1971 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates

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This is a list of the 1971 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates. The event was held in mid-October at PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. [1] It is generally regarded to be one of the greatest qualifying schools in history with a number of future stars graduating, including Lanny Wadkins and Tom Watson.

Contents

Tournament summary

After three 72-hole regional qualifiers, there were 75 players in the 108-hole final qualifying tournament. [2] [3]

Bob Zender was the medalist as 23 players earned their tour cards. [3] [4] Overall, according to the Orlando Sentinel's Jim Warters, "The PGA tour qualifying school came and went just about the way the experts predicted." Elite, "nationally-known" amateurs such as Lanny Wadkins, Steve Melnyk, Allen Miller, and John Mahaffey "graduated to the tour with little difficulty." In addition, Bruce Fleisher and David Graham, "a couple of relatively new pros who should have earned their diplomas earlier," also finished in the top ten. [2] In addition, the graduating class is considered to be one of the greatest in PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament history. Wadkins, Mahaffey, Graham, and another graduate, Tom Watson, went on to win major championships. [5]

Sam Adams was considered to be the big surprise of the tournament. He opened with a 69, one of few sub-70 scores in the first round. He then shot rounds of 74 and 76 to fall behind. However, he closed with rounds of 70-70-69, seven-under-par over the course of those three rounds, to earn playing privileges. "I really didn't expect to do this well," Adams said after the tournament. [2]

David Glenz had the best "comeback" of the tournament. He opened with rounds of 75, 74, and 80. He came back with consecutive rounds of 72, however, to put him in a tie for 28th place, just outside the cut-off figure. He opened the final round "shakily" with three pars. He then hit a poor drive and approach shot to the 4th hole. However, he holed his chip shot for a birdie. He made two birdies thereafter for a bogey-free 69 (−3). Glenz earned his card by multiple shots. [2]

Mac O'Grady made his first of many Q-school appearances at this school. He did not successfully graduate. [6] Calvin Peete also made his first appearance at the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. He did not successfully graduate either. [7] Greg Powers attempted to make the tour for the second straight year. He was successful this time. [1]

List of graduates

PlacePlayerNotes
1 Flag of the United States.svg Bob Zender
T2 Flag of the United States.svg Sam Adams
Flag of the United States.svg Lanny Wadkins Winner of 1970 U.S. Amateur
4 Flag of the United States.svg Steve Melnyk Winner of 1969 U.S. Amateur
5 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Watson
6 Flag of the United States.svg Allen Miller Winner of 1970 Canadian Amateur
7 Flag of the United States.svg John Mahaffey Winner of 1970 NCAA Championship
8 Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Fleisher Winner of 1968 U.S. Amateur
9 Flag of the United States.svg Jim Barber
10 Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Graham Winner of 1970 French Open
T11 Flag of the United States.svg Forrest Fezler Winner of 1969 California State Amateur
Flag of the United States.svg Gary Groh
T13 Flag of the United States.svg David Glenz
Flag of the United States.svg Leonard Thompson Winner of 1969 Sunnehanna Amateur
T15 Flag of the United States.svg Mike Spang
Flag of the United States.svg Bill Ziobro
T17 Flag of the United States.svg Ray Arinno
Flag of the United States.svg John Gentile
Flag of Colombia.svg Rogelio Gonzalez
Flag of the United States.svg Dave Haberle
Flag of the United States.svg Wayne Peddy
Flag of the United States.svg Greg Powers
Flag of the United States.svg George Thorpe

Sources: [4] [8]

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References

  1. 1 2 Caldwell, Emmie (October 29, 1972). "These 'Golf Widows' Don't Need Any Pity". The Tennessean. p. 2E. Retrieved June 30, 2021– via newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Warters, Jim (October 19, 1971). "Southpaw Sam: He Swings For..." Orlando Sentinel. p. 3C. Retrieved July 2, 2021– via newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 "Past champions: PGA Tour National Qualifying Tournament". PGA Tour. December 7, 2009. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Zender Captures PGA Qualifying" . The Charlotte Observer. North Carolina. United Press International. October 17, 1971. p. 6D – via newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Q-School timeline: History of golf's most grueling event". Golf Channel. November 30, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  6. ↑ Diaz, Jaime (December 6, 2010). "My Five: Historic Q School Grads". Golf Digest. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  7. ↑ Glick, Shav (July 21, 1979). "Diamond in the Rough and the Fairway". Los Angeles Times. p. 6 (part 3). Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  8. ↑ Gould, David (1999). Q-School Confidential: Inside Golf's Cruelest Tournament. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 271. ISBN   978-0312203559.
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