Mike Small leads PGA Professional

SEASIDE, Calif. (AP) Three-time champion Mike Small shot a 6-under 66 on Sunday on the Black Horse Course to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the PGA Professional National Championship.

The 46-year-old Small, the golf coach at the University of Illinois, won the event in 2005, `09 and `10. He had seven birdies and a bogey and needed only 26 putts, one-putting 10 greens.

``I took advantage of the short holes today, which was huge,'' said Small, who led Illinois to its fourth consecutive Big Ten title in May. ``I birdied four of the short par 4s. That was the key for me. When the wedge was in my hand, I birdied those.''

Paul Scaletta, a PGA assistant professional at The Bear's Club in Jupiter, Fla., had a 67 at Black Horse. He eagled the 261-yard sixth hole, hitting a driver to 6 feet, and capped his round with a 15-foot birdie putt in the 18th.

``I drew the ball in and thought it would roll off the back,'' Scaletta said about the eagle. ``But it hit just in front and that knocked the ball down. It's nice to be over at Bayonet for the next three days. As long as I hit some solid golf shots, I will do pretty well.''

Jim Estes, the PGA director of instruction at Olney (Md.) Golf Park, opened with a 4-under 68 on the Bayonet Course, the site of the final two rounds. Brian Gaffney, the PGA head professional at Rumson (N.J.) Country Club; Frank Bensel, a PGA assistant professional at Century Country Club in Purchase, N.Y.; and Matt Dobyns, PGA head professional at Fresh Meadow Country Club in Lake Success, N.Y.; shot 68 at Black Horse.

The top 20 will earn spots in the PGA Championship in August at Kiawah Island.