DEFENDING CHAMPION KIRK HANEFELD READY TO DEFEND TITLE

Kirk Hanefeld is pretty seasoned when it comes to rugged competition on the golf course. He has competed in a minimum of 11 events on the Champions Tour since 2006 and owns two top-10 finishes, a tie for fifth in the 2008 Principal Charity Classic and a share of sixth in the 2006 Allianz Championship.

Kirk Hanefeld will look to repeat his impressive win at the 21st PGA Professional National Championship. (Photo: The PGA of America)

The PGA Life Member from Acton, Mass., regularly competes in the company of major championship winners and past Ryder Cup Captains Tom Watson and Ben Crenshaw.

"Every tournament I play on the Champions Tour I get the opportunity to play with terrific people and terrific players," said Hanefeld, who will defend his title beginning this week in his second appearance in the Senior PGA Professional National Championship. "I played last week in Houston and got to play with Gil Morgan and D.A. Weibring on Sunday in front of a large crowd. It has been extremely positive."

Hanefeld, 53, will look to build on his experience on the Champions Tour as well as the knowledge of facing an elite field of PGA Professionals in the 21st Senior PGA Professional National Championship, Oct. 29 - Nov. 1, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

"I think anytime you win a golf tournament and go back to that same event, it gives you confidence or a feeling that you can play well," said Hanefeld. "I will hopefully bring that confidence with me."

Hanefeld, who was elected to PGA membership in 1984, served for 15 years as the Director of Golf at Salem Country Club in Massachusetts among other positions, and is a three-time New England PGA Section Champion.

"My professional career has only been a playing career for 3½ years. Prior to that, for nearly 25 years, I was employed at three different country clubs," said Hanefeld. "When it is all said and done, my career will definitely be defined as a club professional. That has been a vast majority of my experience and has been very positive."

Hanefeld will be joined by 10 past Champions in the national championship field: John Brott (1996) of Sanford, Fla.; Jeff Coston (2006) of Blaine, Wash.; Bob Irving (1995) of Sarasota, Fla.; Tom Joyce (1990, '91) of Huntington, N.Y.; Roger Kennedy (1992, '94) of Stuart, Fla.; Bill Loeffler of Castle Rock, Colo.; Ed Sabo (2000, '01) of Tequesta, Fla.; Mike San Fillipo (2002, '05) of Hobe Sound, Fla.; Jeff Thomsen (2003) of Boise, Idaho; and Jim White (2004) of Lincoln, Neb.

The 264-player field features PGA Professionals at least 50 years of age, as of the Championship, who have qualified through one of the 41 PGA Sections.

The low 35 finishers will qualify for the 2010 Senior PGA Championship, May 24-30, at Colorado Golf Club near Denver.

The top eight finishers, including ties, will receive exemptions into the 2010 Senior PGA Professional National Championship.

In addition, the top five finishers will be exempt into the Champions Tour National Finals at TPC Scottsdale, provided they have submitted an entry by the entry deadline.