Document text
40 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, December 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 30, 2004 Allred looking for a spot on the PGA Tour at Q School The Ashland native braces for the final stage of the PGA’s Qualifying School By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune Jason Allred is one step away from his dream of playing on the Professional Golf Association Tour. But before he can realize it, he must negotiate what is consider the most taxing stretch of golf: the final stage of Tour Qualifying School. Not to worry, says the former Ashland High and Pepperdine standout. Advertisement "I’m going to go out and enjoy myself," says Allred. "It’s pretty cool. I walked off the last green in the first (qualifying) stage figuring I was probably done for the year. When I look back on that, it’s a bonus to get to be here." In his third trip to Q School, the Scottsdale, Ariz., resident has advanced through two of the three stages, just making it on the number out of Stage 1 and finishing near the top in a rain-plagued Stage 2. Now comes the finale, which is comprised of 170 players — many of whom are PGA veterans trying to get back on tour — competing over six rounds Wednesday through Monday at two courses at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif. The top 30 placers, including ties, earn 2005 PGA Tour cards. The next 20 and ties earn full-time status on the Nationwide Tour. The remaining players receive conditional status on the Nationwide, the PGA feeder circuit. The Golf Channel will televise the tournament Saturday through Monday from 1:30-4 p.m. "There are a lot of stories you hear, good and bad, about what goes on at Q School," says Allred. "The consensus is that it’s probably one of the most pressure-packed weeks of golf as far as people trying to make a living at it." Allred, 24, has conditioned himself to embrace the experience and not succumb to the pressure. He arrived in La Quinta Friday and has put in long days of practice. He was the last to leave Monday, he says, departing well after dark and only after sitting a spell by the 18th green and reflecting. "As far as I’m concerned," says Allred, "it can be a negative or, in my case, I hope to make it a positive. This is why I’ve practiced all my life, to get to play where there’s this pressure." Allred has no reason to be overwhelmed. He competed in two PGA events in 2003, just missing the cut in the Chrysler Classic in Tucson, Ariz., when he double-bogeyed his final hole. In two previous Q School tries, he missed by one stroke advancing out of the first stage in 2002 and made it to the second stage in 2003. This past year, he played on the Canadian Tour and finished 13th on the money list with $37,786. He made the cut in nine of 13 events and had a stroke average of 70.93 over 42 rounds. "The best feeling I have," says Allred, "is that I really feel like I belong out here this year more than I did last year. I feel like I’ve improved and all my work is paying off. I feel a whole lot more comfortable." Allred nearly didn’t make it out of the first stage at San Juan Oaks Golf Club in Hollister, Calif., in late October. He shot 3-under-par for four rounds — including a 66 on Day 2. But, believing he needed at least a par on the 18th hole in the final round to advance, he made bogey on the difficult par 4. His 7-iron approach came up just short and plugged in front of the green. He took a drop, and it landed right behind his pitch mark. Marshall Holman, the Hall of Fame bowler from Medford who plays celebrity-tour golf and is no stranger to competition, served as Allred’s caddie. "Instead of putting it, he had to chip it," says Holman of Allred’s third shot at 18. "He made kind of an indifferent chip; it was not his best. He says, ‘You know, Marshall, I’ve worked all year for this tournament,’ and you could just see the dejection in his face." Allred lipped out his par putt, made 5 and headed to the clubhouse. As it turned out, he wasn’t the only one to struggle coming in. As more scores were posted, it became apparent Allred would advance. He tied for 22nd; the top 23 and ties moved on. "Needless to say," says Holman, "it was pretty exciting when he made it." "It was a great lesson for me," says Allred. "Casey Martin came up to me after he found out I’d made it and said, ‘You just never know.’ He encouraged me to hang in there because you never know what’s going to happen." There was less drama in Stage 2 at Kingwood, Texas, Golf Club one-and-a-half weeks ago, but there was no shortage of rain. Parts of the course were flooded for Thursday’s opening round. Officials turned two par 4s and a par 5 into par 3s to make it a par-68 course. In decent weather but wet conditions, Allred shared the first-day lead with a 62, then shot 67 on Friday. He played another nine holes in 4 under Friday as the tournament played catch-up. But rain came again and, after two days of waiting, the event reverted to 36 holes. Allred tied for fourth and easily advanced. "I’ve never heard of anything like that before," says Allred of the altered course and format. "It was definitely a first for me." Among those who advanced from that field behind Allred were recent tour players Bill Glasson, Omar Uresti, Dan Forsman, Brian Henninger, Jim Gallagher Jr. and J.P. Hayes. Allred, who usually has his wife, Kim, as his caddie, will use tour veteran Dick Christie this week. Christie has worked for, among others, Larry Nelson, Fred Funk and Bill Glasson. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities