Notes and Quotes

Louis Bartoletti of Wellington, Fla., was admittedly struggling through his first four holes Thursday at the 39th PGA Professional National Championship. Then he pulled out his 5-iron at the 185-yard sixth hole at Atunyote Golf Club and magic struck.

By Bob Denney, PGA of America

VERONA, N.Y. -- Louis Bartoletti of Wellington, Fla., was admittedly struggling through his first four holes Thursday during the first round of the 39th PGA Professional National Championship. Then the general manager at Wellington (Fla.) Golf & Country Club pulled out his 5-iron at the 185-yard sixth hole at Atunyote Golf Club and magic struck.

Bartoletti, 46, watched in hope as the ball soared toward its intended target and dropped into the cup for a hole-in-one.

"I was grinding pretty hard, and I was 6-over after four holes today," Bartoletti said after his first ace in competition and third of his career. "It wasn't as exciting as I expected it to be, because I was down so much. But anyway, it was a good shot. I was able to turn things around a bit and made a few birdies after that."

Bartoletti went on to shoot 3-over 75, an adventuresome round that also included three birdies, two bogeys and three doubles.

HAVING THEIR STROKES: The 312-player field averaged 74.408 strokes at Atunyote Golf Club and 74.069 at Shenendoah Golf Club. The most difficult holes were par 3s, with Atunyote's No. 11, a 210-yarder, yielding an average of 3.538. Shenendoah Golf Club's No. 17, a 193-yarder, yielded an average of 3.436.

THEY DON'T CALL IT ATUNYOTE FOR NOTHING: Atunyote, the Oneida Nation word for "eagle," lived up to its namesake in rewarding the premier shotmakers in Thursday's first round.

The course surrendered 13 eagles in the first round, including five on the No. 12 hole, a 538-yard par 5. There were three eagles at the 18th, a downwind 603-yard hole, including those by co-leaders Alan Schulte and Steve Schneiter.

HOW THE CHAMPIONS FARED: A look at how Defending National Champion Mike Small and 11 past Champions fared in the first round of the 39th PGA Professional National Championship:

What They're Saying on Thursday:

ALAN SORENSEN, Bakersfield, Calif. -- 68 (At Atunyote Golf Club)
Kern River Golf Course, Bakersfield, Calif.

(When asked about posting his best round in the Championship in three starts)
The main thing is that I've got my brother on the bag, and he is a PGA Professional. He's a PGA Teaching Professional, Chad Sorensen, at River Lakes Golf Club in Bakersfield.

(On his back-nine finish)
The eagle on 12 kind of caught me off-guard. I had about 265 yards in and the wind was in our face pretty good. I said, 'OK, let's just hit a 3-wood up there and get it within 20 yards and have nice easy chip.

But it came off the face hot and went up there about 10 feet and I knocked it in. Then, on 17, I hit a nice drive down the left-hand side and had about 162 to the hole and I hit an 8-iron. I figures I could hit it about 152 and let it bounce, but it didn't bounce. So, I was left with a 25-footer and made a nice stroke on the putt.

I had 250 yards left on 18, hit a hybrid and hit it a little too hard. I had about a 20-footer left and it just missed going in.

(Review of Atunyote Golf Club)
This is awesome, and you don't get the opportunity often to play in these types of conditions. It's fun. You're rewarded for your good shots and penalized for your bad shots. These are the type of greens where you really have to think about putting spin on the golf ball and hitting it in the right spots to have uphill putts.

JOHN BERMEL, Cedar Falls, Iowa -- 68 (At Shenendoah GC)
Pheasant Ridge Golf Course, Cedar Falls, Iowa

It was a good start; I really just hit a lot of greens. I made a couple of long putts that really got me going. On the 18th, I knocked it on in two. I was in the long rough and hit a pretty poor pitch and mad one across the green and it really jumpstarted everything. It was probably about 30 feet. I felt a lot more comfortable. My putter was so good today. Even when I didn't make putts they were around the whole and that's different for me.

It's exciting. When you first come here I think we all just want to make the cut and make the top 20 and kind of do it that way but now it's different. I don't know what's going to happen the next three days, but it's certainly different now. Now, there's a different mentality. When I play like this I'm almost to the point where I think I can win now.

I really don't care how many guys are here, the more the better. I like the expanded field, I like the smaller field. I like them both ways. The practice rounds are harder when it's an expanded field but I like to have a lot of PGA Professionals here. This is what we dream of, trying to feel like we can play with the big boys. Obviously, I'm smart enough to know that those guys who do it for a living are quite a bit better than us but for a week we're in the spotlight. That part's nice.

This is my 12th (National Championship) and I've never been in this situation. I typically have started off slow and came on at the end, even when I made the PGA Championships both times. I finished stronger than I played at the start. It's kind of nice to shoot a good number. I felt so comfortable out there today. It was almost weird, you'd think after twelve of these you'd feel comfortable out here. After I made the long putt on 18 it was a whole different feeling. It really was.

I think the biggest experience for me is that I've been the first alternate three times to get into the PGA Championship. I mean no matter what, 68 is a nice start but that doesn't mean anything. We got three more rounds. There's a long way to go, but 68 is a lot better than 78.

I think I was more scared here. I'm scared of both of them, I really am. I don't know why. Last year, when we played at Kiawah Island, I felt if the wind would blow we could score there. These are so much on the greens and around the greens. Believe me; I'm not done yet, because they are intimidating. At Atunyote, they don't have all the long grass and trees but certainly it's a good test of golf. Certainly now after playing this one I think that one's a lot harder.

I made about probably a 15-footer on 12. I always want to get of on a good start here because that par 5 I felt like I could reach it and I drove into a bunker and couldn't get there. I actually hit a 9-iron probably six feet away and missed. That got me into a different mind-set. It felt like I should have made that one and so then I kept waiting for the one that I was going to make. Then I made about a 15-footer on 12 and then I came back and bogeyed the easiest hole, what I think is one of the easier holes out here, 15. Then I came right back and made a perfect drive on 16 and had a good second shot and made a fairly decent putt there, too. Seventeen is such a hard hole and I made a nice par there then made the long one on 18. When I turned the corner I drive in the bunker on one and hit a really good 8-iron out of there. It just seemed like my ball kept flying toward the hole. Number 2, I hit it in there about five feet. The short one coming back, four, I hit it pretty close there and missed. Then all of a sudden it just kept going with me and I felt like I could birdie them all, which is different. Usually I'm fighting like crazy just to make par.

MIKE SMALL, Savoy, Ill. -- 69 (At Shenendoah GC)
University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois
(2005 PGA Professional National Champion)

I finished off really well. I finished off really well. I had a lot of squirrelly shots. I hit some really good shots but I hit a lot of really bad ones too but salvaged them.

I birdied the last two holes which, like I said, I salvaged a really good round. I played the last five or six holes 3-under, which was good because it was kind of mediocre going up to the last six holes. It was a good start in this thing. I don't know what the scores are going to be like. Obviously, Tim (Thelen) shot 68 in our group so it was fun to watch him.

There are so many good players in this thing, you never know. You have got to go out and play against the course and just put yourself in position. When you're all back on the same course on Saturday then you can start looking at other scores. Right now you're just trying to get yourself in position until Saturday because there are so many players.

That's everybody's first goal is to finish top 20 and then everything after that is kind of bonus. But that's what you want to do. You want to come and represent The PGA of America and their championships. So that's what we're trying to do. I've played in four majors but never in my home state so I want to go do one of those.

I'm just going to get some work in today a little bit and relax. I've played that course (Atunyote) now three days in a row, which is good. I'm just following Tim's footsteps again, following his whirlwind.

GREG BISCONTI, South Salem, N.Y -- 68 (At Shenendoah GC)
Saint Andrew's Golf Club, Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.

I made a great up-and-down on my final hole to close my round. I hit an 8-iron and never thought it would make it to the green. It is a huge edge having played here several times before with section and state championships. Therefore, you know where you do and do not want to be and there are certain holes where you don't try to hit it close and you just try to place it safe and I think it is a definite advantage.

I was very nervous off the first tee and hit it about 3 feet and missed the putt and after that I started to make some putts, which calmed my nerves down, and the rest of my round was no problem as I know this course as I have played it a lot and am comfortable.
On the 13th hole, I hit a good drive and wedged it on and got a good read off of (playing partner) Clark Spratlin and made the birdie putt that was about 15 feet and it gave me some confidence. On No. 15, I stuck a wedge to about 5 feet and knocked it in. On no. 17 I had local knowledge and knew it was a club less there and made a solid par. No. 18 I was in the greenside bunker in two and rolled it up about 6 inches and made the birdie putt.

TIM THELEN, Richmond, Texas -- 68 (At Shenendoah GC)
Bushwood Golf Center, Houston, Texas
(PGA Professional National Champion -- 2000, 2003)

I only missed two fairways today and played very patient. I laid up on the par 5s, which I could have tried to reach in two. I didn't make any bogeys. I think there is a better chance to score on Shenendoah as the greens are a little softer.

A lot of experience in this Championship has helped me. The increased field size makes it more of a national championship -- the more pars you make the better chance you have of surviving these two challenging golf courses.

STEVE SCHNEITER, Sandy, Utah -- 67 (at Atunyote GC)
Schneiter's Pebble Brook Golf Links, Sandy, Utah
(1995 PGA Professional National Champion)

(On his back nine finish of 32, including a final-hole eagle 3)
I had about 250-something to the front of the green from a flier lie, so I hit 3-iron and had a 15-foot putt. The second shot was just a bullet, which never left my target, the scoring tent.

It was a consistent day, and I nearly holed out (for eagle) on 15 (the 359-yard par 4), but then I three-putted 16, but then finished well. It was a good solid start for the tournament.

I think both courses (Atunyote and Shenendoah Golf Club) are similar in playing and scoring. Obviously, the scores are a lot lower at Shenendoah.

The course (Atunyote) is in great shape. This is one round, and I've got three more to go. We'll see where they fall.

CAMERON DOAN, Dallas Texas -- 67 (at Shenandoah GC)
Preston Trail Golf Club, Dallas, Texas

(On getting off to a great start)
It's very satisfying. The first quarter is over basically. We've got three rounds to go. I think we're all here trying to get to the PGA [Championship]. I made a couple of putts kept it below the hole and had a good caddie, a local guy who's a basketball coach, and who pointed me in the right direction.

(On his par for the last hole)
I had a good yardage I just hung it a little bit but I was very happy to get it up and in from there. The stuff around the green is tough, very tough.

(On his birdies)
I birdied the fourth hole, which is a short par 4, I kind of drove it just left of the green and pitched it up about four feet. I made a good par on the fifth hole; made about a 10-footer. I made about a 20-footer on the seventh hole, two-putted the eighth hole for birdie and three-putted 10 for par, which kind of woke me up a little bit. I birdied 11 and 12 with 20 feet and five feet. I bogeyed 13, which I guess was the only bogey, and then I made about a 50-footer on 14 that broke about five feet. I was just trying to make 4 and get out of there and it went in. I had a good look on 16 from about five feet and missed it but I got it up and down the last two holes just trying to get it in the hole so I can't complain.

(On the weather)
We got a perfect day. We got lucky, there was no wind. I've got the rain gear in there and was expecting maybe a delay or something today so we definitely got lucky. I don't know what it was like this morning. That's the way it works; we got the luck of the draw today.

(On how he's fared here in the past)
I haven't played in the National Professional Championship since the year 2000. I've got two kids, a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old, and I kind of put my playing on the back burner for a while and got them both in school. I tried to pay a little more attention to myself beginning the first of the year, and so far it's paying off.

(On playing Atunyote Friday)
I like that golf course. It's very good. They're both very good. The greens are probably a little firmer over there so it'll be important to hit the ball in the right place. It will be hard to get it up and down if you short-side it. There are a couple blind shots on this golf course so it's kind of on faith, whereas over there everything's right in front of you. But they're both very good.

JEFF SEAVEY, Warren, Maine -- 70 (at Atunyote GC)
Samoset Resort, Rockport, Maine

(On playing in his first PGA national championship)
It's a lot of fun. All of the guys out here can play. There are very good players out here. Competition-wise, I'd say probably one-third of the field has had experience on the tour.

(When asked if he felt his strong performance coming)
Yeah, I did. The last couple of days in practice rounds, just getting a feel for the courses over the last few days playing at Shenendoah and here. I played with a buddy of mine -- we had a little bet going on the back nine to see who could play better when we actually played the ball out. I shot 1- or 2-under about two days ago here and shot 3-under at Shenendoah yesterday, so I had a good feel. I kept the ball in front of me all day long and I made some good putts when I had to.

ALAN SCHULTE, Fishers, Ind. -- 67 (at Atunyote GC)
The Hawthorns, Fishers, Ind.

(On his drive on the 603-yard 18th hole, which skipped onto the green while the previous group was still there)
I'm going to apologize right now to the group ahead of me. I honestly was just hitting my club to try and lay it out just short of the bunker over here on the left to give it an angle, and it jumped up. It must have caught a slope right there -- it just ran right up on the green. Luckily, they were putting the pin back in, so I hope I didn't disturb their game at all.

(On sinking a 20-foot putt for eagle on the 18th hole)
You know, it looks a little uphill and looks a little downhill, so it's kind of tough. I was just tying to hit the right line and get the speed a little bit.

(On Shenandoah and Atunyote Golf Clubs)
They're terrific golf courses that are in immaculate shape. They've done a terrific job and they've welcomed us, and we appreciate it.

(On playing the second round at Shenendoah Golf Club)
I don't know yet, I'll let you know. Shenendoah has far more severe greens than here so I'm definitely going to have to hit some long, good drives. You have to hit some really precise iron shots to put yourself in the right place, because I don't want to sit there and three-putt all day.

(On his previous experience in the PGA Championship)
Once, two years ago. I played at Whistling Straits, so that was a blast. It was an experience like unlike anything I'd ever had before. I shot a 75 or 76 and missed the cut. I wasn't 100 percent disappointed, but I felt like I could have played better. I'd love another shot at it.

(On the club he used to eagle the 18th hole)
I used my rescue club. It's to replace my 2-iron. It's an 18-degree Nike hybrid.

(On making a bogey on the 9th hole)
I was in perfect shape. I was in the rough, but I had a good lie. I had the right club for the shot and it just stuck in the ground a little bit, turned a toe a little bit. I got it right up here where I was putting. I had some friction going and that really affected the speed and it came up very short. In hindsight, I should have pitched it up and done it the old-fashioned way.

(On playing near his birthplace, in Cobleskill, N.Y.)
That's where I was born. This is great; it's good to be back home. I love it. I love the terrain. In Indiana where I am, it's kind of flat, so it's always good to get back and see my family. My brothers caddied for me (not in today's tournament) -- it's like old home day.

BOB FORD, Oakmont, Pa. -- 68 (at Atunyote GC)
Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club & Seminole Golf Club, Juno Beach, Fla.

(On playing in his 23rd National Championship, dating back to 1980)
I certainly know what to expect. I've been through a lot of these, so I try not to make rookie mistakes. Other than that, you still have to play golf.

(On his longevity in the PGA)
I've been fortunate. The job that I've had has allowed me to do that. I've had a very supportive two clubs, a very supportive wife who allows me to play, and a very supportive staff.

(On the changes in the National Championship throughout his career)
I played with woods when I first started playing in this Championship. The changes have all been good. The PGA has done a great job with our Championship. They still have great venues, and we're still walking, and it still feels like a golf tournament. Once we (expanded the field of players) six or seven years ago, it really upgraded it. We're still playing to get into the PGA Championship. This is a big deal, and this is a big tournament for us. This is our national championship.

(On starting the tournament at the Atunyote Golf Club)
I'm happy to have this one behind me. Ronnie Philo started off birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie and I thought, 'Wow, maybe this course isn't as hard as I thought it was.' But I think that put us all at ease, and we all got off to good starts. It was a perfect day to play golf. The greens are perfect -- this is a nice place to play. I'm looking forward to Shenendoah tomorrow.

RON PHILO, Westchester, N.Y. -- 68 (at Atunyote GC)
Metropolis Country Club, White Plains, N.Y.

(On how his style of play complements the layout of the course)
I've had a good string of luck in the last few years. I tend to hit it in the fairway a lot. A lot of times the course is set up so that it lends itself to being in the fairway to hit it to the right place on the green to have any kind of putts at birdie.

(On consistently making the leader board in his 11 National Championships)
This is our national championship, so it's always exciting. This is the best players of our Association in the field. I was walking down the fairway playing with Bob Ford, who has been in it probably twice as many times as I have, and he's probably been more consistent than me. It's always very exciting.

TOM STONE, Elmira, N.Y. -- 70 (at Shenandoah GC)
Mark Twain Golf Club, Elmira, N.Y.

(On how he felt about his first round and his expectations coming in)
I feel really good. I got off to a rough start today. I didn't really have any expectations because this was the first national championship for me.

(On how he bounced back after the two bogeys)
Well, I hit the ball well. The two bogeys I made on the first two holes were just that I made one bad swing with the 9-iron on the two hole and a bad chip. On No. 1 I just hit my pitching wedge over the green and missed a short putt. The putter really worked well for me today.

(When asked whether there were any specific holes that pulled him through)
No really. It was pretty steady after that. I made a bogey on 16 coming in and that was just another bad swing with a pitching wedge and left it in the bunker and didn't get it up and down. I hit a good putt so just a little hiccup there I guess.

(On how he feels going into Friday three shots off the lead)
Well, I will just keep trying to do the same thing. I'm hitting the driver well. I picked up a new driver this week that I really love so just keep the driver in the fairway. Atunyote's fairways are a little less generous than they are out here at Shenandoah, but I don't think about that too much. I just try and get up there and make a good swing each time.

(On whether being local adds any pressure)
I try not to think about pressure. I'm a pretty laid-back individual. I'm just going to try and do the same thing. I think I do have a little advantage because I'm very familiar with these two golf courses, more so than the guys from other parts of the country. Hopefully, I'll just do the same thing tomorrow.