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Barry Evans of West Virginia snagged the chance to tee it up in the season's final major. (Photo: PGA of America)

Top 20 finishers clinch spots in the PGA Championship

One of the great perks available at the PGA Professional National Championship is that the 20 highest finishers receive automatic berths in the PGA Championship. Ron Philo Jr. will lead the 2006 contingent to Medinah Country Club in August.

Bob Denney, PGA of America

VERONA, N.Y. -- PGA Professional National Champion Ron Philo Jr. of Westchester, N.Y., will head a 20-member delegation earning berths in the 88th PGA Championship, Aug. 17-20, at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club.

Philo, 40, the PGA head professional at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains, N.Y., will be competing in his seventh PGA Championship. Philo captured his first national title June 25, by defeating Alan Schulte of Fishers, Ind., in a three-hole playoff after first finishing with a final-round 4-under-par 68 for a 10-under 278 in the 39th PGA Professional National Championship at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, N.Y.

The following PGA Professionals will join Philo in the 88th PGA Championship:

Schulte; Lee Rinker, Jupiter, Fla.; Mike Small, Champaign, Ill.; Chris Starkjohann, Cardiff By The Sea, Calif.; Craig Thomas, Oceanside, N.Y.; Kelly Mitchum, Southern Pines, N.C.; Jeff Cranford, La Quinta, Calif.; Jeff Coston, Blaine, Wash.; Donald Yrene, Scottsdale, Ariz.; John Aber, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Jim Kane, Lawrence, Kan.; Barry Evans, Charleston, W.Va.; Chris Wiemers, Omaha, Neb.; Jerry Haas, Winston-Salem, N.C.; Steve Schneiter, Sandy, Utah; Chip Sullivan, Troutville, Va.; Greg Bisconti, South Salem, N.Y.; Mark Brown, Oyster Bay, N.Y.; and Tim Weinhart, Buford, Ga.

How the Top 20 PGA Professionals fared in the 39th PGA Professional National Championship:

Player	Home Facility	Scores
1. Ron Philo Jr.	Metropolis Country Club White Plains, N.Y.	68-71-71-68-278*
2. Alan Schulte	The Hawthorns G&CC Fishers, Ind.	67-69-71-71-278
3. Lee Rinker	Emerald Dunes Golf Club West Palm Beach, Fla.	76-66-68-70-280
4. Mike Small	University of Illinois Champaign, Ill.	69-68-70-74-281
5. Chris Starkjohann	Hodges Golf Center Escondido, Calif.	69-70-71-72-282
T6. Craig Thomas	The Muttontown Club E. Norwich, N.Y.	69-71-73-70-283
T6. Kelly Mitchum	Pinehurst Resort & CC Pinehurst, N.C.	71-69-72-71-283
T8. Jeff Cranford	The Palms GC La Quinta, Calif.	71-69-73-71-284
T8. Jeff Coston	Semiahmoo Golf Resort Blaine, Wash.	77-65-70-72-284
T8. Don Yrene	The Golf Club of Scottsdale, Ariz.	70-69-72-73-284
T8. John Aber	Allegheny Country Club Sewickley, Pa.	71-70-69-74-284
T12. Jim Kane	Oak Tree Country Club Edmond, Okla.	70-73-72-70-285
T12. Barry Evans	Berry Hills CC Charleston, W. Va.	71-70-73-71-285
T12. Chris Wiemers	Eagle Run Golf Course Omaha, Neb.	74-66-73-72-285
T12. Jerry Haas	Old Town GC Winston-Salem, N.C.	71-73-68-73-285
T16. Steve Schneiter	Schneiter's Pebble Brook Golf Links Sandy, Utah	67-70-78-72-287#
T16. Chip Sullivan	Ashley Plantation CC Daleville, Va.	73-69-76-69-287#
T16. Greg Bisconti	St. Andrew's GC Hastings On Hudson, N.Y.	68-70-73-76-287#
T16. Mark Brown	Tam O'Shanter CC Brookville, N.Y.	74-68-73-72-287#
T16. Tim Weinhart	St. Marlo Country Club Duluth, Ga.	69-73-71-74-287#

* Won Championship three-hole sudden-death playoff
# Won a playoff to earn a berth in the 88th PGA Championship

The PGA Professional National Championship is presented by Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra; Buick and Club Car. The Greg Norman Collection is the Official Golf Apparel of the championship. The Golf Channel is the exclusive media partner and the PGA Tour is a contributing partner.

Celebrating its 90th anniversary, The PGA of America was founded in 1916, and is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.