Notes on medalist George McNeill: • The 5-shot victory for medalist George McNeill is the largest margin of victory at the finals of the Qualifying Tournament since Scott Verplank (-22) won by six over Blaine McCallister (-16) in 1997 at Grenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort in Haines City, Fla. • George McNeill’s bogey on No. 15 on Monday was his first miscue since the 11th hole in the fourth round, a span of 39 holes. • John Merrick, who finished 21st on the Nationwide Tour money list to earn his PGA TOUR card for 2007, improved his position in the Category Rankings for 2007 with a tie for fourth finish this week. He was the fourth player attempting to improve his position in this way, joining Sean Murphy (tied for 112th in 1998), David Morland IV (WD in 2003) and Marco Dawson (WD in 1999). • Players finishing at 8-under par or better all earned PGA TOUR cards for 2007 -- a total of 40 players in 2007. The next 49 players (number closest to 50) earned full exemptions on the Nationwide Tour at 1-over par or better. • Five players posted six rounds of par or better this week: Rich Barcelo (third), Bob Heintz (tied for eighth), John Mallinger (tied for 13th) and Anders Hansen (tied for fourth). • Jaco Van Zyl, who had not broken 70 all week, posted an 8-under par 64 on the Jack Nicklaus Stadium Course on Monday to finish at 8-under par. He birdied three of his final four holes to finish at 8-under par on the day, jumping 46 positions from a tie for 75th to a tie for 29th. • In his 13th trip to the Qualifying School finals, Michael Allen qualified for a record ninth time (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006) with a 6-under-par 66 on Monday. • Marco Dawson (1990, 1991, 1994, 2005, 2006), Brian Bateman (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006), and Dickey Pride (1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2006) all qualified successfully for the fifth times in their respective careers. • Marc Turnesa rebounded from an opening 11-over-par 83 to finish in a tie for 46th and earn full Nationwide Tour status for 2007. His rounds two through six were 71-70-68-67-68. Turnesa also added an ace on Sunday on No. 3 at the TPC Stadium Course from 246 yards. • Paul Stankowski (tied for eighth) qualified for the 2007 PGA TOUR despite posting a first-round 7-over-par 79. For comparison, Craig Barlow finished tied for 26th in 2004 at PGA West after posting a first-round 80 to earn his card while Skip Kendall tied with four others for medalist honors at the 1992 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament at The Woodlands outside Houston after posting a first-round 79. • Longtime PGA TOUR veteran Tom Byrum (tied for 41st) finished bogey-bogey on Nos. 17-18 to fall out of the top 30 and ties. • Michael Bradley finished in a tie for 29th to earn his card at 8-under par, converting an 8-foot par putt on his 108th hole.
• Seventeen of the 40 players earning PGA TOUR cards for
2007 will be considered rookies:
• Eight players successfully negotiated all three stages to
earn PGA TOUR cards for 2007:
• Seven players successfully earned TOUR cards in their
first trip to the finals: |
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