Eric Dugas, a PGA Assistant Professional from Plymouth, Mass., is one of the players in contention after the first round. (Photo: The PGA of America)

Oct. 30, 2008 -- PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Having a father with a wealth of knowledge and experience as a PGA Professional paid off for John Seltzer of Ann Arbor, Mich., Thursday as he fired an opening-round 5-under-par 67 on a clear and cool day on the Wanamaker Course at The PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla..

Seltzer, a PGA assistant professional at The Polo Fields Golf and Country Club in Ann Arbor, Mich., grabbed a one-stroke lead over Seth McCain, PGA assistant professional at Jennings Mill Country Club in Bogart, Ga., in the 32nd TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Championship.

Seltzer is the son of Jack Seltzer, PGA general manager and head professional at Bay Dunes Golf Course in Panama City and member of the 1983 PGA Cup Team.

John attributed his early success to his father's ability to read putts on the unfamiliar Bermuda greens.

"My Dad really helped me read the greens today and get an idea of what the grain was doing," said Seltzer, who is competing in his first Assistant Championship. "He would get up to the green and read it for me and then I would get up to it and read it. He gave me the right line every time. It's been nice that he has been in Florida for the past few years."

Jack Seltzer, who also competed in five PGA Championships and 11 PGA Professional National Championships, does give his son some of the credit.

"I helped a little bit, not as much as he says, though," said the elder Seltzer. "He hit the ball great and I was just there to reinforce what he was thinking over the putts."

The 29-year-old Seltzer, who has not played a competitive round of golf in more then three weeks because of the weather in Michigan, did not come into the Championship with any real expectations or pressure.

"My first goal coming in was to make the cut. Coming from Michigan and it being as bad as it is, I have not had a chance to play at all," said Seltzer, who finished in a tie for 58th in last June's PGA Professional National Championship in Greensboro, Ga. "I had no expectations and I just wanted to make the cut. I think with no pressure to play well coming into the event, it helped out."

He will continue to play aggressive during his second-round and evaluate his weekend strategy following the cut on Friday.

"Tomorrow I am going to try and put together a similar round and see where that leaves me going into the final two rounds," said Seltzer. "I am going to go out and be just as aggressive tomorrow as I was today."

McCain, who is also competing in his first Assistant Championship, played a bogey-free round and did not find trouble off the tee, which he admits was very important.

"I did the important things today, which are to stay out of trouble, hit a lot of fairways and the middle of the greens," said McCain. "This course is no easy task and I was lucky to play very well."

A group of six players are another stroke-back and in a tie for third overall. That group includes Mike Miles, a PGA assistant professional at Virginia Country Club in Long Beach, Calif., and Eric Dugas, PGA assistant professional at Old Sandwich Golf Club in Plymouth, Mass., who competed in the 2008 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, Mich.

Miles, who has spent time on both the PGA and Ben Hogan Tours, is pleased with his play and very impressed with the layout of the Wanamaker Course.

"I managed my game well today and played pretty solid. I hit some wayward shots but kept it in play, said Miles, who carded five birdies during his round. "The golf course is immaculate. You can not have a better Bermuda golf course then this one that is for sure."

Defending Champion Chris Moody, an assistant Professional at Riverside Country Club in Provo, Utah, shot an opening round 73, and is in a tie for 26th, six-strokes back of Seltzer.

"I played pretty solid today, but not as good as I wanted to," said Moody. "My expectations are very high and I know I can compete on this level. I feel like I can still be in the running at the end but it just was not my day today."

Julie Peluso of Port St. Lucie, PGA assistant professional at Tesoro Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, and just the second female to compete in the history of the championship, finished with an opening-round 77 and is ten-strokes off the pace.

Past Champion (2004) Kirk Satterfield of Manhasset, N.Y., a PGA Assistant Professional at Deepdale Golf Club in Manhasset, N.Y., shot an opening round 72, five-strokes back.

Following the first 36 holes of play, the field for the final two rounds will be reduced to the low 70 scorers and ties.

TaylorMade-adidas Golf returns is serving as title sponsor for the ninth consecutive year.

For 32 years, the Championship has produced many outstanding PGA Professionals who have gone onto successful careers in teaching and administering the game, as well as competing at the highest level on the PGA and Champions Tour. Past champions include past Ryder Cup Team members Fred Funk and Loren Roberts, and past PGA Professional National Champions Darrell Kestner and Bruce Zabriski.

The winner of the TaylorMade-adidas PGA Assistant Professional Championship will collect $9,000 of the $100,000 purse and if eligible, will earn a berth in the 42nd PGA Professional National Championship, June 28 through July 1, 2009, at Twin Warriors Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M.

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.

TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Championship

PGA Golf Club, Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Wanamaker Course

(Men Par 72, 7,043)

(Women Par 72, 5,938)

First-Round Scores

John Seltzer, Ann Arbor, Mich. 31-36--67

Seth McCain, Athens, Ga. 34-34--68

Mike Miles, Huntington Beach, Ca 35-34--69

Eric Dugas, Brewster, Mass. 34-35--69

Joel Sandman, Greensboro, N.C. 33-36--69

Eddie Wynne, Oakdale, Minn. 35-34--69

Sean Dougherty, Overland Park, Kan. 34-35--69

Justin Herron, Omaha, Neb. 33-36--69

Billy Judah, Chesapeake, Va. 35-35--70

Rich Dukelow, Orland Park, Ill. 35-35--70

Matt Dobyns, Croton On Hudson, N. 33-37--70

Jeff Sanders, Jasper, Ind. 32-38--70

Scott Berliner, Albany, N.Y. 36-34--70

Kyle Voska, Cincinnati, Ohio 35-36--71

Ryan Kalista, Old Greenwich, Conn. 33-38--71

Brian Norman, Carterville, Ill. 35-36--71

Cory Schneider, Powells Point, N.C. 36-35--71

David Hronek, North Port, Fla. 36-36--72

Jakob Gerney, Wrightstown, Pa. 34-38--72

Matt Mcnutt, Auburn, Ala. 37-35--72

Charles Meola, Mamaroneck, N.Y. 36-36--72

Kirk Satterfield, Manhasset, N.Y. 35-37--72

Marty Jertson, Cave Creek, Ariz. 36-36--72

Mark Farrell, Westport, Conn. 34-38--72

Chris Thomas, El Paso, Texas 36-36--72

Matt Gibbens, Encinitas, Calif. 35-38--73

Jeff Martin, Warwick, R.I. 36-37--73

Travis Johns, Frisco, Texas 37-36--73

Chris Moody, Provo, Utah 38-35--73

Greg Bisconti, South Salem, N.Y. 38-35--73

Brian Ricketts, Plano, Texas 38-35--73

Joe Gutterman, Palm Coast, Fla. 37-36--73

Dean Larsson, Dallas, Texas 35-38--73

Anthony Casalino, Harrison, N.Y. 39-34--73

Greg Lee, Athens, Ga. 40-33--73

Andy Blanton, Columbus, Ga. 37-36--73

Jack Steinicke, Columbus, Ohio 36-37--73

Vinnie Poncino, San Clemente, Calif. 40-34--74

Mark Johnson, Livonia, Mich. 37-37--74

Todd Lancaster, Aurora, Ohio 38-36--74

Shawn Edwards, Sandy, Utah 38-36--74

David Von Hoffmann, Austin, Texas 38-36--74

Corey Prugh, Spokane, Wash. 35-39--74

Chip Craig, Kingwood, Texas 34-40--74

Eric Lippert, Marina, Calif. 37-37--74

Gregory Pieczynski, Kingston, Pa. 37-37--74

Kelly Mitchum, Southern Pines, N.C. 35-39--74

Jay Westerlund, Naples, Fla. 37-37--74

Joe Norman, Elmira, N.Y. 37-37--74

John-Gordon Beckett, Lexington, Ky. 39-36--75

Brian Bohlig, Huntsville, Texas 38-37--75

Dustin Volk, Layton, Utah 39-36--75

Frank Dobbs, Port St. Lucie, Fla. 36-39--75

Ryan Helminen, Appleton, Wis. 39-36--75

Paul Scaletta, Jupiter, Fla. 36-39--75

Robert Blean, Glendale, Ariz. 38-37--75

Jason Bataille, South Plainfield, N. 34-41--75

John Carlson, Blaine, Minn. 35-40--75

Paul Resner, Topeka, Kan. 36-39--75

Scott Baines, Des Plaines, Ill. 37-38--75

Simon Allan, Chicago, Ill. 37-38--75

Todd Cook, Marblehead, Mass. 38-37--75

Loren White, Beaufort, S.C. 38-37--75

Adam Luehmann, Cedar Falls, Iowa 39-36--75

Adam Lewis, Windsor, Calif. 40-36--76

Joe Pollack, Grand Rapids, Mich. 42-34--76

Rob Hunt, Highlands Ranch, Col 35-41--76

Mark Bixler, Sylvania, Ohio 38-38--76

Caine Fitzgerald, Aurora, Colo. 35-41--76

Travis Deibert, Doylestown, Pa. 38-38--76

Jason Lee, Forest Park, Ill. 40-36--76

Joe Mitchell Jr., Victoria, Texas 39-37--76

Matthew Brock, Chattanooga, Tenn. 37-39--76

Lan Gooch, Saltillo, Miss. 36-40--76

Todd Mccorkle, Fernandina Beach, Fl 36-40--76

Daniel Thompson, Johnstown, Pa. 40-36--76

Robert Gick, Sands Point, N.Y. 39-38--77

Bill Sakas, Northbrook, Ill. 39-38--77

Jeffrey Barton, Dallas, Texas 40-37--77

Blanton Tessin, Charlotte, N.C. 37-40--77

Joe Derosa, La Crosse, Wis. 38-39--77

Cory Muller, Purchase, N.Y. 38-39--77

Chase Brannon, Nashville, Tenn. 40-37--77

Julie Peluso, Port St. Lucie, Fla. 41-36--77

Josh Vasilko, Pittsburgh, Pa. 40-37--77

Jason Martin, Pittsburgh, Pa. 37-40--77

Craig Trahan Jr., New Orleans, La. 39-38--77

Joe Mongillo, Southington, Conn. 38-40--78

Keith Grassing, Wayne, N.J. 45-33--78

Tim Feenstra, Issaquah, Wash. 40-38--78

John Shaw Iii, Kahana, Hawaii 40-38--78

Matthew Baran, Osterville, Mass. 35-43--78

Geoff Montross, Fairfax, Va. 37-41--78

Kyle Mcafee, Hot Springs, Ark. 40-38--78

Michael Larkin, White Plains, N.Y. 41-37--78

Nate Olivo, Pinehurst, N.C. 40-39--79

Zachary Fidler, Glencoe, Ill. 40-39--79

Blake Watts, Louisville, Ky. 41-38--79

Ben Meyers, Maple Grove, Minn. 41-38--79

Greg Jamieson, St. Paul, Minn. 36-43--79

Shannon Sykora, Jackson, Wyo. 40-40--80

Matthew Zavadil, Rochester Hills, Mic 39-41--80

Frank Bensel, Purchase, N.Y. 42-38--80

Jake Pasch, West Palm Beach, Fla 42-38--80

Richard Owsik, Little Falls, N.J. 41-39--80

Andrew Barrett, Milwaukee, Wis. 39-41--80

Neil Reidy, West Palm Beach, Fla 37-44--81

Michael Sullivan, Norristown, Pa. 41-40--81

Craig Mason, Lorton, Va. 42-39--81

Luke Martin, Morris, Minn. 43-38--81

Tom Freestone, Princeville, Hawaii 41-40--81

Anthony Bonargo, Warrington, Pa. 42-39--81

Stephen Manning, Santa Ana Pueblo, N. 42-39--81

Billy Hoffman, Bethesda, Md. 43-38--81

Gregory Puga, Los Angeles, Calif. 41-40--81

Shane Blankenship, Washington, Mo. 41-41--82

Garett Dagg, Carlsbad, Calif. 42-40--82

Pope Spruiell, Tuscaloosa, Ala. 42-41--83

Brad Fellers, Plymouth, Ind. 38-45--83

Bill Gombert, Reisterstown, Md. 44-44--88