Benzel warms up for major

Ryan Benzel, who grew up just off the third green of the nine-hole Ritzville Municipal Golf Course, hits the big time next week.

The 28-year-old assistant pro at the Seattle Golf Club will play in the PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., Aug. 9-12.

Benzel qualified for golf’s final major of the year by finishing tied for second in the national club-pro championship at Crosswater Golf Club in Sunriver, Ore., in June. He led the tournament after three rounds but had a final-round 75.

The PGA Championship is conducted by the PGA of America, not the PGA Tour, and the club-pro organization saves 20 spots in the field for its members.

It is always considered an accomplishment if a club pro makes the cut, but Benzel has loftier goals.

“My focus can’t be to make the cut,” he said. “My focus has to be on competing in the golf tournament. … I want to be the low club professional in the tournament.”

Benzel’s father, Bruce, will be his caddie. He was on the bag at the national club-pro event.

“He’s a comforting person to have there,” Benzel said.

More support in Tulsa will come from six other family members, including Ryan’s mother, Vicki, and wife, Stacy.

Benzel played his college golf at the University of Idaho and has been at the Seattle Golf Club for five years.

He was Northwest PGA section player of the year in 2005 when he won the Rosauers Invitational in Spokane with a final-round 63.

He has won the state match-play championship the past three years.

To prepare for Southern Hills, Benzel has been putting extra emphasis on long irons.

“Regardless if I play well or play poorly, I’m going to have fun down there,” he said.