06/22/06
Davenport graduate among three locals seeking PGA Championship berth
Spence, Lowe to join Schulte at PGA Professional tourney
PROFESSIONAL GOLF
By Rob Centorani
Staff Writer
One could call Davenport graduate Alan Schulte’s visit to central New York this week a working vacation.
Schulte is one of 312 club pros who will compete in the PGA Professional National Championship, which runs today through Sunday at Turning Stone Casino in Verona.
He’ll tee off 12:50 p.m. today on the first hole at Atunyote Golf Course, then play Friday at nearby Shenendoah Golf Club. The top 70 players and ties, if any, will qualify for the weekend at Atunyote.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]The tournament will be televised on The Golf Channel from 4-6:30 p.m. today through Sunday. The winner of the $500,000 event earns $67,000, a spot in the PGA Championship — the last of golf’s four major tournaments — and a sponsor’s exemption into six PGA Tour events over the next year.
Also, the top 25 finishers earn entry into the PGA Championship, scheduled for Aug. 17-20 at Medinah Country Club in suburban Chicago.
Cooperstown native Scott Spence, who finished third in this event last season and earned $32,000, and Windham Country Club pro Brian Lowe also will compete in this week’s tournament.
Schulte ran his club’s member-guest tournament at Hawthorn’s Golf and Country Club in Fishers, Ind., last week, leaving little time to sharpen his game.
"That’s how it is," said Schulte, 43, a three-time Section Four golf champion at Davenport. "We’re into the peak of our season. That’s my day job."
Schulte finished tied for 69th with a 25-over total of 313 at Kiawah Island, S.C., last season. In 2004, he qualified for the PGA Championship by placing seventh at 6-under. He shot 7-over in the PGA Championship, missing the cut in a tournament won by Vijay Singh.
"I feel I’m very capable of having a good week," said Schulte, who graduated from Davenport in 1981. "I could win if my game is there. It’s been hit or miss, so sporadic. If I find game, I’m very capable of playing well enough to finish in the top 20."
The only other time Schulte plays four competitive rounds consecutively is for the Indiana State Open, he said.
"It’ll give me more time to get (my game) together," Schulte said of possibly playing four rounds this week.
Spence, 50, is the head pro at Burl Oaks Golf Course in Shorewood, Minn. He shot 3-over-par last season at Kiawah Island, finishing behind Mike Small (3 under) and Travis Long (1 under).
His scores of 79-74 (13-over par) at the PGA Championship last year at Baltusrol Golf Club left him nine strokes over the cut line. Phil Mickelson won the tournament at 4 under.
Spence played for Oneonta High’s golf team for two seasons.
Lowe was named the Northeast New York PGA Golf Professional of the Year in 2003 and has played in five national championships.
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Rob Centorani can be reached at rcentorani@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 209.
