Trio tied for lead entering final round of PGA Assistant Championship

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Brian Norman of The Colony, Texas, Ben Polland of Manhasset, New York, and Grant Sturgeon of Mamaroneck, New York, withstood blustery conditions on Saturday at PGA Golf Club to share the lead heading into the final round of the 38th National Car Rental PGA Assistant Championship.

With wind gusts reaching more than 30 miles per hour on the Wanamaker Course, the trio finished with a three-day total of 6-under-par 210, three strokes ahead of Brett McCurdy of West Palm Beach, Florida, who is alone in fourth place.

The 72-hole National Championship concludes tomorrow.

Polland, PGA Assistant Professional at Deepdale Golf Club in Manhasset, shot the only round in the 60s on Saturday, a 4-under-par 68. He was six strokes off the pace entering the third round, but had six birdies to offset a pair of bogeys on Saturday.

“It was really windy out there today, but I struck the ball nicely with my irons and that was key,” Polland said. “Saturday is moving day, as they say, and with the conditions out there, if you can shoot an under-par round you can really move up the leader board.”

Polland works under legendary PGA Professional Darrell Kestner at Deepdale Golf Club. Kestner won the 1996 PGA Professional National Championship in addition to winning the PGA Assistant Championship twice.

“He wants me to play competitively and is very encouraging,” Polland said. “He infuses me with confidence every time I play with him.”

Sturgeon, PGA Assistant Professional at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, eagled the par-5 first hole to en route to a third-round 70 and his third consecutive round under par.

“I feel great after today. It was survival mode out there in this wind,” Sturgeon said. “I’ve been hitting the ball well for the past two to three months and that’s carried over into this week. I’m just hoping to maintain that through tomorrow and make a few more putts.”

Norman, PGA Assistant Professional at Eldorado Country Club in McKinnney, shot 71 after entering the third round alone in second place, three strokes back of 36-hole leader Richard Berberian Jr. of Derry, New Hampshire.

Norman bounced back from a triple bogey on the par-4 eighth, with birdies on four of his final six holes.

“It was a good day outside of the struggles I had on eight,” Norman said. “I hung in there and was able to make a few key putts down the stretch. I need to go out tomorrow and make some birdies and we’ll see what happens.”

Berberian struggled to a 79 on Saturday and is in seventh place, five strokes back of the leaders.

At stake this weekend is a berth into the 48th PGA Professional National Championship, June 28 – July 1, 2015, at Philadelphia Cricket Club.

The winner will also collect $9,000 of a $100,000 purse.