First-timer Benzel edges one shot ahead after 54 holes

Ryan Benzel of Seattle, making his initial start in this event, grinded his way to a 73 on a blustery Saturday at the Crosswater Course. He maintains a slim lead over Virginians John O'Leary and Chip Sullivan heading into Sunday's grand finale.

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

SUNRIVER, Ore. -- After a glorious week of sunshine, the clouds rolled in at the Sunriver Resort on Saturday for the third round of the 40th PGA Professional National Championship. While there was no rain, temperatures dipped considerably as the wind swept feverishly through the Crosswater Course and the scene became more reminiscent of late-fall golf in the Northeast for the 80 players who made the cut.

When the round finished, it was 28-year-old Ryan Benzel -- playing in his first PGA Professional National Championship -- who had the top spot. Benzel shot a 1-over-par 73 and at a 5-under 210 total, he will take a one-shot lead over Chip Sullivan and John O'Leary into the final round.

Among those pursuing Benzel are past champions Mike Small and Tim Thelen, who along with Rick Leibovich trail by two shots at 3 under.

"I felt pretty comfortable. I had a little bit of nerves when I was warming up on the range, but when I got to the tee I actually felt pretty good," said Benzel, an assistant professional at Seattle Golf Club who wasn't even a PGA member this time last year. "I kind of got a little short with my golf swing in the middle of the round and hit a few bad drives that led to a couple of bogeys. But I accepted that I was going to make bogey after a bad shot."

The defining moment of Benzel's round came at the 413-yard, par-4 10th hole. Hitting 3-wood off the tee, Benzel pushed the shot into a fairway bunker. His second shot from the sand was chunked and sailed right into a hazard.

"The wind was howling off the tee and I knew it was a 3-wood. Again, it was one of those bad swings where I got short and didn't make a good turn, so I ended up blocking out to the right and it hopped in the bunker," he said. "I thought I might be able to find it [in the hazard] and hack it onto the green and two-putt for a bogey.

"But instead I took a good drop to a good yardage that I felt comfortable with and hit a great shot," he explained. "I probably got a little lucky that it hit the hill and stopped perfectly. That's what you need when you're out here. A little luck goes a long way."

The tap-in for bogey meant a dropped shot and a momentary share of the lead with Sullivan at 5 under, but it could have been worse.

"That was big," Benzel said. "It just kind of solidified that I made the right decision by taking a drop."

Sullivan came storming out of the gate on Saturday. Starting the round at even par, he was 3 under after just two holes with a birdie on the first and an eagle at the second. He would wind up with a 4-under-par 68, which tied Bob Ackerman for low round of the day honors.

"I was definitely aggressive and hit driver, 3-wood and felt like I was a good distance to get it close and I hit a great shot," said Sullivan, a 42-year-old PGA Head Professional from Virginia whose best finish in this tournament was sole third in 2004. "I was hitting the ball well on the range and I knew that I had to start making a move if I wanted to do something.

"I hit the shot I wanted to hit and had about 12 feet above the hole and hit a great putt," he added. "It sure makes the round a lot easier when you start out 3 under after two holes. You can relax a little bit."

Sullivan's 68 was one of just 10 scores that were under par on Saturday.

"I've been here enough times to know that I can compete with these guys," said Sullivan, making his 10th start in the PGA Professional National Championship. "There are a lot of good players out here, but I feel like I'm one of them. I struggled with my game over the winter and haven't really played well this year, so this has been a nice surprise."

O'Leary, the 32-year-old PGA Director of Instruction at Pleasant Valley Golf Club in Chantilly, Va., playing in his first national championship, used a terrific up-and-down at the last hole to post his 2-under 70, which earned him a spot in Sunday's final threesome.

"I think it's pretty good," joked O'Leary when asked about his sub-par round. "I always hope to contend, but it's always a little surprising. When you work for a living you never really know what you're going to get from day to day, so I'm pretty happy to be in this position."

Small, the University of Illinois men's golf coach, has been in the hunt in the last three PGA Professional National Championships and is there again. But Small, who finished 2-1-4 in the previous three trips here, had a tough day in the third round of the tournament at Crosswater.

"I birdied the first hole," said Small, "and then nothing happened the rest of the way."

He had four bogeys for a 3-over 75.

"I've been up and down all week," he said. "I didn't hit it very good today. But I am still in the hunt and I will give it my best tomorrow."

Defending champion Ron Philo Jr. put up a good fight early in his round and was 3 under through nine holes. However, with bogeys on three consecutive holes beginning at No. 11, Philo eventually had to settle for an even-par 70 and will start Sunday five shots behind Benzel.

Benzel is hoping to put the finishing touches on his magical 12-month run on Sunday. He gained his PGA membership last June and finished second in his Northwest PGA Section Championship to get into the PGA Professional National Championship. Now he's on the brink of the biggest win of his life, which would include the Walter Hagen Cup, a check for $75,000, a place in the PGA Championship at Southern Hills in August, a spot on the PGA Cup team and six PGA TOUR exemptions.

Could Benzel possibly have imagined all of this a year ago?

"You see TV commercials for the PGA TOUR where guys are trying to make putts to win tournaments on the practice green," said Benzel, who has the opportunity to become the eighth player in tournament history to win in his first start. "I've been standing on the range at work when I practice and hit balls and I end by trying to visualize playing the 18th hole here -- bunker left, a little bailout right and then try and hit a little shot that will curve in there and get on the green.

"I've been practicing and thinking about that [being in a position to win]. The minute 312 people tee it up, anybody could be out here and be in the last group," he added. "I'm happy I'm playing well and I feel very prepared, so I guess I'll leave it at that."