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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Drug search warrant leads to two Medford arrests Hawthorne will get a children's park, thanks to Medford business leaders Jackson County commissioner says pot tax levels playing field Council reconsiders vote to install cameras at City Hall Wildlife poacher gets federal probation Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Drug search warrant leads to two Medford arrests Rogue River man convicted of kidnapping, assault In the national spotlight Emergency services, May 11 Police reports Politics and Elections Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Judge upholds Phoenix's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Education Supporters rally to back beleaguered principal St. Mary's reaches out to China Work your body to save your braaaaains Inert grenade spurred White Mountain Middle School evacuation Willow Wind students raise money for water Environment Low snow closes Mt. 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'Shook, Rattled and Rolled' ZEPDRIX! at the Historic Ashland Armory The Bee Eaters play Headwaters Ladysmith Black Mambazo plays the Craterian Theater Community Events Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Third Fridays showcases local artists Dining Serra storms Seattle Sakura Japanese Sushi Restaurant opens in new location Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 1 Great Outdoor Grill offers healthful options Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Drug search warrant leads to two Medford arrests ... Jackson County commissioner says pot tax levels playing field ... Council reconsiders vote to install cameras at City Hall ... Drug search warrant leads to two Medford arrests ... Jackson County commissioner says pot tax levels playing field ... Council reconsiders vote to install cameras at City Hall ... GOLF Blair plays four tours to earn PGA card Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Mar. 11, 2015 at 2:00 AM By The Associated Press Posted Mar. 11, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Few other PGA Tour rookies are more seasoned than Zac Blair, who reached the big leagues after a journey that took him from one end of the Americas to the other. And he even managed to get a degree from BYU along the way. "My dad has always ingrained in me that if you're good enough, you'll get a shot somewhere and take advantage of it," Blair said. "It was a sweet route I took, but a little unpredictable." That route took the 24-year-old from Utah to the PGA Tour Latin America, the PGA Tour Canada, the Web.com Tour and the PGA Tour in a span of six months. He also played on the Australasian Tour last year, though that was after he had his card. And he tied for 40th in the U.S. Open, where he had his father come inside the ropes to carry his bag up the 72nd hole at Pinehurst No. 2. If there's a message Blair has for college kids, it would be to go through Q-school in the fall (even as an amateur) to try to get some status. He made it through four stages, including pre-qualifying, and earned conditional Web.com Tour status. That wasn't enough to persuade him to turn pro. He was planning to play amateur golf for seasoning. But then he saw players he beat at Q-school competing in Latin America, and decided to give it a try. Blair had three top 10s before Latin America took its summer break, and his plan was to return and try to finish high enough on the money list to get a Web.com Tour card. Then he qualified in Oregon for the U.S. Open and, with the PGA Tour Canada in nearby Vancouver, went there and missed the cut. The big break was in Nova Scotia on the Web.com Tour, where his conditional status made him the 40th alternate. "It wasn't even on my mind," he said. "But I got a call that week that, 'Hey, you're 10th alternate, you might want to come out.' I'm not coming out for 10th alternate. Three hours later, I was fifth alternate. I was on my way to Greenbrier for Monday qualifying and they called in another hour and said, 'You're in.'" He tied for seventh in Nova Scotia. He tied for 11th in Utah — he already had an exemption to his home state event — but that got him to the next stop, and he tied for 25th in Boise. With that, he had full status the rest of the way, and he reached the Web.com Tour Finals. Blair promptly made three straight cuts, and then was runner-up in the finale to earn his PGA Tour card. And in his first start, he played in the last group at the Frys.com Open and tied for 12th. He also has a tie for sixth in the Sony Open and a tie for 11th at Torrey Pines. But what a journey. "It was different," he said of the first leg of his trip to Latin America. "It's not like you're getting in a car and going out to eat. You're by yourself. It was good. I learned a lot and it helped me grow up and mature. At that point, it was the best thing I've done." Right up there with graduating. There was one class he worried about failing. Blair was in the Dominican Republican when his academic adviser called to say he graduated. "It was the best moment ever, something I promised my parents I would do," he said. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Mar. 11, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Fantasy Football Outlook for Chiefs Stars Mar. 11, 2015 at 8:04 am Fantasy Football Outlook for Bills Stars Mar. 6, 2015 at 8:46 am Fantasy Football Outlook for Cardinals Stars Mar. 4, 2015 at 5:27 am Fantasy Football Outlook for 49ers Stars Feb. 27, 2015 at 9:40 am Fantasy Football Outlook for Rams Stars Feb. 24, 2015 at 11:29 pm Fantasy Football Outlook for Browns Stars Feb. 19, 2015 at 6:32 pm calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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