Posted on: Sunday, December 8, 2002
GOLF
Hawai'i's Wilson six off lead in Q-School
Associated Press
England's John Morgan, already exempt on the 2003 European tour, shot a 3-under 69 yesterday to take the fourth-round lead in the six-round PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament at La Quinta, Calif.
Morgan had a 15-under 273 total on PGA West's Stadium and Nicklaus Tournament courses for a one-stroke advantage over Australia's Scott Laycock, who followed a third-round 65 with a 66.
"This is just unbelievable," said Morgan, who had four birdies and a bogey on the Stadium Course. "I mean, I'm leading the U.S. tour school. What the heck is going on? ... Having my European tour card takes some of the pressure off. Everybody wants to play over here, but it's nice having a place to play of you don't succeed."
The top 35 and ties and will receive 2003 PGA Tour cards. The next 50 — or the number nearest to 50 with ties — will receive Nationwide Tour cards. The remaining players will receive conditional Nationwide Tour status.
Australia's Anthony Painter (68) was two strokes back, and Chris Anderson (69) followed at 276. Australia's James McLean (70) was at 277 along with Brian Bateman (68), David Sutherland (69) and Donnie Hammond (69). Kane'ohe's Dean Wilson, the third-round leader, shot a 77 to drop six strokes back at 279.
Bob May, the 2000 PGA Championship runner-up, shot a 67 to jump from a tie for 59th to a tie for 18th at 280. Brian Watts, the 1998 British Open runner-up, also was at 280 after a 72.
Tommy Tolles, third entering the day after rounds of 66 and 64, shot a 75 to drop into a tie for 29th at 281.
WORLD CHALLENGE
• Harrington shoots ahead: Padraig Harrington stole the script and the show from Tiger Woods in the Target World Challenge at Thousand Oaks, Calif.
The Irishman overpowered the par 5s by making three eagles and lipping out another eagle putt. He wound up breaking the course record yesterday with a 9-under 63 to blow by Woods and seize a six-stroke lead.
Harrington was at 19-under 197, breaking by one stroke the 54-hole tournament record set in 2000 by Sergio Garcia. His six-stroke lead was the largest in the four-year history of the event. Vijay Singh had a four-shot lead through three rounds last year.
Woods, who had a head cold and later tweaked his knee hitting out of the junk, had a 70 and was at 203.
Bernhard Langer made an unlikely bogey on the par-3 eighth by holing a 40-foot putt with 20 feet of break, and finished with a 67. He was at 204. David Toms (68) and Nick Price (70) were another stroke back.
