Aron Price: From Monday Qualifying to Tour Card

BY Anthony Powter | Nationwide Tour | 2006 Permian Basin Charity Golf Classic | Final Round | 16 Oct 2006

Price has been able to get starts on the Nationwide Tour this year via Monday Qualifying, where on average 156 players vie for just 14 spots. The odds are against you, but this has not perturbed Price from designing his 2006 playing schedule around Monday Qualifiers and then falling back later in the week to play a pay to play event if needed.

Price made this venture seventeen times this season, making the main event in six of the last attempts. The rewards have been few and far between and Price has been unhappy with his game this season with the nine times he’s made the Nationwide Tour event.

“I’ve missed the cut a few times when I’ve qualified and people have commented that I’ve done well with the limited number of starts. I’ve been a bit disappointed with the way I’ve played. I do not think that I have played all that well.”

“There’s been a couple that I played well, even though I am 77 on the money list I would not say that I am that satisfied with my efforts”.

Early this morning in Midland Texas at the Permian Basin Charity Classic, circumstances dramatically changed for Price and for the better. It was another Nationwide event in which he Monday qualified, but it will be some time before he’ll be getting up early on Monday mornings.

Despite American Brandt Snedeker making a birdie on the first playoff hole to deny Price his maiden Nationwide victory, Price can take Mondays off from now, the benefit of finishing within the top 25 as well as moving into the top 60 Nationwide money earners.

Another reason Price is smiling would have to do with the US$51,300 runners up cheque which jumped him to 45th on the Nationwide Tour money list from 77 with a total of US$115,083. He is now inside the top 60 which will guarantees him a position in the season ending Nationwide Tour Championship as well as a full Nationwide card for next season.

“I do not have to get up early tomorrow. I’ve just dropped my rental car off and I’m off to the bar for a few celebratory beers with Flanagan, Buckle, Lyle, Mat Jones and some other the Aussie guys who hung around to watch the playoff.”

“Today I played solid but not outrageous. I had a three putt on seven when I was in the rough. I played for a flyer and came up short and ended three putting. Besides that I played really good. I even missed a big lip out on 16, six inches to go I thought it was going in.”

Price knows a continuation of his current form in the remaining season ending events has potential to open all sorts of doors. With a win, he could make the top 20 money list and with that move onto the main tour. Now having a set schedule, as opposed to uncertainly with Monday pre-qualifying, he can focus on his game and not be distracted by outside agencies. At the very least he’s secured his full players card for next year on the Nationwide Tour.

“I now know if I play well and get into contention and possibly win I could get into the top 20 and that makes me even more motivated. It’s better than thinking about pre-qualifying.”

“After my good results in Australia in the Jacob ‘s and in New Zealand coming to America and playing Monday qualifiers was something that I had to do. I’ve not committed to any tour this season and have focused on Monday Qualifiers for the Nationwide. I structured my schedule so that if I missed qualifying, I could quickly slip back onto a Grey Goose or Hooters Tour event that was close by as they usually start on the Thursday.”

Price’s game this week at the Permian Basin Charity Golf Classic reflects pure guts and determination, characteristic of many of the Aussie golfers seeking that elusive US player’s card. In not having a Tour Card they are often faced with uncertainty as to what will be happening each week. Before his result this morning, Price was playing the Nationwide numbers game and he was open about what it involved.

“I was talking to Anthony Painter earlier this week in Texas who described our position well. It’s like a magician balancing all those plates on a stick and you just have to keep those plates spinning. You have to keep them all spinning and keep your options open.”

Following this morning’s effort in Texas, Aron can now let the plates drop; what a magical sound that would make.

Photo – Anthony Powter