Benzel checking off goals in surprisingly quick fashion

Second-round co-leader Ryan Benzel is having amazingly good success in knocking items off his to-do list, but he's nowhere near satisfied yet. His hot putting also has his friends back at the Seattle Golf Club excitedly following his progress.

By T.J. Auclair, PGA.com Interactive Producer

SUNRIVER, Ore. -- Just one year ago Ryan Benzel, a PGA Assistant Professional from Seattle Golf Club set some pretty lofty goals.

First, the 28-year-old wanted to become a PGA member. Check.

Next, he wanted to play well enough in the Pacific Northwest Section Championship to earn a berth in the 40th PGA Professional National Championship in nearby Sunriver, Ore. After a second-place showing, he was able to check off that goal, too.

So here he is in Sunriver this week. Not only did he make it to the PGA Professional National Championship, but he's playing great, too.

With a 36-hole total of 6-under-par 137, Benzel is tied for the lead with University of Illinois golf coach Mike Small after Friday's second round.

"It's pretty cool," he said. "I love playing in Bend. I've been to Sunriver before and it's a fun place to be."

Benzel negotiated the more difficult Crosswater Course with a 1-under-par 71 on Thursday. Of the 30 rounds under par on Thursday, his was one of just 10 to come out of Crosswater.

When he teed it up early Friday morning at the shorter Meadows Course on Friday, Benzel knew it was time to get some birdies. And that he did with a 5-under-par 66, which was one shot away from tying the course record.

"My putter was a little bit hot today and a little bit yesterday, too," he said. "I made a couple of good putts yesterday and then I had the ridiculous putt today -- a 90-footer for birdie at 13. Other than that, I made a couple of 20-footers. I made a 10-footer, an 8-footer, a 3-footer. I putted very well and I don't think I've had a three-putt yet. I'm rolling it pretty good."

Benzel made a set of birdies beginning on No. 8, then missed a 4-foot birdie putt at No. 11 to go along with a par at No. 12.

"You're kind of thinking, 'there ends your streak,' then all of a sudden I roll this thing in on 13 from 90 feet, then a 20-footer on 14 and I'm like, 'gosh, OK, here we go again, '" he said. "I made a bad swing on 16 and made a bogey -- it happens -- but I turned around and hit a good approach into 17 and made about an 8-footer there for birdie."

Again, Benzel is a man of goals. That mindset didn't change when he arrived at Sunriver. Among the perks of winning the PGA Professional National Championship are a spot in the PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Okla., in August (which is awarded to the top 20 finishers); a spot on the PGA Cup team; and six exemptions on the PGA TOUR over a 12-month period.

"My goal coming in here was that I really wanted to qualify for the PGA Championship. There are so many things that come along with finishing high up in the tournament," Benzel said. "I've been to TOUR qualifying and it's a difficult road. This is one avenue to advance your playing career in that direction. I knew it started with playing well and trying to get yourself to the PGA Championship. From this position, I guess I'll just go out the next couple of days and see how I can do."

While it's easy to be mesmerized by the scenery at the Sunriver Resort, which sits at the foothills of the breathtaking Cascade Mountains, Benzel said he's done an exceptional job of maintaining his focus and worrying only about his next shot.

"I've been very good at staying in the moment," he said. "You've got the wind blowing from every direction, so it's a challenge no matter what. I've done pretty good at staying in the moment. I've been nervous over a few shots, especially yesterday afternoon during my first round.

"I hit a few loose shots early in the round, just a little quick, really," he added. "I just calmed down, started playing and tried to focus and tried to stay under my sunglasses as much as I could so I could just keep focusing on my next shot."

Just as excited as Benzel are the members of Seattle Golf Club and his boss, Doug Doxsie. "It's fun with this tournament being covered on the Internet and on the Golf Channel, because the members at home are able to follow along and watch," he said. "I kept telling the members, 'If I play good, you're going to see me on TV. If I don't, you won't. '"

It looks like the members will be seeing plenty of Benzel and his late tee time on Saturday.

While most of the PGA Professionals teeing it up at Sunriver are preoccupied with other duties throughout the year, including catering to the membership at their respective golf clubs, Benzel believes his position as an assistant has enabled him to be more dedicated to his own game.

He said that one of the keys to being a good professional and a good player is giving yourself the time you need to keep your game sharp through playing and practicing.

"So many times these days, you see guys stuck in their office. I keep telling my boss, 'Go play!' But he likes to teach and do other things," Benzel said. "I'm lucky enough as an assistant professional that I have the freedom to go out and hit balls and practice. I'm married, but I don't have any children yet. So I don't have to rush home, or rush to pick up a child at daycare, things like that. So I still have that free time. It's huge."

Unlike touring professionals who miss the cut and move on to the next event, following the PGA Professional National Championship many of the players will return to their day jobs answering the phone in the golf shop. Benzel is grateful to be in the position he's in and plans on making the most of the opportunity he's set up for himself heading into the weekend.

"I love to compete, so I make that a priority. That's the reason I became a golf professional," said Benzel, who won the 2006 Pacific Northwest PGA Section Assistants Championship. "I tried the mini-tours, but the reason I became a golf professional is because I can still go play, hold a job and still play in tournaments.

"My boss has been extremely supportive of me. He's allowed me to go play. Our section has an event down here next week that I'm unable to play in because I'm here this week, which I'll gladly take -- a national championship over one of our Section events," he laughed. "My boss has been very kind to allow me to go play. It's generated support around the club. The members love seeing our names out there and their club associated with our names. Any time we play well, they're really rooting for us, too. I'm in a great situation. I know others aren't, so I feel lucky that way."