White, Thompson storm into lead at

US Senior PGA National Championship

FROM THE PGA.COM WEBSITE
By Randy Stutzman, PGA of America- PGA.com
PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida -- Veterans Jim White and Kim Thompson know a little something about winning national championships.
White, the 2004 US Senior PGA Professional National Champion, and Thompson, the 1992 US PGA Assistant Champion, have savoured victory and challenged for many more titles in nearly 30 years of PGA of America national competitions.
The pair are deadlocked at 9-under-par 135, and hold a one-stroke lead over first round co-leader Mickey Yokoi of Ahwatukee, Ariz., following Friday's second round of the 21st Senior PGA Professional National Championship at PGA Golf Club.
Jim White fired the low round of the day on Friday with a 6-under 66. (PGA of America)
White, of Lincoln, Neb., fired the day's low round of 6-under-par 66. His play was highlighted by seven birdies, five of which came on the back nine.
"It was one of those days. I hit a lot of great shots, made a few putts when I needed to, and got it close a bunch of times," said White, who has also competed in 23 PGA Professional National Championships.
"We had a good pairing and everyone in the group was playing well. We all shot in the 60s and it really was a great group."
White knows that winning this Championship will take an extremely strong effort against an elite field of PGA Professionals.
"Every year in this tournament you get older and the field gets younger," said White. "The hard part is you see more and more good players every year. You come here and you can't let your guard down. This field is amazing."
Thompson, of Salt Lake City, Utah, has played in nearly 30 PGA of America national championships.
The five-time Senior PGA Professional National Championship participant, who opened up with a 68, came back with a 67.
"I really putted and chipped well today," said Thompson. "During the hard part of the round I chipped it in for eagle on No. 7, when the wind was blowing, and then birdied No. 8. I had it going."
Thompson, who has battled shoulder issues for the past few years, has been able to take advantage of what he believes to be shorter courses.
"I have had some shoulder issues over the past few years and lost about 20 yards of length," said Thompson. "It makes the game harder when they go back to the back tees, but at the length they have it really fits well into my game.
"I have always played pretty well here. The courses are playing short which helps me a lot," said Thompson. "If they were playing longer it would be more difficult."
Yokoi, who shot a second-round 70, has not played a full round of golf since early August.
"I really have not played one round of golf since the end of July or beginning of August," said Yokoi, who made it into the Championship as an alternate out of the Southwest PGA Section. "When I did not qualify from my Section I started working with my players at Arizona State. I didn't really have time to play.
"Then they [PGA of America officials] called me and told me I was in the tournament. So my first round of golf was my practice round on Wednesday."
Yokoi did not know what to expect when he arrived at PGA Golf Club, but is happy with how he has performed through two rounds.
"I really have no expectations and that is probably why I am playing as well as I am, said Yokoi. "I am just playing one hole at a time and having fun."
Cleve Coldwater, the PGA head professional at Glenmaura National Golf Club in Moosic, Pa., was alone in fourth at 137.
The 54-year-old, who qualified for the 2009 US Senior PGA Championship, is in great position to earn a berth in the 2010 US Senior PGA Championship at Colorado Golf Club.
"My outlook, like I told my kids when I left home, was to make the cut," said Coldwater. "But my overall ambition is to make the top-35 and get back to the Senior PGA Championship."
The low 35 finishers will qualify for the 2010 Senior PGA Championship, May 24-30.
Defending National Champion Kirk Hanefeld, 53, of Acton, Mass., finished with a bogey-free 69 and was six strokes behind at 141.
"I played pretty well today, with three birdies, but also had a lot of putts roll around the edge of the hole," said Hanefeld. "I was making mental errors today and not happy where I'm at. The greens were slow and grainy, but I do like playing the Dye Course from tee to green. I needed to be more aware of where some of the bunkers were, and I found I had no shot even after what I thought was a perfect tee shot. It was frustrating. If I can put together two good ones [rounds] this weekend, I feel I have a shot."
The field was trimmed to the low 70 scorers and ties, with 77 players advancing at one-under-par 143 to play the final two weekend rounds at the Wanamaker Course.
The 264-player field features PGA Professionals that are at least 50 years of age, as of the Championship, who have qualified through one of the 41 PGA Sections.
The top eight finishers, including ties, will receive exemptions into the 2010 Senior PGA Professional National Championship.
In addition, the top five finishers will be exempt into the Champions Tour National Finals at TPC Scottsdale, provided they have submitted an entry by the entry deadline