ELMSFORD N.Y. (July 1, 2009) – Four professionals from Met Area clubs finished in the top 20 at the PGA Professional National Championship in New Mexico, qualifying them to play in the 91st PGA Championship, to be held in August at Hazeltine National Golf Club outside Minneapolis, Minnesota.

   Metropolis Country Club in White Plains, N.Y., will be particularly well-represented, as head pro Craig Thomas, 45, finished tied for fourth place and qualified for his third PGA Championship. Thomas is joined by Keith Dicciani, 37, who is an assistant pro at Metropolis as well as the Muttowntown Club on Long Island. Dicciani finished tied for eighth at the National Club Pro.

   Coming in at a tie for 13th and also qualifying for the PGA Championship are head pros Brian Gaffney, 38, of Rumson Country Club in Rumson, N.J., and Greg Bisconti (left), 36, of Saint Andrew’s Golf Club in Yonkers, N.Y. It will be the second PGA Championship appearance for both Gaffney and Bisconti. Century Country Club assistant professional Frank Bensel tied for 16th with seven other players, but Bensel did not advance in the playoff to determine the final five spots for the PGA.  

   The 91st PGA Championship will take place August 13-16 at Hazeltine National, site of the 2002 PGA Championship as well as the 1970 and 1991 U.S. Opens. By virtue of qualifying for the PGA, all four of these area pros are now exempt for the 94th Met Open Championship, to be held August 25-27 at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J.