Familiarity and confidence should play a huge factor in Stuart Andersons battle through the second stage of PGA Qualifying school that begins today.
The Sooke golfer is back at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta, California, where he managed to finish tied for fourth just a year earlier to move on to the crucial final stage and have a crack at earning his elusive first full-privilege PGA card.
I do feel confident. I like this course, the 34-year-old said. Ive had success on it before.
Its not a birdie-fest, shoot-out here. Its a grinders course. You have to place the ball nicely off the tee and it takes some ball-striking and Im usually pretty good at that.
Anderson headed south the day after playing in the Vancouver Island Pro Tour event last Tuesday where he shot a 2-over 72 at Bear Mountain to finish tied for fourth behind eventual champion Gordy Scutt at 70 and Cory Renfrew and Isaac Weintraub at 71 on a rainy, foggy day.
When asked what it would take to get through the week, he replied: Sign me up for 2-under a round, 8-under total like last year. I would take that again.
There arent too many pretenders down here in Round 2, he said of the competition, which will include fellow Canadians Mitch Evanecz, who now calls Victoria home, and Abbottsfords Nick Taylor.
Ryan Yip was here as well last year and we both got through, recalled Anderson. Hopefully, we can get some more Canadians through here and the final stage and join Brad [Fritsch], Graeme [Delaet] and David [Hearn] on the big tour.
Describing the Bear Creek course as fair, but difficult, Anderson stated the mornings have been cool in the area over the past week, but the greens are fast.
If he advances to the final stage of PGA Q-school, it is set for Nov. 28 to Dec. 3 at prestigious PGA West that includes the TPC Stadium and Nicklaus Tournament courses in LaQuinta, California, where competitors will go through six rounds.
Last season, Anderson had rounds of 70, 70, 71, 73, 73, 71 to finish tied for 54th which earned him his Web.com Tour card.
n Meanwhile, Victorias Jim Rutledge is attempting to re-earn his Champions Tour card at TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Florida.
Rutledge, who made $270,434 last season in
20 events on the tour, finished 49th on the money list and failed to hang on to his card, missing the top 30.
The 53-year-old shot an opening round even-par 72 on Tuesday, bogeying the third hole but bouncing back with birdies on Nos. 10 and 17 before giving back another shot on 18 to sit tied for 21st, four shots behind American leaders Damon Green and Bobby Clampett.
Four rounds are scheduled at Coral Springs.s
