Four Australians in top twenty at USPGA Q-School
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2002 USPGA Tour Q-School - Final Stage | Round Four | 08 Dec 2002
England’s John Morgan, a winner on the European Challenge Tour this year which assisted in him securing his European Tour playing rights next year, is now poised, barring accidents, to gain his USPGA Tour card as well for 2003. Thirty-six holes now remain to complete qualifying
Morgan leads through four of the six rounds at 15 under par by one shot from Australian Scott Laycock, who has staged a remarkable run since his opening few holes in Wednesday’s first round where he was three over after seven holes. Since then Laycock has played sixty-five holes in seventeen under par and now holds second place, just one behind Morgan. Laycock is playing with the luxury of knowing he has a financially attractive option in Japan but clearly he is showing that he has the game to compete in the US.
Anthony Painter continues to figure amongst the leaders with another sub par round leaving him in third place at thirteen under just two off the lead. His time on the Buy.Com Tour has paid off it would seem.
James McLean has moved into fifth place at eleven under and the talented young Victorian now appears to be on the verge of taking his game to a new level.
Stephen Leaney continues his amazing run after an opening 77 to be in 18th place and on the verge of an American career. To bounce back the way he has from his mentally demoralising start highlights a golfer who has gained much this year in addition to his win in Germany.
Mark Hensby, who was well positioned after fifty-four holes, was two over today and is now in 37th place. Certainly not out of it for one of the top thirty five cards, but he will now have to play the next two rounds under par it would seem to get there.
Mathew Goggin’s 75 today has slipped him from 16th to 50th and like Hensby he has some work to do.
Steve Allan at 124th, Michael Long 136th and Bradley Hughes 149th appear to have left themselves just too great a task and while for Hughes and Long a Nationwide career is all they can hope for, Allan will get some starts on the PGA Tour.
Paul Gow has withdrawn from the event following his 85 yesterday. He will still get as many as twenty starts on the main tour next year by virtue of his finish between 125 and 150 this year.
