesday and I think the course is in great shape. The bent grass greens are hard to keep up in this part of the country and they looked great.
"The weather was perfect. So much better than where I'm from (Texas). The humidity is awful there right now. This is like being in the Northeast.
"When I played my practice round on Tuesday, I hit a lot of good shots. But a practice round is a little different. My game has been maturing; I've been maturing. It's just the right time for my game.
"I actually like Reynolds Landing better. The greens are better. I thought Great Waters would be tougher on me because it's a little narrower and I didn't drive well here in my practice round. But today I hit my driver well.
"This is my second PPNC. I last played in the event ten years ago. It's a great event -- the best there is for the PGA of America."
DAVID LONG (at Great Waters)
Bowie, Md.
4-under-par 68
5 Birdies, 1 Bogey; Birdied 4 of his last 7 holes
On what kept his round together:
"The support of family out here watching today was the key. It was great to have them out here and some good calls by my caddie helped.
"The speed of the greens was similar to what we have at home, so it was great. They were rolling really well."
Observations of Great Waters:
"I love it (Great Waters). This is my second or third time playing here. It's hard not to stare out at the water and the boats out there. It's beautiful. It was definitely fair. The fairways are generous, so basically it's kind of plodding your way around the course. It's very fair and a beautiful layout.
"I got out there (Reynolds Landing) in the heat on Tuesday when it was nice and warm. It's similar. It's a little harder on the caddies to walk. It has a lot more elevation changes but it's very similar in the landing areas -- they're fair. The greens are similar, although it's Bermuda over there, I believe. So, it's going to be a little bit of a test on the greens, but overall there are a lot of similarities."
TERRY HATCH
Pottsville, Pa.
4-under-par 68 (at Reynolds Landing)
"I put together a pretty solid round today. All three aspects of my game were good. I played a relatively conservative round of golf, but with six birdies I was rolling the ball well."
This is your sixth appearance, with a high finish of third. Was there any pressure or expectations you had coming into this week?
"I had no expectations coming into this week to be completely honest. I got in town late last night, so I thought if I go out and shoot 100 I still wont beat myself up about it.
"I tried to psyche myself out by not putting any pressure on myself and I got a local caddie and he did a great job guiding me around the course and I kept it in the fairway."
How does this course fit your eye/game, since you just came in late last night and have not had any time to really practice on the courses?
"The course is a little dry but I tell you, the greens are perfect. I think the PGA did a great job with the set-up.
"To be honest, I wasn't nervous on the first tee. I was in such a rush to get here that I didn't have time to really be nervous."
Did the casual/rushed approach benefit you a great deal?
"At first it did, but that didn't last. I was four-under through five holes today and I got to thinking I could shoot "nothing" today and that is when the nerves kicked in and you know how golf is.
"I have to keep the ball in the fairway this weekend and I think I can give myself a chance."
CHIP SULLIVAN
Troutville, Va.
3-over-par 75 (at Reynolds Landing)
"I am hitting the ball very well for the most part. Two bad swings led to two double bogeys.
"The greens really gave me trouble. You have to consider the grain on this course. They are a whole lot faster. I fell like I can shoot in the mid-60s at Great Waters and put myself right back in it. I really am playing well but it just didn't show in my score today.
"I have been riding a wave all year and have been enjoying it but I have not shot myself in the foot just yet and this is a tough course. I love to be out here and compete and can't wait to see how the rest of the week goes."
ERIC DUGAS
Brewster, Mass.
3-under-par 69 (at Great Waters)
6 birdies, 1 bogey, 1 double bogey
On playing in his first PGA Professional National Championship:
"The atmosphere is second to none. The PGA does an unbelievable job to make you feel first class the whole way. It's a little overwhelming. The first tee shot, it's tough to pull the trigger. But, all the guys out here are all consummate professionals and it's hard to get a bad group, they are all pulling for you and you're pulling for them likewise.
"The double bogey (on the third hole) was the result of a bad tee ball. I got it in a bad spot and tried to come back from it and tried to hit a shot I probably had no business trying to hit. But, I was able to come back with a 2 after that and got myself back on track.
"On the final hole (the par-4 ninth), I had a downhill lie and I shortened up my swing, hit a 51-degree wedge and made about an eight-footer. I put a good stroke on it."
Notes: Dugas' previous significant competition was playing in two NCAA Division III National Championships while at Methodist University in Fayetteville, N.C.
Impression of Great Waters:
"It's perfect. The property is unbelievable. It fits the lay of the land. I'm told that he moved the least amount of dirt of any of the golf courses here, and it fits perfectly. It's a very nice golf course, and it's hard to get mad when you're looking at this in this kind of atmosphere."
RON VLOSICH
Lakewood, Colo.
1-under-par 71 (at Great Waters)
4 Birdies, 1 Bogey, 1 Double Bogey
On making his first appearance since 1993 in the Championship:
"I hope I hit the ball a little better tomorrow. I want to play a little better over there (Reynolds Landing).
"It's been quite a few years since I played in this event. My member-guest used to be at the same time for a lot years. I hadn't played well enough for a few years either so with that combination it has been a long time. It's great. They always treat you well. It's a great-run tournament."
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