It's one feat to make it to the "Big Dance," but it's that much more special to earn a second dance card.

Jeff Drimel, vice president of the Minnesota PGA Section and PGA head professional at Medina (Minn.) Golf & Country Club, knows what it feels to guide a foursome to The PGA McGladrey Team Championship.

A year ago, Drimel led a Medina team to the national finals at Pinehurt (N.C.) Resort, with the quartet finishing 37th in the inaugural event.

"It was a first-class, well-run event at one of the premier golf resorts in the world," said Drimel. "Now, we have a new team and I want to help us get back to Pinehurst. I have a lot of nice memories that include comparing notes on the 'claw' [putting] grip with Chris DiMarco."

DiMarco, who was joined by 2007 Masters Champion Zach Johnson as part of "Team McGladrey," will return to Pinehurst this fall to greet the national participants.

"This year, we had our club's Local Qualifying Event on Father's Day and it was very well-received," said Drimel. "We head to the Section Championship, Aug. 12 (at Troy Burne Golf Club in Hudson, Wis.), and we will fight hard there."

Local Qualifying Events and Section Championships conclude in September. The second national PGA McGladrey Team Championship is Oct. 20-22, at Pinehurst Resort.

Drimel is a native of Paynesville, Minn., some 70 miles west of Minneapolis, and is a 1987 marketing graduate of Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., where he was a member of the school's PGA Professional Golf Management program. That same year he earned PGA membership.

Making an impact in The PGA of America has Drimel's mission since he achieved membership. He was mentored by 1993 PGA Golf Professional of the Year Don Kotnik during an assistant professional stint (1991-92) at Toledo (Ohio) Country Club, followed by serving from 1993-96 as PGA head professional at Apple Creek Country Club in Bismarck, N.D.

He came to Medina Golf & Country Club in 1996, and has been one of the Minnesota PGA's most active members. He earned the 2001 Section Junior Golf Leader Award, the 2003 Bill Strausbaugh Award and the Section President's Plaquae in 2006 for exemplary work in growing the game of golf. He is currently in his third term on the Minnesota PGA Board of Directors.

In 2004, Drimel also exhibited his playing skills by reaching the semifinals of the Section Match Play Championship.

"The fact that Pinehurst remains the national site is important to this Championship," said Drimel. "I think like any new event, that you have to expect growing pains. It will take a few years to grow, but the sky's the limit."

Teaming with Drimel at the Section Championship are amateurs Bill Brooker, a salesman for General Mills; Paul Kemper, a banker; and Mike Sage, an employee of a packing company.

"We have a nice team and it would be great to get the chance to join them for the same great trip to the nationals," said Drimel.

The PGA McGladrey Team Championship is the result of a partnership between The PGA of America and RSM McGladrey, the Official Accounting, Tax and Business Consulting firm of The PGA of America. RSM McGladrey is the fifth largest accounting, tax and business consulting firm in the country when considered with McGladrey & Pullen LLP (a partner-owned CPA firm).