As soon as upon a time, approach again when Port Neches-Groves ex Chris Stroud was making an attempt to safe a PGA Tour card popping out of Lamar, the one method to get one was via a most grueling check of expertise, will and nerves known as PGA Tour Q College.
A combination of veterans and younger gamers needed to navigate their approach via two phases simply to succeed in the ultimate torture check. That final cease featured 164 gamers battling for 40 playing cards over 108 holes. That’s proper 108 holes, or 36 greater than a standard match.
Anybody who has performed a lot golf can think about the ebb and move, the great and unhealthy breaks, the psychological taxing that transpires over six such extremely aggressive rounds with a lot at stake. Ever yr there can be horror tales over how gamers succumbed to the strain sooner or later.
Stroud, virtually miraculously, made it via Q College in 2006, 2007, and 2008, ending, 16th, 3rd and 4th, respectively. He needed to hold going again as a result of he didn’t end excessive sufficient on the cash record to retain his card. However as soon as beneath the gun he was amazingly good.
The PGA Tour has lengthy since completed away with the 108-hole Q faculty, however now alongside comes the LPGA with an much more Draconian methodology of incomes one’s spurs. And one of many first victims was Lamar ex Julie Aime.
Partially as a result of the pandemic shut issues down in 2020, the LPGA got here up with a depraved check that concerned two preliminary phases, then back-to-back 72 gap tournaments performed over the previous two weeks in Alabama. The low 70 and ties moved on with their scores after week 1, then the highest 45 and ties grabbed a tour card after week 2.
Aime, who received the inaugural Babe Zaharias Open in 2020, made it via the primary week on the quantity and was properly throughout the prime 45 via three rounds final week. Then she stumbled to a closing 75 and wound up on the surface trying in by three strokes. For 144 holes, she stood at one-under-par 143.
Aime’s comfort prize is entry right into a half dozen LPGA occasions in 2022. Aside from that, she is going to spend most of her time on the Symetra Tour and little question considering of what may need been.
CHIP SHOTS: Congratulations to five Underneath Golf CEO Austin Williams. The previous Lamar and USL participant, and frequent Beaumont Metropolis champion, has been named the brand new Junior Golf Director of the STPGA’s Golden Triangle chapter.
Williams can be anticipated to play a serious function, because the Babe Zaharias Basis reorganizes after the passing of W.L. Pate Jr.
There was a two-way tie on the prime within the Monday Senior 50 Plus 2 ball at Babe Zaharias. Posting even par was the staff of Ted Freeman, Lee Bertrand, Lonnie Mosley and Jerry Watson and the staff of Dwayne Morvant, Don MacNeil, Raymond Darbonne and Larry Foster.
Successful the again with minus 1 was the staff of Earl Richard, Ron Mistrot, Bob Luttrull and a ghost participant.
Within the Friday, Dec. 10 2 ball at Zaharias, the staff of Freeman, Bob Byerly, Harrell Guidry and Dwayne Benoit received the entrance with minus 1. On the again, the foursome of Richard, Steve Wisenbaker, Brad Royer and Foster prevailed at plus 1.
Closest to the pin winners had been Rick Pritchett (No. 2), Joe Gongora (No. 7), Byerly (No. 12) and Wisenbaker (No. 15).
The Thursday, Dec. 9 2 ball noticed the staff of Freeman, Jim Cady, Guidry and Richard Menchaca take the entrance with minus 2 and tie the again at minus 1. Additionally minus 1 on the again was the staff of James Shipley, Cap Hollier, MacNeil and Mosley.
All factors rely was the format for the Wednesday, Dec. 8 Zaharias DogFight. Tying for first with 22 factors was the staff of Wisenbaker, Pritchett, Royer and Benoit and the foursome of Hollier, John Home, Mosley and Paul Duplantis.
Closest to the pin winners had been Pritchett (No. 2), James Vercher (No. 7), Wisenbaker (No. 12) and Cady (No. 15).
Within the Monday, Dec. 6 Senior 50 Plus 2 ball, the staff of Invoice Hanley Gerald Huebel, MacNeil and Dan Flood received the entrance with even par. On the again, the staff of Kenny Robbins, Rusty Hicks, Pritchett and Foster claimed the again with minus 1.
The Wednesday, Dec. 1 Dogfight was performed in an all factors rely format. Putting first with 28 factors was the staff of Mike Brown, Pritchett, Rufus Reyes and Charles Perez.
Closest to the pin winners had been James Johnson (No. 2), Artwork Turner (No. 7), Richard (No. 12) and Reyes (No. 15).
Three gamers from the Southeast Texas Junior Tour – Jeremy Blackwell (Boys 15-18), Erin Eaves (Ladies 11-12) and Reece Williams (Boys 11-12) — certified for the Southern Texas PGA Championships at Horseshoe Bay this previous weekend. Williams, the one participant to take part, tied for 15th.
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