Dec. 5, 2011
LA QUINTA, Calif. - It was close, but in the end it didn't matter. All that mattered was that former Husky Richard Lee had earned his PGA Tour card for 2012 after six grueling rounds at Q-School. Lee tied for 24th at -9 (72-74-66-78-65-68-423) to narrowly earn his card. He birdied the final two holes of his round to end up with a 68 and clinch his spot on the PGA Tour for next season. After a 6-over 78 on Saturday, things looked bleak for Lee and his pursuit of earning his PGA Tour card. Instead of folding, Lee shot a blazing 7-under 65 on Sunday and followed up with a -4 on Monday. His day got off to a rocky start with a bogey on No. 10, his starting hole at PGA WEST's Stadium Course. That would be the only bogey of his round but he stayed at +1 for the day through 13 holes. That is when Lee made his final push. Lee would eagle the par-5 fifth hole to get his score in the red and follow that with a birdie on No. 6. He would par No. 7 before wrapping up his round with back-to-back birdies. Lee made 25 starts on the Nationwide Tour in 2011 with a runner-up in Mexico his best finish. Thanks to a brilliant rally on Monday, the Nationwide Tour will be a distant memory next season. |
