Friedman Captures Western New York PGA

2011 Western New York PGA Champion, Liam Friedman

Past PPGA player Liam Friedman captured the Western New York PGA Championship with a score of 6-under par over 36-holes.  With the win, Friedman will be headed to the 2012 PGA Club Professional Championship at Bayonet/Black Horse in Seaside, California.  A top 20 finish at that event will earn Friedman a trip to the 2012 PGA Championship at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island.

For Friedman, a Methodist University graduate, it was his first win as a professional.  "I felt great coming into the tournament and have been swinging very well for a while now," said Friedman. "A new putter gave me more confidence on the greens." Friedman, who also qualified for the 2008 US Amateur at Pinehurst, ranks the victory as his top career accomplishment. Friedman was also a member of the 2010 Division III National Championship team while at Methodist.

"I expected to win. I just had to have the right focus and confidence in myself to play every shot and every hole to my ability. After an opening round 67 I was tied for the lead. I made a triple on the 4th hole in round two, but it didn't rattle me. I just looked at it as a challenge for myself to recover and still win. I never got down, I just remained focused and made a bunch of birds coming in.

"Since leaving Philly I have made some drastic swing changes, but most important is my new mental outlook on the game." Friedman finished fifth in the 2006 Philadelphia Open Amateur Championship and had his best finish in a PPGA Championship as runner-up at the 2007 Philadelphia Open Amateur. Friedman also posted a third place finish in the 2007 Philadelphia Better-Ball Championship with partner Will DeGothseir.

Friedman now resides in Buffalo, NY and works as an assistant golf professional at Orchard Park CC in Orchard Park, NY.

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