Thirteen Australasians at USPGA Tour Q-School Final Stage

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2003 USPGA Tour Q-School - Final Stage | Preview | 25 Nov 2003

After a long journey for most, the field for the final stage of 2004 USPGA Tour qualifying has been finalised and thirteen Australasians will line up to either gain or regain full playing status for the 2004 season. The finals begin on December 3rd and will be played over six rounds at the Orange County National Course at Wintergarden near Orlando, Florida.

The following are those from this part of the world who will be seeking fame and fortune when they tee it up at final stage of the US PGA Tour Q-School. Only the top 30 scores and ties will earn their Tour cards for 2004.

Steve Alker
32-year-old New Zealander who has struggled in his first season on the USPGA Tour in 2003 after gaining his card last year via the then Buy.Com Tour. Finished in 163rd place on the 2003 USPGA Tour money list but gained his place here via his 7th place at stage two.

Tony Carolan
35-year-old Queenslander, here via his third placing at stage one and his close call at stage two when 19th. He has played in Canada and Australasia the past few years with limited success so this is a big opportunity.

Greg Chalmers
After four years of safely keeping his card on the USPGA Tour, thirty year old Chalmers has struggled in 2003 finishing 142nd on the money list requiring a visit to the finals once again. Irrespective of the outcome in Florida he will be eligible for as many as twenty starts on the PGA Tour in 2004 but having a fully exempt card is his mission.

Gavin Coles
Coles had a tough first season on the PGA Tour in 2003 having played there via his success on the Buy.Com Tour in 2002. Coles finished 226th on the money list in 2003 making just $55,000 in 28 events. He did well to get through stage two and finds himself again looking for the opportunity to capitalise on the experience of 2003.

Chris Downes
Downes gains access to the final stage via his performances on the Australasian Tour where they included a third place at the New Zealand Open and 6th at the Clearwater Classic. A winner on the Von Nida Tour in 2003, Downes is a very talented young player with a bright future. He played several Nationwide Tour events this year via Monday qualifying.

Mathew Goggin
Goggin has lost his card on the PGA Tour for the second time finishing in 157th place this year, requiring a trip to stage two qualifying where he was the medallist in California. The long hitting 29-year-old from Tasmania has shown on occasions that he has the game for the US with wins on the Nike Tour in 1999 and the occasional top ten on the USPGA Tour. Made it through final stage last year and looking to do so again.

Paul Gow
Paul struggled for much of 2003 on the PGA Tour via his non-exempt status. He managed to play in 21 events including his 8th place at the Buick Open but finishing in 162nd place on the money list has forced him back to stage two q-school. There he produced a miraculous comeback to gain one of the last places into this field. Form has definitely improved in the latter half of 2003. A previous runner up on the PGA Tour (BC Open) he will be looking to start his USPGA Tour again in 2004.

Nathan Green
Green got here via stage two where he finished second at his venue in California. A previous runner up at the Australian Masters and the ANZ Championship twenty eight year old Green has played well again of late and is currently 11th on the 2003 Australasian Tour money list.

Scott Hend
The long hitting 30-year-old Queenslander is here via his 15th place finish at stage two last week in California. A winner in Canada in 2002 and twice on the Von Nida Tour in 2003, Hend is ready to take his game to the next level.

Bradley Hughes
A brilliant player at his best as was shown by his runaway wins at both the Australian Masters and the Australasian TPC Championships. Hughes has struggled over the last two years losing status on the USPGA Tour where he has played since 1997. Not much joy this year either on the Nationwide Tour but a recent change of equipment has seen a change of fortunes with two good late season finishes on the Nationwide Tour and graduation to here via stage two. At his best he could easily claim his place back on the PGA Tour in 2004.

Matt Jones
23-year-old New South Welshman who attended Arizona State University for three years before turning pro. He secured $US36,000 for his victory at the 2003 A.G. Spanos event in California earlier this year. Made it here via stage one in Arizona (9th) and stage two in California (6th).

Michael Long
The 35-year-old New Zealander, despite winning on the Nationwide Tour this year, was unable to sustain the run and faded to finish 35th. He is attempting to regain a card he had for the PGA Tour in 2002. He is a winner of two events on the Nationwide Tour plus the New Zealand Open and the Greg Norman Holden Classic.

Grant Waite
A winner on the PGA Tour (1993 Kemper Open), Waite finds himself back at Tour School following yet another disappointing year in 2003. Playing under a category where he gained status via the amount of cuts he had made on tour, Waite only played eighteen events with his best finish being 12th at the Greater Milwaukee event. He also played several Nationwide events without a lot of success.