Kyle Voska is the 2008 TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Championship winner. (Photo: The PGA of America)

Nov. 2, 2008 -- PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Kyle Voska, a PGA apprentice at Sharon Woods Golf Course in Cincinnati, Ohio, made a 35-foot putt on the 18th hole to cap off a final-round miracle comeback Sunday to win the 2008 TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Championship by one-stroke over Matt Dobyns of Croton-on Hudson, N.Y.

Voska, who was in a tie for 6th place and five-strokes back of the leader heading into the final round, fired a 7-under-par 65 to finish at 9-under-par 279.

Sean Dougherty of Overland Park, Kan., the third-round leader, finished alone in third place overall at 281.

The 32-year-old Voska, who was playing in his first Assistant Championship, jump-started his round on the par-5 7th hole when he chipped in for birdie from 40-yards.

"I hit a great drive and tried to hit a huge low-hook hybrid in there and I hit it thin and low and got away with it in front of the green," said Voska. "I hit the lob-wedge perfect and it went right in the hole. I knew this round was something special then. I have been waiting a long time for this kind of round and it finally happened."

His final putt, a swinging, left-to-right 35-footer, was the most dramatic.

"I hit a solid 6-iron to the front part of the green at No. 18 and left myself a 35-footer," said Voska. "I have been putting pretty well this week and had a really good feeling over the putt and saw the line. The ball went up the slope and came down, probably breaking three to four feet and it happened to go in the hole. I feel very fortunate."

Voska, who did not card a single bogey in his final-round, recorded a total of five birdies, including four on the back-nine.

"I did not make any bad mistakes today and that showed on the card," said Voska. "The last two days I have played fantastic but today I really put it all together with those birdies and an eagle."

Voska came into the final-round with a game plan to catch the leader and was able to execute it to perfection.

"My goal was to get to seven-under-par overall and then Sean [Dougherty] would have to go under-par for his round," said Voska. "I knew with only five guys ahead of me that I had a chance. The fact is that there were not that many guys ahead of me and a good round could have a chance to win."

Dobyns, who shot a final-round 68, was unable to convert his 15-footer for birdie to tie Voska and force a playoff.

"I am really happy with the way I played this week," said Dobyns, who finished in a tie for 20th in last year's Championship. "It is tough to beat somebody who seemingly does not miss any putts. You are waiting for him to miss a 10-footer for par and he does not. You have to credit him with how well he played this week."

Dobyns, a PGA apprentice at Hudson National Golf Club in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., is already looking forward to qualifying for next year's Assistant Championship.

"Qualifying for this Championship is not easy to do," "You have to play well on the section level, play well here and obviously the goal is to win it here eventually."

Dougherty, a PGA apprentice at Milburn Country Club in Overland Park, Kan., came into the final-round with a two-stroke lead, but could not convert any putts en route to his third place finish.

"I played pretty solid and hit some good iron shots but I could not make a putt to save my life," said Dougherty. "I hit some good putts and none went in the hole. That's just what happens."

John Seltzer, who led after the first two rounds of play, shot a final-round 76 and finished in a tie for 24th place overall.

Julie Peluso, who became the first woman to make the cut in the history of the Assistant Championship, shot a final-round 73 and finished in a tie for 52nd.

Defending Champion Chris Moody, PGA assistant professional at Riverside Country Club in Provo, Utah, shot a final-round 73, and finished in a tie for 35th.

The Wanamaker Course played to an average of 73.22 over the four days of the Championship.

TaylorMade-adidas Golf returned 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.

Voska collected $9,000 of the $100,000 purse for winning the Championship.

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