UPDATED 5:17 p.m. (November 2, 2014) - Grant Sturgeon of Mamaroneck, N.Y. claimed the 38th National Car Rental PGA Assistant Championship today at PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker Course in Port St. Lucie, Fla. with a final round score of 7-under 65. That gave Sturgeon a four day total of 13-under 275. The red-hot play continues for the reigning Met Open Champion as this gives the Winged Foot assistant professional his fourth victory of the year.  

A few other locals finished at the top of the leaderboard including Deepdale assistant Ben Polland of Manhasset, N.Y., who tied for fifth. Polland fired rounds of 69, 73, 68, and 77 for a four day total of 1-under 287. A shot behind Polland and tying for seventh was Frank Bensel of Purchase, N.Y. Bensel, a three-time winner of the event, shot a four day total of even par 288. 

The rest of the locals scores and how they finished are listed below: 

Nick Bova, Riverhead, N.Y. - T-40th (+9) 

Scott Ford, Manhasset, N.Y. - T-40th (+9) 

Anthony Aruta, Staten Island, N.Y. - T-43rd (+10)

Joe Gothmann, Tarrytown, N.Y. - T-49th (+11)

Sam Kang, Florham Park, N.J. - T-62nd (+15)

John Guyton of Rockville Centre, N.Y. - Missed cut

Matt Demeo, Bohemia, N.Y. - Missed cut

Kevin Loftus, Rocky Point, N.Y. - Missed cut

Derek McDonald, Mountainside, N.J. - Missed cut

Tyler Jaramillo, Hewlett, N.J. - Missed cut

Joseph Haggerty, Verona, N.J. - Missed cut

Andrew Kegarise, Fishers Island, N.Y. - Missed cut

Jim McDonald, South Brunswick, N.J. - Missed cut

Sean Fitzpatrick, Middlesex, N.J. - Missed cut

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATED 9:32 a.m. (October 31, 2014) - The first round of play has been completed in the National Car Rental PGA Assistant Championship and some of the local Met Area Assistant, including three-time champ Frank Bensel of Purchase, N.Y., are hanging around the top of the leaderboard. Bensel, who carded an opening round 3-under 69, could potentially win his fourth PGA Assistant Championship in the last five years. Also firing a 3-under 69 was Ben Polland of Manhasset, N.Y., who is an assistant professional at Deepdale. Polland and Bensel are tied for 12th just four shots off the lead.

The rest of the locals first round scores are below:

Grant Sturgeon of Mamaroneck, N.Y. - 1-under (71)

Anthony Aruta, Staten Island, N.Y. - 1-over (73)

Nick Bova, Riverhead, N.Y. - 4-over (76)

Matt Demeo, Bohemia, N.Y. - 1-under (71)

Sean Fitzpatrick, Middlesex, N.J. - 9-over (81)

Scott Ford, Manhasset, N.Y. - 1-under (71)

Joe Gothmann, Tarrytown, N.Y. - 1-over (73)

Joseph Haggerty, Verona, N.J. - 6-over (78)

Tyler Jaramillo, Hewlett, N.J. - 4-over (76)

Sam Kang, Florham Park, N.J. - 4-over (76)

Andrew Kegarise, Fishers Island, N.Y. - 4-over (76)

Kevin Loftus, Rocky Point, N.Y. - 5-over (77)

Derek McDonald, Mountainside, N.J. 4-over (76)

Jim McDonald, South Brunswick, N.J. - 5-over (77)

John Guyton of Rockville Centre, N.Y. - 3-over (75)

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ELMSFORD, N.Y. (October 30, 2014) - Today 17 of the Met Area's top assistant professionals will tee it up in this year's National Car Rental PGA Assistant Championship at PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker Course in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Leading the way is defending champion Frank Bensel from Purchase, N.Y. Bensel, the assistant pro at Century, is in search of his fourth National Car Rental PGA Assistant Championship in the last five years. He made history a year ago when he won by six shots and became only the second player to win the event three times, his first two coming in 2010 and 2011.

Other notable Met Area players in the field include reigning Met Open Champion Grant Sturgeon of Mamaroneck, N.Y. The assistant pro from Winged Foot has had an incredible season with wins coming at not only the Met Open but the MasterCard Westchester PGA Championship and the Met PGA Assistant's Championship. 2006 Met Open Champion John Guyton of Rockville Centre, N.Y. is also in Florida this week. Guyton is the assistant pro at Wheatley Hills.

The rest of the locals in the field are listed below:

Anthony Aruta, Staten Island, N.Y.

Nick Bova, Riverhead, N.Y.

Matt Demeo, Bohemia, N.Y.

Sean Fitzpatrick, Middlesex, N.J.

Scott Ford, Manhasset, N.Y.

Joe Gothmann, Tarrytown, N.Y.

Joseph Haggerty, Verona, N.J.

Tyler Jaramillo, Hewlett, N.J.

Sam Kang, Florham Park, N.J.

Andrew Kegarise, Fishers Island, N.Y.

Kevin Loftus, Rocky Point, N.Y.

Derek McDonald, Mountainside, N.J.

Jim McDonald, South Brunswick, N.J.

Ben Polland, Manhasset, N.Y.

Follow all the action at the PGA Assistant Championship by clicking here.