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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 2:04 p.m., Saturday, December 6, 2008

Golf: Frazar shoots 59 at Q-school to take the lead

Associated Press

LA QUINTA, Calif. — Harrison Frazar shot a 59 in the fourth round of the PGA Tour qualifying tournament today, the first player in eight years to hit golf's magic number at Q-school.

Frazar, winless in 300 starts during his PGA Tour career, had a 30 on the front nine of the Nicklaus Tournament course at PGA West, then ran off seven consecutive birdies from the 11th hole. He knocked in a 35-foot birdie putt on the 17th to reach 13 under, and he had a birdie putt on the 18th that came up just short.

"The 59 is nice," Frazar said. "That is something I will always have with me, and is something I am very proud of. But we still have two more rounds here, and that's the bigger goal."

The last player to shoot 59 at Q-school was David Gossett in 2000, although he failed to earn his PGA Tour card. Frazar was at 24-under 264 and leading by four shots with only two rounds remaining.

Tyler Aldridge had a 64 on the Nicklaus course was four shots behind, with Jay Williamson (66) another two shots back at 18-under 270. Glen Day went 58 consecutive holes without a bogey until making one on the 18th hole Saturday, but he managed a 70 and was tied for fourth at 17-under 271.

The top 25 players and ties will earn PGA Tour cards on Monday.

Frazar's score will not count in the tour record books because Q-school is not an official event. Al Geiberger, Chip Beck and David Duval are the only players with a 59 in official play. Annika Sorenstam is the only LPGA Tour player with a 59.

John Huston, who opened with a 74, continued his rally with a second straight 65 that put him in a tie for 10th. D.J. Brigman also made a big move with a 63, moving into a tie for 15th.

Among those going the wrong direction were Joe Durant, a four-time tour winner who shot a 78 and was tied for 106th; and former PGA champion Mark Brooks, the only major champion at Q-school, who shot 72 and was tied for 42nd.

There was no 72-hole cut. Those who failed to finish in the top 25 will get either full or conditional status on the Nationwide Tour.