NEWS FROM THE CHAMPIONS TOUR FATHER-SON TOURNAMENT

FROM THE CHAMPIONS TOUR WEBSITE

Course: 7,023-yard, par-36/36—72 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Grande Lakes; Orlando, Florida.
The Father-son 36-hole event is played with a scramble format each day and ends on Sunday.
Former British Open champion Stewart Cink and his son Conner lead by one with a first-round better ball of 61.

WEATHER: A mixture of sun and clouds with highs near 80 degrees. Winds were from the SSE at 10-20 mph.

LEADERBOARD:
1. Stewart/Conner Cink 29-32—61
2. Steve/Sam Elkington 30-32—62
3. Jack/Gary Nicklaus 32-31—63
T4 David Duval/Dean Karavites 32-32—64
T4 Vijay/Qass Singh 31-33—64
T4 Hale/Steve Irwin 30-34—64
T4 Davis/Dru Love III 31-33—64
T8 Curtis/Thomas Strange 33-32--65
T8 Lanny/Tucker Wadkins 32-33--65
T10. Bernhard/Christina Langer 34-32—66
T10 Raymond/Ray Jr. Floyd 34-32--66
T12. Sandy/James Lyle 35-32—67
T12 Nick/Matthew Faldo 33-34—67
T12 Larry/Drew Nelson 33-34--67
T15.Lee/Connor Janzen 33-35--68
T15 Mark/Shaun O’Meara 32-36--68 T
T15 Dave/Dave Stockton, Jr. 37-31—68
T18.Fuzzy Zoeller/Gretchen Chappo 35-35--70
T18 Lee/Daniel Trevino 36-34--70
20.Nick/Greg Price 35-37--72

EVENT NOTES:
First-round leaders/co-leaders have gone on to win this tournament 11 times over the previous 15 events. The biggest come-from-behind victory came in 2001 when Raymond/Robert Floyd trailed by four strokes after Day 1 and posted a 61 on Sunday to edge Hale/Steve Irwin by a stroke.
This year marks the first time Stewart/Connor Cink and Nick/Greg Price have played in the PNC Father-Son Challenge. Should the Cinks go on and win tomorrow, it would mark the first time since the inaugural event in 1995 (won by Raymond/Raymond Jr. Floyd) that a team won in their first appearance.

  

KUCHAR, ENGLISH LEAD BY FOUR IN FRANKLIN TEMPLETON SHOOTOUT

 FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
NAPLES, Florida (AP) -- Keyed by a blazing back nine, Matt Kuchar and Harris English took a four-shot lead after better ball play in the Franklin Templeton Shootout on Saturday.
Thanks to a 27 on the back nine and 60 overall, Kuchar and English are at 20 under at Tiburon Golf Resort's Gold course. Their better-ball effort is one shot off the tournament record, set by John Daly and Frank Lickliter in 2001.
Retief Goosen and Freddie Jacobson are four shots back at 16 under.
The format will change to a scramble on Sunday.
English and Kuchar had six pars in their seven holes before taking off. From Nos. 8-17, they had nine birdies and an eagle.
.
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GUNN BIRDIES NINE HOLES TO BE JOINT SECOND ON DAY 3 OF THE WEB.COM TOUR Q TOURNAMENT

Nine birdies in a third round of eight-under-par 64 - the best of Saturday's play hoisted Dornoch exile pro Jimmy Gunn into the early clubhouse lead on the third day  of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament at La Quinta, California.
By the end of Saturday, Gunn had been overtaken by Steve Saunders who is the halfway leader in this six-round maratho with a tally of 199 (67-65-67). Gunn (68-70-64) is sharing second place with Scott Pnckney (68-67-67), three shotss off the pace on 202.

Gunn, pictured, birdied the second, fifth, sixth and eighth in four-under-par 32 to the turn.
He moved to five under for the day with birdies at the 11th and 12th before dropping his only shot so far, at the 13th.
Gunn picked up the momentum again with birdies seven, eight and nine at the 14th, 16th and 17th to be 14 under par for the tournament after opening rounds of 68 and 70.
He parred the last hole for a 64 and a 54-hole tally of 14-under-par 202.

FROM THE WEB.COM TOUR WEBSITE
 HALFWAY LEAD: Steve Saunders made eight birdies and three bogeys Saturday to shoot 5-under 67 and take the halfway lead at Q-School. He’s at 17-under 199 (67-65-67) and three shots ahead of Jimmy Gunn and Scott Pinckney. Saunders birdied his final four holes at PGA West’s TPC Stadium Course.
Saunders, 26, was a 2009 All-American at New Mexico. He comes from a golf family. His younger brother, Sam, also played college golf at New Mexico, as did two of his uncles. His father, Dave, played golf at New Mexico State. Dave Saunders owns the Albuquerque-based Golf Mart.
“I was basically going to learn how to play whether I wanted to or not, as long as I was physically capable of doing. I happened to love it, and took it and ran with it,” said Saunders, who missed the cut in all four PGA TOUR Canada starts he made in 2013.
TOP GUNN: Scotland’s Jimmy Gunn caddied at famed Royal Dornoch and worked part-time in carpentry to finance a full-time amateur golf career until turning pro six years ago at 27. 
He moved to the United States that year to develop his game, and is making his second Q-School appearance. An 8-under 64 Saturday at the TPC Stadium Course has him in contention; it was the low round of the day at the Stadium Course by two shots. He’s at 14-under 202 (68-70-64), three shots back of leader Saunders.
“I hit pretty much every fairway and had a lot of great looks,” Gunn, 33, said. “I don’t think I hit it outside 20 feet all day.”
BIG MOVE: Daniel Berger, who turned pro this year after his sophomore season at Florida State, made the move of the day with a 9-under 63 at the Nicklaus Tournament Course. He jumped 94 spots on the leaderboard to T-24 after making seven birdies and an eagle. He shot 7-under 29 on his second nine, playing his final eight holes in seven under to shoot the low round of the day.
Berger was an All-American at Florida State in 2013 and finished runner-up to Homa at the NCAA Championship.
He shot 75 the previous day at the TPC Stadium Course after making two double-bogeys. He’s at 7-under 209 (71-75-63).
DIVOTS: Chris Epperson held a four-shot lead after the first two rounds. He shot 76 Saturday to drop to seventh place, five shots off the lead. He’s at 12-under 204 (65-63-76). He was bogey-free for the first 36 holes, but had five bogeys, a double-bogey and three birdies Saturday.
Justin Thomas, who beat out Jordan Spieth to win college golf’s player-of-the-year award in 2012, shot 78 Saturday to drop to 122nd place at 2-over 218 (67-73-78). 
Thomas made quadruple-bogey 8 at the par-4 18th at TPC Stadium after hitting two tee shots into the water left of the fairway. Thomas turned pro after representing the United States at this year’s Walker Cup.
LEADING HALFWAY TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
199 Steve Saunders (US) 67 65 67
202 Jimmy Gunn (Scotland) 68 70 64, Scott Pinckney (US) 68 67 67
203 Michael Kim (US) 68 69 66, Max Homa (US) 72 64 67, Nathan Tyler (US) 66 66 71.

SELECTED SCORE
214 David Skinns (England) 72 71 71 (T73)

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SOUTH AFRICAN VAN DER WALT WINS NELSON MANDELA CHAMPIONSHIP

Perhaps it was written in the stars that a South African would win this year's Nelson Mandela Championship, the day before the funeral of the former President who passed away last week at the age of 95. 

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Dawie van der Walt admitted to feeling overwhelmed as he held his nerve down the closing stretch to win a second European Tour title.
The 30 year old South African shot a closing four-under-par 66 for a 15-under aggregate of 195 at Mount Edgecombe to run out a two shot winner over Matthew Baldwin (68 for 197) and Jorge Campillo (also 68 for 197) in a weather-hit tournament that was reduced to 54 holes so that it did not interfere with the funeral arrangements by spilling over into Sunday.

“It’s obviously really special, making you a part of history,” said van der Walt.
“Winning The Nelson Mandela at this time, when it’s sad for everyone, everyone is mourning and tomorrow’s the big day, it means a lot and it’s something I can keep close to my heart for ever.”
Van der Walt won his first European Tour event, also on home soil, at March’s Tshwane Open, but had made only one cut since after suffering injury problems and a loss of form.
However, once he claimed the outright lead with an eagle from 30 feet at the 12th, the World No. 337 never looked like relinquishing the €158,500 winner’s cheque.
“I haven’t been in that good form, I’ve been struggling with an injury, so this is almost overwhelming,” added van der Walt, whose victory also saw him claim the co-sanctioning Sunshine Tour’s Order of Merit for 2013.
“To win the last event of the year is going to make Christmas a lot more fun.”
Van der Walt began the day by picking up a birdie on the final hole of his second round in an event shortened to 54 holes after heavy rain caused lengthy delays on the first three days.
That left him tied second going into the final round, three shots adrift of England’s Daniel Brooks.
Van der Walt bogeyed the second after a swift turnaround, but with Brooks dropping six shots in his first seven holes the tournament blew wide open.
Three birdies in four holes from the third saw van der Walt join Baldwin at the top of the leaderboard, but a duffed chip at the eighth led to a bogey and when another shot was dropped at the 11th van der Walt’s challenge looked to have stalled.
But his three at the 12th saw him leapfrog Baldwin, and further birdies at the 13th and 15th ensured he was never in danger of being caught.
Baldwin and Campillo – who shot a stunning 59 on Friday – both finished with rounds of 68, earning the former a best-ever European Tour finish, with France’s Romain Wattel a shot further back in fourth and left to rue a triple-bogey eight on the par five eighth yesterday.
Van der Walt added: “Once I got that birdie on 15, I was pretty comfortable that the tournament was mine to lose. I wasn’t sure what the guys behind me were doing, but I knew that they would have to go for birdies if they were to force a play-off.
“So I was pretty relaxed coming home – it helped that I had been in that position before.” 
Defending champion Scott Jamieson from Glasgow tied for 23rd place alongside compatriot Alastair Forsyth on 204. Jamieson's opening round of 73 was the killer of his hopes. His subsequent rounds of 65 and 66 hinting at what might have been, given a better start.

Tournament Leaderboard

	Pos		Player name		Nat		Hole		Par
	1		VAN DER WALT, Dawie		RSA		18		-15
	T2		BALDWIN, Matthew		ENG		18		-13
	T2		CAMPILLO, Jorge		ESP		18		-13
	4		WATTEL, Romain		FRA		18		-12
	5		BEKKER, Oliver		RSA		18		-11
	T6		HAHN, John		USA		18		-10
	T6		AHLERS, Jaco		RSA		18		-10
	T6		SADDIER, Adrien		FRA		18		-10
	T6		GRACE, Branden		RSA		18		-10
	10		BREMNER, Merrick		RSA		18		-9

Full Leaderboard

SCOTS' SCORES
Par 210 (3x70)
204 Alastair Forsyth 68 67 69, Scott Jamieson 73 65 66 (T23)
207 Andrew McArthur 66 72 69 (T40)
213 Duncan Stewart 68 70 75 (75th).

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WESSELINGH LEADS FROM MONTGOMERIE WITH A ROUND TO GO IN MAURITIUS

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Paul Wesselingh moved another step closer to sealing the top spot on the European Senior Tour Order of Merit in Mauritius after firing a superb six under par 66 to take a three-stroke lead over Colin Montgomerie into the final round of the MCB Tour Championship.

The Englishman already has a €47,936 advantage over Steen Tinning in the contest for the John Jacobs Trophy, but he is firmly on course to make certain of finishing the season as Senior Tour No. 1 after an impressive back nine display in the second round at Constance Belle Mare Plage.

Wesselingh carded six birdies in total, including four on the trickier back nine of the Legend Course, to move to 11 under par 133, setting up an intriguing final round battle with 2010 European Ryder Cup captain Montgomerie, who also posted a round of 66.

“I didn’t play very well on the front nine today, I was struggling a bit early on for some reason,” said Wesselingh. “But I hit 17 greens today and the only one I missed, the eighth, and I holed it from off the green with a putter and that actually got my round going.

“Then I went crazy on the back nine, with birdies on the 11^th, 12^th and 13^th holes, and then made another on the last. I missed some putts too, so it could have been a stupid score. But I’m really happy and I’m really looking forward to playing with Monty tomorrow.

“We played together in Russia and I really enjoyed that. If you had said a two years ago that I’d be playing with him in the final round of the season with a chance of winning the tournament and the Order of Merit, I would have had to pinch myself.”

Wesselingh now has the chance to become the first player to win four times on the Senior Tour in a season since Boonchu Ruangkit in 02010, the year the Thai player also won the John Jacobs Trophy.  He also has the opportunity to emulate Henrik Stenson, who confirmed his position as The European Tour’s Number One for 2013 by winning the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai to lift both trophies. 

“I’m trying not to think too much about it, but obviously it would be a nice way to do it,” he said. “A three-shot lead is nothing with Colin behind me. He loves the front nine so if I can keep on his shirt tail there, I seem to favour the back nine. It should be good fun.”

Montgomerie also produced a wonderful round of golf, reaching the turn in five under par 31 for a second consecutive day courtesy of three birdies in the first four holes and an eagle on the sixth, when he holed a 20 foot putt.

Having faltered on the back nine in the first round, when he followed a bogey on the 13^th with a double bogey on the 14^th, the Scot appeared to struggle a little in the heat once more, dropping his first shot of the day on the 15^th hole when he missed the green to the left and failed to get up and down.

However he finished his round on a high with back-to-back birdies, holing consecutive putts from 20ft on the 17^th and 18^th holes to move to eight under par.

“It was great to have a two-four finish as I’ve not played the back nine very well at all,” he said. “I’ve played the front nine in two 31s, but I’m still two over on the back nine.

“Fatigue does play a factor at the end in this heat, undoubtedly, but the back nine does play tighter than the front too. Yesterday I lost concentration on the back nine and the three putt on the last when I had a 12 foot putt for eagle was crazy. But I’ve given myself a chance and that’s why I came here.

“If I played the back nine well tomorrow I have a decent chance, but Paul is playing particularly well. If I can get off to a flying start, the way I have the first two days, then I can put some pressure on him and we will see.

“Paul is trying to do a Henrik Stenson, and he is playing very well, but I’m here to stop him.”

With Wesselingh and Montgomerie pulling clear of the pack, 2012 Order of Merit winner Roger Chapman (72) and South African Hendrik Buhrmann (69) share third position on five under par, while five players are tied for fifth on four under par, including first round leader Miguel Angel Martin (74) and Marc Farry (69), who is attached to Constance and has his academy at the Legend Course.

Meanwhile Tinning, who needs to win the MCB Tour Championship to stand any chance of claiming the John Jacobs Trophy, began his second round promisingly enough, carding back-to-back birdies. However the Dane’s challenge, both in the tournament and the Order of Merit, was effectively extinguished when he ran up a double bogey six on the 15^th hole en route to a one under par 71, which left him nine strokes back in a share of 15^th position.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Par 144 (2x72)

133 P Wesselingh (Eng) 67 66

136 C Montgomerie  (Sco) 70 66

139 H Buhrmann (RSA) 70 69, R Chapman (Eng) 67 72

140 A Sherborne (Eng) 68 72, P Linhart (Esp) 72 68, M Farry (Fra) 71 69, M McLean (Eng) 69 71, M Martin (Esp) 66 74

141 P Fowler (Aus) 72 69, R Gibson (Can) 70 71, D Frost (RSA) 70 71, R Drummond (Sco) 71 70, R Thompson (USA) 70 71

142 J Bruner (USA) 76 66, P Eales (Eng) 72 70, J Carriles (Esp) 74 68, S Tinning (Den) 71 71

143 G Ryall (Eng) 68 75

144 P Golding (Eng) 72 72, A Franco (Par) 72 72, C Williams (Eng) 72 72, G Manson (Aut) 73 71

145 K Spurgeon (Eng) 74 71, C Rocca (Ita) 73 72, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 75 70, M Cunning (USA) 72 73, S Brown (Eng) 72 73, S Luna (Esp) 70 75

146 B Longmuir (Sco) 75 71, D Smyth (Irl) 71 75, A Oldcorn (Sco) 73 73, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 74 72, J Quiros (Esp) 75 71

147 P Jonas (Can) 74 73, W Grant (Eng) 74 73, N Job (Eng) 77 70, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 73 74, L Carbonetti (Arg) 72 75, B Lane (Eng) 74 73

148 T Thelen (USA) 76 72

149 B Cameron (Eng) 75 74

151 S Torrance (Sco) 75 76

152 D Russell (Eng) 74 78

153 S Van Vuuren (RSA) 74 79

154 J Gould (Eng) 75 79

157 M Harwood (Aus) 80 77

168 G Brand (Eng) 84 84

 

 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

SERGIO GARCIA SURGES FOUR SHOTS CLEAR IN THAILAND CHAMPIONSHIP

Chonburi, Thailand: Spaniard Sergio Garcia, pictured above in action today, produced another brilliant seven-under-par 65 to surge into a four-shot lead over India’s Anirban Lahiri and world number three Henrik Stenson in the star-laden Thailand Golf Championship on Saturday.

The Ryder Cup hero charged home on the back nine with five birdies, including two at 17 and 18 at the magnificent Amata Spring Country Club for a three-day total of 18-under-par 198 in the US$1 million Asian Tour event.

Stenson, the first man to win the European Tour’s Race to Dubai and US PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup this season, also fired a fine 65 to give himself a chance of a fourth win of the year while Lahiri fought his way into the final group on Sunday with a 67.

Co-overnight leader Justin Rose of England bogeyed his last hole for a 70 as he slipped five shots off the pace while Panuphol Pittayarat emerged as the leading Thai player following a 67 for a share of sixth place on 206.

After charging into contention with a second round 65 which included a hole-in-one on Friday, the 33-year-old Garcia, ranked 19^th in the world, put himself in prime position to land his first title of 2013 following another sublime display of golf.

“It was great obviously to be able to go out there and shoot 65 again,” said Garcia. “I played nicely and felt pretty comfortable. I was able to hit some really nice shots and then was able to roll two or three really good putts in and it was nice to be able to finish birdie, birdie on this difficult finishing stretch.”

The swashbuckling Spaniard does not intend to take his foot off the pedal as he chases a 21^st career Tour victory. “Not only Henrik … there're probably five or six guys who can shoot a really good number.  It's going to be exciting tomorrow. I'll just try to do the same things I've been doing and stay focused, stay patient and hopefully I'll be able to play well enough to win,” said Garcia, whose girlfriend Katharina Boehm is caddying for him.

“I want to try to be as aggressive as possible. I want to still try to make as many birdies as I can and if I manage to do that, then I'm going to put it quite difficult to the rest. I think if I start getting a little defensive, then I can give them a good opportunity of catching me.”

Lahiri, who is fifth on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit, sank six birdies against a lone bogey to stay within touching distance of the leader. 

“I didn't hit the ball very good but I played really sharp golf and that's good to see. I'm happy that I'm able to focus and get up and down when I miss it, and make some putts. So, yeah, really happy,” said the 26-year-old, who has three wins in Asia.

The Indian rising star will stick to his routine and game plan in his hope of eclipsing the stars in the final round. A total of eight players from the world’s top-50 are in the field at the Thailand Golf Championship which is offering 38 world ranking points to the winner.

“I’m just going out there and play and I'm happy that I'm in a zone where I can play and not think about shots,” said Lahiri. “Sergio is running away with it, so I'm glad I'm still within touching distance. I can't really go into tomorrow expecting anything. I just want to play solid.”

Stenson got out of the blocks with three straight birdies and rattled in four more for a bogey-free card. But he also made some important par saves, including one on 18 after finding the thick rough.

“That was a good day,” said the 37-year-old Swede. “It was definitely the best I played this week. Made some good birdies and some really good saves to keep the momentum going.  Those were crucial.

“Even though I'm tired and worn out, as soon as you see your name on the leaderboard, all of a sudden that tiredness goes away and you're looking forward to be there and hopefully have a chance to win. I know Sergio is desperate to get his hands on a trophy but I’ll try to challenge him,” added Stenson.

Rose, the reigning U.S. Open champion and world number four, was disappointed to fall off the pace, with a lone bogey on 18 leaving him five back of Garcia. “It's a frustrating sort of way to finish the round. I played better than any other day or as good as any other day. Sergio got ahead and a couple good birdies for him to finish. But I felt like I had the opportunity to put a good round together and to not do it is frustrating,” said Rose.

  THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD

  Par 216 (3x72) Yardage 7,488

198 Sergio GARCIA (ESP) 68-65-65.

202 Henrik STENSON (SWE) 70-67-65, Anirban LAHIRI (IND) 71-64-67.

203 Justin ROSE (ENG) 65-68-70.

205 Alexander LEVY (FRA) 70-65-70.

206 KIM Gi-whan (SKOR) 74-68-64, Yuki KONO (JPN) 72-69-65, Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 71-68-67.

207 Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA) 74-68-65, Rickie FOWLER (USA) 70-66-71.

208 D A POINTS (USA) 73-69-66, Charl SCHWARTZEL (RSA) 68-73-67, Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 72-69-67, Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 66-73-69, Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA) 65-74-69, Andrew DODT (AUS) 72-65-71, Sujjan SINGH (IND) 68-69-71, Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 69-68-71, Alex CEJKA (GER) 64-71-73.

 

CHAMPIONS TOUR'S FATHER-SON TOURNAMENT NEWS

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JIMMY GUNN SHARING 25th PLACE AFTER TWO ROUNDS OF WEB.COM TOUR QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT

Dornoch exile Jimmy Gunn, who has been playing the mini-tours in the States as a pro for a few years now, is lying T25 on six-under-par 138 (68-70) after two rounds of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament in California.
Englishman David Skinns is not welll placed. He is T77 on 143 (72-71) in a field of 152 players.

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
By Sean Martin, PGATOUR.COM
LA QUINTA, California – Chris Epperson had many duties for EAC Heating and Air, which is owned in part by his father and brother. “I did a bit of everything,” said Epperson, who worked there from 2006-08.
He remembers jumping up and down in a dumpster, trying to squash the trash to make room for more, and wondering why he was in there instead of on a golf course. 
He left the part-time job the following year to commit himself fully to golf, saw immediate improvement and now holds a four-shot lead after two rounds at the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament.

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Epperson is at 16-under 128 (65-63) after one round apiece at PGA West’s TPC Stadium and Nicklaus Tournament courses. He’s shot the low round of the day on his respective course in each of the first two rounds. The former All-American at Division II Armstrong Atlantic University has yet to make a bogey.
“I know I can play golf like this,” said Epperson, 31. He finished eighth on PGA TOUR Canada’s Order of Merit in 2013, which exempted him into Q-School’s final stage. Epperson made the cut in eight of nine starts, including six top-10s. He also won the Vancouver Open, a mini-tour event held during one of PGA TOUR Canada’s off weeks, and finished sixth on the eGolf Professional Tour money list in just 14 starts, thanks to six top-four finishes.
Next year could be a big one for Epperson, who lives in Hilton Head Island, S.C. The winner of Web.com Tour Q-School is fully exempt for the upcoming season. He’s scheduled to get married Jan. 4 in Savannah, Ga. He proposed to his fiancée, Sarah, with a ring worn by his paternal grandmother, Dorothy, who died in a car accident in 1944. The ring had been in a safety deposit box until he proposed in Rockefeller Center in New York City, he said.
He’s four shots ahead of Nathan Tyler and Steve Saunders. Epperson, who turned pro in 2006, has made nine career Web.com Tour starts, with two top-25 finishes.
PLENTY OF TIME: Max Homa didn’t panic when he struggled at Q-School’s start. This year’s NCAA champion was 3 over after 13 holes when his caddie, Joe Greiner, told him, “Don’t worry, there’s nearly 100 holes left.” There was plenty of time for Homa to make a move. And he did. He birdied three of his final five holes Thursday at PGA West’s TPC Stadium Course to salvage 72 on the more difficult of the two layouts in use at Q-School, then shot 64 on Friday to move into seventh place, a leap of 77 spots on the leaderboard.
Homa had six birdies and an eagle Friday at the Nicklaus Tournament course. He chipped in for birdie at No. 13 and eagled the par-5 seventh hole after hitting 3-wood to 3 feet.
“I was in good spirits because I was playing fine. I had a tough stretch (Thursday) when the wind picked up,” Homa said. “I felt good coming in today after how yesterday ended.”
He’s played his past 23 holes in 11 under. The Cal alum played two PGA TOUR events as a professional this year, finishing ninth at the Frys.com Open and 30th at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
FINALLY FINAL STAGE: Nathan Tyler last made it to Q-School’s final stage in 2009. He’s been on the wrong side of close calls in Q-School’s second stage each of the previous three years. That prompted him to make a switch that has paid big dividends thus far.
Tyler switched coasts for second stage, from Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta, Calif. – the course where he’d played each of the previous three years – to Plantation Preserve in Plantation, Florida. He won that site by two shots with a 21-under 263 total.
“I was extremely proud to get through second stage to get through the way I did, because I had a tough three years of second stage,” Tyler said. “To play well all the way through was huge for me, and I’ve tried to roll it over into this.”
Tyler is in contention at Q-School’s final stage after shooting consecutive 66s at PGA West. At 12-under 132, he’s four shots behind Epperson. Tyler, 31, finished 12th on PGA TOUR Canada’s Order of Merit this year, posting two top-five finishes, including a runner-up at The Players Cup.
Tyler, an Arizona University alum, has made 11 career starts on the Web.com Tour, and never more than five in one season. That could change in 2014 if he keeps up his good play.
“I’m 31. It’s time to make a move, and I’m glad to be (at final stage),” Tyler said.
DIVOTS: Michael Kim, one of three amateurs in the Q-School field, continues to play well. He shot 69 Friday at the TPC Stadium course and was tied for 14th at 7 under. Kim is in the midst of his junior season at the University of California. He’ll have to turn professional to accept Web.com Tour status earned this week. He was exempt into second stage after finishing 17th at this year’s U.S. Open. 
Anthony Paolucci, a junior at the University of Southern California, is at 1-under 143 (71-72), while BYU alum Zac Blair is at 145 (71-74).
UTC student Steven Fox, the 2012 U.S. Amateur champ, salvaged an even-par 72 on Friday, shooting 32 on his second nine at the TPC Stadium course after making the turn in 4-over 40. He made double-bogey on No. 10, his first hole of the day, and added bogeys at Nos. 12 and 18. He is at 3-under 141 (69-72).

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