Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009

Every's first Nationwide Tour win a doozy

Ex-Florida player jumps into top 25, earns PGA status

CHARLESTON -- The $180,000 first-place check was nice.

But that wasn't the most coveted reward for Matt Every's victory Sunday in the $1 million Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island Club's Ralston Creek Course.

Every's first professional victory in the season-ending event catapulted the former Florida Gator from 49th on the Nationwide 2009 money list to 10th, making him one of 25 players to graduate to the 2010 PGA Tour based on earnings.

"I waited as long as I could to win," Every said. "Right now it's a relief, but I'll have time to enjoy it."

Every shot a bogey-free 5-under-par 67 Sunday with three birdies and an eagle for a 21-under 267 total to finish three strokes ahead of runner-up Michael Sim, the tour's player of the year with three victories in 2009.

"I don't think it was real lucky," Every said. "I just played good all week. I was struggling getting in, just holding it all together."

Every, 25, was growing weary of coming close to earning PGA Tour membership. As a Nationwide rookie last year following a season on the Grand Strand-based NGA Hooters Tour, he had a chance to move into top 25 at the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship but tied for 31st and finished 34th on the money list.

In each of the last two years, he missed earning his PGA Tour card in the final stage of the tour's qualifying tournament by two and three strokes.

"I didn't want to go to Q-School this year at all," Every said. "You want to draw back on good experiences, but my last good experience was I won a college event my senior year. That was my last win. I didn't have much to draw back on so I was really just trying to stay in the moment and it worked out."

Every and 2007 PGA Tour member Steve Wheatcroft were the only two golfers to play their way into the top 25 this week, displacing Brian Stuard and Alistair Presnell, who entered the tournament 23rd and 25th, respectively, on the money list. Wheatcroft tied for third to move up from 31st to 20th.

Neither Stuard or Presnell played poorly this week. Stuard tied for 14th at 8-under 280 and Presnell tied for 19th at 7-under 281, and they shot rounds of 68 and 69 Sunday. But it wasn't good enough.

Stuard came less than $3,000 from earning his PGA Tour card. He played his final 11 holes 4 under, but it all came down to an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th that grazed the lip of the cup but stayed out, allowing Fran Quinn to retain the 25th position.

Sunday's final round already figured to be gut-wrenching for Quinn, 44, who has spent the past 12 years on the Nationwide Tour and hasn't been a member of the PGA Tour since 1992.

The Massachusetts native and resident was among a few players on the top-25 bubble entering the final round. A bladder infection that hit Quinn on Friday night didn't help matters.

By the seventh hole Saturday, he was just hoping to finish the round upright.

"It kicked in and really hurt on 7, and I knew I was in big trouble," Quinn said. "When I walked to the seventh tee I was like, 'Oh my God, I don't know if I can make this.' "

Quinn managed a 1-over 73 Saturday and 74 Sunday while relying mainly on his legs for power because of the pain in his abdomen. He was in pain on every shot.

"My legs today felt like rubber," Quinn said. "Why did it have to hit this week? ... I was out there today and I knew every single shot was that important. I only made it by $3,000 and that could have changed in a moment's notice.

"... This is what you work for. You want to finish better than the top 25, but 25 gets you out there, now I have the opportunity to go out there and play some good golf."

Like Quinn, Craig Bowden is one of several 40-somethings who earned returned shots on the PGA Tour next year. Bowden shot a 6-under 66 Sunday to tie for seventh at 11-under 277 and finish 22nd on the money list, less than $10,000 from finishing outside the top 25. He made four birdies in his final eight holes.

"It's great to rise to the occasion when you need to," said Bowden, 41, who will be playing his seventh season on the PGA Tour. "I had one of those days that it was a special day. I rose to the occasion when I had to and I'm damn proud of myself.

"... It's tough because it means so much but you can't put all that pressure on yourself to come through. You want it so bad, but you have to let go to obtain it. Today I was able to let go and just play golf. I did a lot of really good things today."