Sleepless night ahead for many at Q-School

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2002 USPGA Tour Q-School - Final Stage | Round Five | 09 Dec 2002

For twenty nine year old Brian Bateman, PGA Tour school is old hat. He has been there several times finishing 71st in 2000, 32nd last year to secure his card for the first time and now this week he looks on track for his best finish and to return to the PGA Tour from whence he came.

In 2002 he finished 159th on the USPGA Tour money list and was forced to return to stage two qualifying in Texas where he finished 17th. A winner on the Nike Tour in 1998, he has just eighteen holes to survive in which to regain the right to play the US Tour. His co-leader here, Jeff Brehaut also had to endure stage two prior to graduating to the final so both have done well thus far.

Germany’s Alex Cjeka, a winner on the European Tour this year and recently qualified European Tour player, England’s John Morgan are tied in third place.

Scott Laycock and Anthony Painter are tied in sixth place and in good shape, although both dropped shots late in their rounds today.

James McLean is ninth, Mathew Goggin’s 65 today jumping him from 50th to 18th and now very much in contention for a card, Mark Hensby on the fringe at 41st, Stephen Leaney’s fifth round 74 not helping his cause is 48th, Steve Allan 97th, Bradley Hughes 131st and Michael Long 139th.

Paul Gow has withdrawn from the event.