Dec. 11, 2008
Click Here to see Wil Collins’ final putt to earn his PGA Tour card
Jones’ PGA Q School scorecard
Collins’ PGA Q School scorecard
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Former Lobos Wil Collins and Kent Jones entered the sixth and final round of the Professional Golfer Association Tour Qualifying Tournament needing to finish within the top-25 in order to earn their PGA Tour card for the upcoming 2009 season.
Both did just that, finishing the final stage of qualifying with identical 19-under-par 413 scores. As a result, the duo tied for 18th place along with nine others to earn their tour card by one stroke.
Collins (UNM 1999-00) earned his place on tour by sinking the shot of the day on his final hole of the event. The putt, coming on the ninth green at the PGA West TPC Stadium Course in La Quinta, Calif, was a 20-foot left-to-right uphill snake that poured into the left edge of the cup. Collins caddy, Mark Anderson, also played for UNM from 2004-06 and is the brother of current UNM assistant coach Jim Anderson.
Jones, who was sitting in tenth place after four rounds at 15-under, saw the field catch up to him a bit after shooting an even-par 72 in the fifth round. Jones’ sixth-round 68 (four-under) sealed his place on tour. Collins shot a five-under 67 on the final round, including the par-saving put to end the day.
Collins and Jones join Tommy Armour III ((1980-81), Tim Herron (1990-93), Michael Letzig (2000-03) and Spencer Levin (2004-05) as other former Lobos on tour and bring UNM’s total to six.
Also of note: Notah Begay III, a native of the Albuquerque area and longtime supporter of UNM’s golf program, according to coach Glen Millican, also earned his tour card at the qualifying tournament, finishing one stroke ahead of Jones and Collins by shooting a 20-under-par 412. Begay’s fifth-round 63 (nine-under par) propelled him from 95th place to 21st entering the final round. Begay capped off the tourney with a five-under 67 to finish in a seven-way tie for 11th place.