UPDATE (November 1, 2015) -- 100th Met Open champion Ben Polland led a group of 17 Met Area assistant professionals this weekend in this year's National Car Rental PGA Assistant Championship on PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker Course in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Related: Results | Championship Home

The Deepdale assistant finished tied 12th with an 8-under 280 total over the four days. Polland opened the championship with rounds of 72 and 70, but posted Saturday's low score with a 7-under 65. A final round 73 placed Polland at 8-under at tournament's end.

While 12 of the 17 locals in the field made the cut, Frank Bensel of Century was the only other to register a top-20 finish. Bensel, a three time champion of the event, got off to a quick start with a 5-under 67 in the opening round. He then played the remaining 54 holes in just 1-under par for a 6-under, 282 tournament total, tying 17th.

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ELMSFORD, N.Y. (October 30, 2015) -- A group of 17 Met Area assistant professionals are competing in this year's National Car Rental PGA Assistant Championship, October 29 through November 1 on PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker Course in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Related: Scoring | Championship Home

Winged Foot's Grant Sturgeon is looking to successfully defend his title from 2014, when he fired a final round 7-under 65 to claim the title. The bogey-free round set a record as the lowest final-round score in the event's history and led him to a seven-stroke victory, after entering round four in a three-way tie for the lead. Additionally, Frank Bensel of Century has always proven to be a top contender in the championship, as his 2013 win made him just the second player to win the title on three occasions (2010, 2011 & 2013).

Bensel is once again off to a hot start in the event after carding a 5-under 67 in the opening round and sits just one shot back of the first-round lead. Sturgeon began his title defense with an under-par round as well, posting a 2-under 70 to sit tied 16th after one day of action.

Several more locals also began the championship with red scores. Wykagyl's Paul Selvaggio matched Bensel with 5-under 67, while Marc Issler of Toms River Golf Center posted a 4-under 68. Bryan Dougherty of Navesink opened with a 3-under 69, and both Anthony Casalino of Innis Arden and Craig Smith of Somerset Hills recorded rounds of 2-under 70 to match Sturgeon. Nick Beddow of Piping Rock rounded out under-par first round scores for Met Area competitors, while Met Open champion Ben Polland registered an even-par 72.

The 72-hole championship features a $100,000 purse. Following 36 holes, a cut will be made to the low 70 scores and ties.