Q School Torture Finally Over

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Brian Stuard, right, didn't hesitate when asked to describe the final-stage PGA Tour qualifying school experience.

"It's really not very much fun," he said.

And this was from a guy who made it.

Twenty-five golfers survived golf's version of Parris Island boot camp Monday at Bear Lakes Country Club and were rewarded with full exempt status for the 2010 PGA Tour schedule.

Others were sent away shaking their heads if not their fists.

"I'm glad this week's over," said Scott Stallings after missing a five-foot birdie attempt on the final hole that would have put him among the special few. "It will be nice not to see this place for awhile. I've had enough of Bear Lakes."

Stuard can empathize.

At last year's Q School the Jackson, Mich., native, who turns 27 next week, went into the final round in sixth place. He shot 74 and missed exempt status by three shots.

If that wasn't close enough to cause discomfort, he arrived at this season's Nationwide Tour Championship 23rd on the money list; the top 25 finishers graduate to the big leagues. Stuard finished tied for 14th in the season's final event and dropped to 26th.

This week he brought a cushion.

Stuard hit a six-iron to within a foot at No. 17, then dropped a five-foot putt at 18 to finish birdie-birdie and tie for 19th place at 10 under, 12 shots back of winner Troy Merritt.

It was as good as a win.

"I've been close a couple of times," Stuard said. "It was nice to finally get over the hump and finish strong.

"I guess the different was just experience -- being more comfortable with the situation. I don't know. The more you play the easier it gets, I guess."

Maybe. Maybe not.

The day is unlike any other in golf. It's not about winning or losing. It's about reaching the under-par number that makes the cut. Then staying there. The number was 9 under.

Momentum and moods shift like the wind. Down the stretch some players step up while others step aside. There are high-fives and emotional lows.

"Having done this for the last six days and being here for 10 days -- Shakespeare would have written one hell of a tragedy."
-- Joe Ogilvie "Having done this for the last six days and being here for 10 days -- Shakespeare would have written one hell of a tragedy," said tour veteran and Duke scholar Joe Ogilvie who finished 11 under to advance. "It is one hell of a tournament. It is an amazing thing that we don't sell it as a lot better because it is one hell of a deal."

Australian David Lutterus had a lead role, beginning the day two shots outside the number, but shooting a final-round 64 to jump all the way into eighth place at 15 under. The performance gets the 24-year-old, bleached-blond 6-foot-4, 220-pounder back for a second try at the PGA Tour. He qualified for the 2008 season, but made only seven cuts in 23 events, just one of them a top-25.

That sent him to the mini-tour circuit this year -- a humbling reality check and reminder of the day's importance.

"You try to put it in the back of your mind," Lutterus said. "But deep down you know it's final day at Q School. You know what's at stake.

"I've gone from, -- I mean I was 22 when I got my card two years ago, to no status at all this year. So to come here and have that final round and solidify myself is really huge."

Others left far less satisfied.

Mini-tour player James Hahn came to the 18th hole needing par to qualify. From the middle of the fairway he pushed a 6-iron to the green, about 70 feet from the pin. And from there he four putted for double-bogey.

"I'll probably be thinking about his for the next year," he said. "I four putted from 70 feet. I still have a lot to learn about playing golf."

Hahn wasn't alone.

Josh Broadaway began the day tied for 11th place. A final-round 78 dropped him to 40th. Veteran Tom Pernice, Jr., arrived at the final hole on the number at 10 under, only to make double bogey.

Others had better days.

Brent Delahoussaye, a 2005 Clemson grad, qualified for the first time and broke into tears.

"I've been trying this for so long," he said. "I finally pulled it off. I thought I could do it all along, but until you do it ..."

That's when Delahoussaye's voice broke, saying a lot about the week.

Q SCHOOL NOTES: Former Boise State Troy Merritt, 25, was never out of the lead on his way to shooting 22 under and winning the tournament by one shot over veteran Jeff Maggert.

Merritt held the lead throughout the final round and was ahead by three strokes as he played the final hole. Despite a double-bogey on the 108th hole, Merritt won $50,000.

Merritt finished his rookie season on the 2009 Nationwide Tour at No. 39 on the money list with a win at the Mexico Open. ...

Three 2009 college stars will go straight to the PGA Tour: Florida's Billy Horschel, Oklahoma State's Rickie Fowler and Georgia Tech's Cameron Tringale.