ELMSFORD, N.Y. (February 7, 2011) - Danny Balin, assistant professional at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Conn., picked up where he left off in 2011 by capturing the 59th PGA Stroke Play Championship at the Wanamaker Course at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The tournament is the first major event of the 2012 season for PGA of America club professionals.

Balin’s four-round total of 276 edged second-place finisher Bob Sowards of Dublin, Ohio, by three strokes and makes for a strong opening bid by Balin in the race for Player of the Year among the PGA of America’s 27,000 club professionals. "That's my goal this year," Balin said. "I want to win PGA Professional Player of the Year."

Balin didn't make a bogey until the last two holes, which he played cautiously to protect his four-stroke advantage. He caught Sowards at 9-under-par with a birdie at the fifth hole, then was handed the lead when Sowards bogeyed sixth and never trailed the rest of the day.

The victory for Balin is the latest in what has been a hot winter for the 29-year-old. In December, he won the first PGA Tournament Series title at PGA Country Club in Port St. Lucie Fla. with a one-stroke victory over the same Bob Sowards. Earlier in 2011, he tied for 3rd at the 96th Met Open Championship sponsored by MetLife at Sleepy Hollow and qualified for the 2011 PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club, his second consecutive appearance in that major championship.

Balin has been the Metropolitan PGA Section Player of the Year the last two seasons and won the Met PGA Section Championship last summer. He also finished fourth in the past two PGA Professional National Championships and was a standout performer for the U.S. in the PGA Cup in September.

Also finishing strong in the PGA Stroke Play Championship was Metropolis Country Club (White Plains, N.Y.) assistant professional Colin Amaral, who placed 4th, and finishing just outside the top 10 were Frank Esposito of Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park, N.J., and Rob Labritz of GlenArbor Golf Club in Bedford Hills, N.Y.

For complete results from the 59th PGA Stroke Play Championship, click here.

Also making a splash early in the 2012 season was the head pro at Birchwood Country Club in Westport, Conn., Kammy Maxfelt. After an opening-round 85 at the PGA of America’s 13th Women’s Stroke Play Championship at the Wanamaker Course in Port St. Lucie Fla., Maxfeldt buckled down and fired impressive rounds of one-under-par 71 and one-over-par 73, finishing with sole possession of third place. For full stats and additional information, visit the PGA Media Center.