This is a list of the Fall 1977 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates.
The event was held at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. There were 144 players in the event.[1] The top 30 players would earn playing privileges for the PGA Tour.[2] The length of the tournament was reduced from 108 holes to 72 holes.[3] According to the Associated Press, recent two-time NCAA champion Scott Simpson and 1976 U.S. Amateur champion Bill Sander were considered the favorites.[1] In addition, former All-Americans from Oklahoma State University–Stillwater, Tom Jones and Jaime Gonzalez, were also "expected to succeed."[3]
Tournament summary edit
In the first round Rick Beck of Geneva, Alabama shot a 68 (−4) to take a one-stroke lead over a number of players.[1] After the first two rounds Ed Fiori and Len Mickles held the joint lead at 139.[4] Fiori's round of 66 was the tournament's best so far. It concluded five consecutive birdies.[5] In the third round, playing amidst "cold weather and chilling winds," Fiori and Mickles expanded their lead with rounds of 73 (+1). At 212 (−4), they held a two shot lead over Gary Jacobson.[2] Skeeter Heath was in fourth place at this point, three back, tied with Jeff Hewes and Parker Moore.[6] In the final round, Fiori shot a "steady" even-par 72 while Mickles "faltered" on the final hole ensuring that Fiori was medalist. Fiori finished at 284 (−4), the only player under par, and defeated Mickles by four.[7]
Sander failed to qualify. He was at the cut-off point after 16 holes of the final round. However, he shot five-over-par over the final two holes to miss qualifying by five strokes.[7] Simpson also failed to qualify.[8] He was especially hurt by a septuple-bogey 12 on the par-5 12th hole during the first round.[1] Among the players from Oklahoma State, Jones failed to earn playing privileges but Gonzalez was successful.[8]
List of graduates edit
| # | Player | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Ed Fiori
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| 2 | Len Mickles
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| 3 | Buddy Gardner
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Winner of 1974 and 1975 Alabama Amateur |
| Skeeter Heath
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| 5 | Gary Jacobson
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| 6 | Mike Shea
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| Bruce Robertson
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| Rick Beck
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| 9 | Dana Quigley
|
Winner of 1973 Rhode Island Open |
| Parker Moore
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| 11 | Jeff Hewes
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| 12 | Perry Arthur
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| Dave Nevatt
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| Mitch Adcock
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| Gary Vanier
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| 16 |  Jim Nelford
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Winner of 1975 and 1976 Canadian Amateur Championship |
| Don Brigham
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| Lonnie Nielsen
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| Mike Booker
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 Jaime Gonzalez
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Four-time winner of Brazil Amateur Open Championship | |
| 21 | Bob Howerter
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| Pat McGowan
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| Bob Clark
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| Ron Ashby
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| Bobby Stroble
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| 26 | Mac Hunter
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| Jim White
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| Dave Shipley
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| Jim Ulozas
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| Gary Ostrega
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| Bobby Baker
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| Skip Guss
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| Dave Barr
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4 Canadian Tour wins | |
| Travis Hudson
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Source: [8]
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Beck Has Qualifying Lead". The High Point Enterprise. 1977-11-10. p. 21. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
- ^ a b "Fiori Maintains Share of Lead". The High Point Enterprise. 1977-11-12. p. 9. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ a b "PGA School: Golf Horror Chamber". The Charlotte Observer. 1977-11-09. p. 30. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
- ^ "PGA qualifying". Austin American-Statesman. 1977-11-11. p. 72. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
- ^ "Fiori Shares PGA Lead". The High Point Enterprise. 1977-11-11. p. 15. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
- ^ "Heath Retains 4th In PGA, Finals Today". Daily Press. 1977-11-12. p. 21. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
- ^ a b "Fiori Only Qualifier To Break Course Par". The High Point Enterprise. 1977-11-13. p. 42. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
- ^ a b c Gould, David (1999). Q-School Confidential: Inside Golf's Cruelest Tournament. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 259–60. ISBN 978-0312203559.