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CORVALLIS - An Oregon State University student from Albany has earned a trip to the PGA 2002 golf championship this summer in Minnesota.

Michael Fuester, a senior in general agriculture, earned the trip to the tournament Aug. 12-18 at Hazeltine National Golf Club by winning the Toro Championship Tournament Training Program.

Fuester will help maintain the golf course during the week of the tournament, attend golf club meetings and meet individually with the host superintendent. Twenty-three students from across the country entered the competition, which included judging based on past work experience and an essay about future career goals.

Fuester has earned several honors while at OSU. He was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Oregon Nurseryman's Foundation and has earned the Golf Course Superintendents Association's Allan MacCurrach award, given for academic skills and potential to excel in golf course management.

The Toro Co., which manufactures turf care equipment, established the Championship Tournament Training Program in partnership with the superintendents association to give students an opportunity to learn what happens at the highest level of golf course management. The program is part of the Toro Scholars Program, which promotes professionalism in turf careers though scholarships, education and training programs through the industry.