Frank Bensel used a steady hand and head to card an even-par 72 and pick up ground in the 45th PGA Professional National Championship on the Bayonet Course in Seaside, Calif. The longtime assistant from Century Country Club is tied for sixth with a 1-under 216 total heading into today’s final round.
He will qualify for the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island in August with a top-20 finish.
Matt Dobyns, the head pro at Fresh Meadow, is leading by six shots. He shot a 69 Tuesday and is at 11-under for the championship. Burning Tree assistant Danny Balin shot a 74 and is tied for 21st at 2-over 218. St. Andrew’s assistant Greg Bisconti shot a 73 in Round 3 and is tied for 45th at 5-over 221.
Bensel was 2-under with six holes to play but dropped a couple with bogeys at Nos. 13 and 15. He played in the 2004 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.