The team from Stonebridge Country Club had many reasons to celebrate their play at historic Pinehurst Resort as they won the PGA McGladrey Team Championship. (Photo: The PGA of America)

Oct. 22, 2008 -- PINEHURST, N.C. - What do you have when your foursome features a former pastor, an aircraft mechanic, a retired insurance agent and a PGA Professional?

You have spiritual guidance, the best in PGA golf instruction, a tendency to keep your hopes airborne and insurance when things aren't going your way on the golf course.

Stonebridge Ranch Country Club of McKinney, Texas, representing the Northern Texas PGA Section, had a bagful of those ingredients plus an uncanny ability to never lose momentum on the way to capturing the second annual PGA McGladrey Team Championship Wednesday at Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort.

Stonebridge Ranch was led by its PGA head professional, Joseph Menton, who had never competed in a national championship before, and joined by an amateur trio who compete in regular "skins games" throughout the greater Dallas area.

The threesome of Eric Kelly and brothers Jim and Mickey Freed took turns helping each other under cool and windy conditions on Pinehurst No. 4, finishing with a 10-under-par 134 on it way to a three-stroke triumph in The PGA of America's grassroots best-ball amateur championship.

Northeastern New York's Massena Golf and Country Club was runner-up at 399, followed by Northern California's Windsor (Calif.) Golf Club, the 2007 runner-up, was third at 404. Georgia's Savannah Golf Club finished in fourth at 408.

Defending Champion Newport National Golf Club of Middletown, R.I., began the day in a share of 17th and rallied with a closing 133 to close alone in eighth at 411.

Menton, a 50-year-old PGA head professional who has never found the time to compete in Section events, displayed the necessary outward calm in encouraging his team.

"The old pro didn't do it all out there," said Menton. "We were nervous and not exactly geared for that. We had a little too much to think about last night. But, my partners - I call them the 'Good Hands People' showed a lot of poise. They are accustomed to being in trouble and surviving.

"They got it up and down form a lot of places. They left the ball around the hole and that's the secret on these courses, and all weekend they were making the putts.

Stonebridge Ranch Country Club withstood a bizarre pair of bogeys on the 169-yard, par-3 fourth hole that included a pair of three-putt performances by Jim Freed and Menton, whose approach putt from the front edge of the green rolled 25 feet past the hole.

To add to the drama, Kelly's tee shot was imbedded in the front hill below thee green. As he approached to identify his ball, the soft ground rose up under his feet and the ball popped out of its indentation and rolled down the hill into a water hazard.

"Things didn't look too good after that, but we were able to come back," said Kelly.

"There seems to be a point where destiny or Fate takes the reigns," said Menton.

Destiny took over for Stonebridge Ranch Country Club on the 14th hole, when Menton holed out a 40-yard lob wedge approach for what he called a "can't believe it' birdie, and 65-year-old Jim Freed of Lewisville, Texas, a former minor league baseball pitcher and outfielder for the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros and New York Mets, lifted his team on the 15th hole thanks to a two-month old "Yes" putter.

Freed knocked home a 60-foot birdie putt on the 367-yard, par-4 hole before teammate Kelly, an aircraft mechanic from Greenville, Texas, made a 20-foot par-saving putt.

"We didn't know for sure if it was good enough to win, but it made us a bit more relaxed," said Freed. "It was the most nerve-wracking day I've spent on a golf course. The cameras were following us everywhere, and you didn't know if you could protect a two-stroke lead that we had coming into the round."

Mickey Freed of Richland Hills, Texas, a 60-year-old former pastor turned home builder, contributed as well with at least seven steady performances between the fifth and 14 holes.

Menton, who had first met his amateur partners in the Northern Texas PGA Section Championship, picked up a first-place check of $16,000 from a total purse of $200,000 and a Rolex timepiece.

"I couldn't be happier for these guys," said Menton. "It is great being able to do it. I hope that we can grow this championship next year. I expect it to grow."

Northeastern New York, led by PGA Professional Tom Siddon, birdied the first two holes but could not pick up significant ground on Northern Texas, closing with a pair of bogeys on the 18th hole. Siddon's team included amateur partner Tim Peets, a member of the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

"I thought that this was a lot harder than many of the challenges I face in my job," said Peets with a smile. "We gave it a great shot and really enjoyed the experience here."

PGA Professional Jason Schmuhl of Windsor (Calif.) Golf Club, the Northern California PGA Player of the Year, fired a 4-under-par 68, one of the best performances in the 41-team, 164-player field. It was not enough to spark his amateur partners, who had bogeys on the final two holes.

The national championship was conducted over the past three days on Pinehurst's Courses No. 2, 4 and 8, with amateur players receiving 50 percent of their course handicap allowance. Each player must post a score on three of the holes. Two net best-ball scores were used to determine the overall 18-hole score.

The PGA McGladrey Team Championship is a 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).

For more information, please visit www.PGA.com/teamchampionship.

About RSM McGladrey
RSM McGladrey is a leading professional services firm providing accounting, tax and business consulting. McGladrey & Pullen LLP (a U.S.-based partner-owned CPA firm) delivers audit and attest services. RSM McGladrey and McGladrey & Pullen operate in an alternative practice structure. Though separate and independent legal entities, they can work together to serve clients' business needs. Together, the companies rank as the fifth largest U.S. provider of accounting, tax and business consulting services (source: Public Accounting Report), with nearly 8,000 professionals and associates in more than 120 offices nationwide. RSM McGladrey Inc. and McGladrey & Pullen LLP are member firms of RSM International, an affiliation of independent accounting and consulting firms. RSM McGladrey is the official accounting, tax and business consulting firm of The PGA of America.

About The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $76 billion golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.