GALLACHER HOPING THAT LAWRIE WILL BE IN THE RYDER CUP TEAM AT GLENEAGLES NEXT YEAR

FROM THE BBC SPORT.COM WEBSITE

Paul Lawrie could be a home hero in the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles after his key role last year, says ex-Europe captain Bernard Gallacher, pictured by Andy Forman in Glasgow today.

Lawrie's 5 and 3 victory over American Brandt Snedeker in the singles helped secure a memorable triumph at Medinah.
But the 44-year-old Aberdonian is struggling in the race for qualifying points ahead of next year's event.
"Paul played so well in the last one," said Gallacher. "I would hope he would make the team."
The United States required only four and a half points from the 12 on offer on the final day in Chicago last year, but the Europeans secured eight and a half to clinch a dramatic 14½-13½ win, with Lawrie's contribution vital.

"He was instrumental in our victory the last time - in fact, he was the catalyst for the victory," said Gallacher. "I think he'll make a big effort to make the team."

Nine players qualify automatically for the 2014 team - four from the European points list and five from the World points list - with three wildcards selected by captain Paul McGinley.
Craig Lee is the highest-placed Scot in the European points list at 22nd, with Stephen Gallacher 34th and 1999 Open champion Lawrie 70th.
Bernard Gallacher expects Gleneagles to host a memorable Ryder Cup, regardless of whether any Scots feature, and believes the outcome is "too close to call".
He plans to attend, having recovered from the cardiac arrest he suffered as he was preparing to deliver a speech at Aberdeen's The Marcliffe @ Pitfodels Hotel in August.
Gallacher was speaking in Glasgow today at the annual PGA in Scotland Awards lunch to accept a Scottish Golf lifetime achievement award, which he will receive at a special event in February.
"I'm delighted to be accepting this award ahead of such a special year for golf in the country," said the 64-year-old, who follows Lawrie, Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance and Sandy Lyle into the nation's hall of fame.
"It's an honour to follow the greatest names in Scottish golf who have received this award," said Gallacher, who played in all eight Ryder Cups between 1969 and 1983 before captaining the side in 1991, 1993 and 1995, when he led a winning team at Oak Hill.
"I played in the first Ryder Cup in Scotland in 1973 at Muirfield and, like all golf fans, I'm looking forward to it coming back for what will be a fantastic contest," he added.
Gallacher won 22 times on the European Tour, finishing in the top 10 on the Order of Merit five times between 1972 and 1982.

ROYAL BURGESS SOCIETY SCRAP PROPOSALS TO ADMIT WOMEN MEMBERS

        Royal Burgess Golf Society clubhouse, Barnton, Edinburgh. From the society's website

FROM THE SCOTSMAN NEWSPAPER WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER and MARTYN McLAUGHLIN

THE oldest golfing society in the world has scrapped proposals to admit women members after less than a third of its membership supported it in a referendum.
Royal Burgess, the Edinburgh club which has been a male bastion since its formation in 1735, canvassed its membership over changing its stance.
But less than 30% of those eligible to vote were in favour of allowing women to join their ranks, with “no further action” planned over the issue.
A move to welcome women by the Royal Burgess, one of only ten royal golf clubs Scotland, would have brought pressure to bear on the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers to follow suit, after this year’s Open Championship at Muirfield took place against a backdrop of controversy due to its men-only policy.
However, results of the Royal Burgess poll among just over 600 members eligible to vote have been revealed privately to members on the club’s website after the referendum period closed last weekend.

"The Scotsman" has learned that the move to break down the male-only barriers at the Society, which was founded in 1735, is no longer being considered.
It is believed that 418 votes were cast in the referendum, which only took place after gaining narrow support - 69 votes to 64 - at an informal members’ meeting at the end of October.
That represented a turn-out of 69%, with members answering a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the “possible change to our rules to allow ladies admission to our Society.”
Of those who took part in the poll, 43.3% voted ‘yes’ but a ‘no’ vote of 56.7% meant that only 29.8% of the members eligible to vote were in favour of the change.

The move required support from at least 50% of those balloted for the possible change to the club’s rules to then come under consideration at the next AGM.
There, it would have needed to receive a two-thirds majority for women to be admitted to the capital club.
Revealing the referendum result to members, club captain John Jarvie has admitted on the website that the matter is no longer up for consideration, stating: “Council have therefore determined that they will take no further action.”
It is not the first time that the subject of admitting women members has been raised at Royal Burgess, whose members include Jack Nicklaus, only to be quickly dismissed.
It is understood an ad hoc committee had previously “researched the subject of girls and ladies’ membership” on the back of a new mini section being approved at the 2012 AGM.
But, although a referendum of all eligible members of the society was recommended, the council at the time decided that no further action should be taken.
It is believed that an annual rates bill of £38,000 – the society had its rates relief lifted by the City of Edinburgh Council in 1998 due to its single-sex status – was part of the reason the matter was raised once again.
However, the referendum result comes on the back of some members threatening to resign if women were permitted membership. “Ladies caused no end of issues,” claimed one existing member at the aforementioned October meeting.
Graham Callander, the general manager of Royal Burgess, said yesterday that the referendum was an internal matter for the club, and it would be making no comment.

Shona Malcolm, pictured, chief executive officer of the Ladies’ Golf Union, the encompassing body for ladies’ amateur golf in Britain and Ireland, said: “It’s encouraging that 43% voted for change. If you went back ten years, I don’t think you would have anything like that voting for. 
"We’re in a period of evolution. We don’t want to be forcing things, decisions have to come from within the clubs, and I’m sure there will be other single gender clubs that will ask their members the same question. Some may well change and some won’t.”
“I think it’s encouraging that clubs are taking this issue sufficiently seriously and are going to their members to give them the option. I very much respect the decision from the membership of any golf club, because if we didn’t have the members, we wouldn’t have the clubs themselves.”
She added: “We have quite a number of ladies clubs affiliated with the LGU and there seems to be very little appetite to bring in gentlemen members, so it works both ways."

JAPANESE PGA REPS SET TO RESIGN TO RESTORE PUBLIC TRUST

FROM GOLFTALK CENTRAL WEBSITE 

 

And we thought the PGA of America made a bold move in opposing the anchoring ban.

News out of Japan today was that all 91 representatives of its Professional Golfers Association will resign en masse after two executives played golf and socialised with the head of an organized crime group.
That’s right, earlier this year, the Japan PGA’s then-vice chairman and then-board director were found to be rubbing elbows with the head of a yakuza organized crime group in the southern island of Kyushu, according to a report from the Jiji Press news agency (and later picked up by the AFP).  
Such activities are prohibited by the Japanese PGA, and the two execs were booted out in October. 
So, why must all 91 representatives – a figure which includes the chairman, four vice chairmen and some 20 board directors – all resign at the same time? 
Reportedly, to restore public trust in the Japanese PGA

JIMMY GUNN COMING HOME TO DORNOCH FOR CHRISTMAS AFTER WINNING PLACE ON WEB.COM TOUR

                         JIMMY GUNN ... based in Phoenix, coming home to Dornoch for Christma
 
By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@Scottishgolfview.com
Four times past Royal Dornoch Golf Club champion Jimmy Gunn has won one of the biggest payslips of his six-year career as a tour professional golfer - and gained a place on the Web.com Tour, second only to the US PGA Tour in America.
Gunn, who worked as a caddie at the club as well as being club champion four years in a row from 2004 to 2007, finished joint sixth on 23-under-par 409 with six straight sub-par rounds - 68, 70, 64, 68, 70 and 71, at PGA West Stadium Course, La Quinta, California.
His cheque for $15,000 is one the biggest of his pro career although he has been a winner more than once on the variety of mini-tours he has played since he turned pro in October 2007 after finishing as the leading amateur in the Northern Open at Skibo Castle that year and emigrated to America to ply his trade.
Gunn, who won't be 34 until next July, has come through one of the toughest golf qualifying schools in the world - the only Brit to do so this year. 
The Web-com Tour, now the only route to the main US PGA Tour, began its elimination system with a field of more than 1,000 back in August and Gunn has come through the pre-qualifier, then Stages 1 and 2, and then the Final Q Tournament.
By finishing in the top 10, he has earned a guaranteed 12 starts on the Web.com Tour. He will be exempt from the tour's re-rankings, which affects a player's pecking order in getting into tournaments, until the third shuffle of the season.
If Gunn can finish among the leading moneywinners on the Web-com Tour at the end of the 2014 season, he will automatically gain promotion to the US PGA Tour.
Neil Hampton, general manager of Royal Dornoch Golf Club, commented:
"What a great performance by a local boy realising his golfing dreams in America."
Gunn has not played in Scotland as a professional. It speaks volumes for his self-confidence that when he turned pro went straight to Arizona to play on the Gateway Tour and lives in Mesa which is in the Scottsdale area of Phoenix, Arizona.
He initially travelled back and forth on the 90-day visitor type visa but in 2008 was granted a P-1 Sports Visa for 5 years which has just been extended for a further five. 
His sister Wendy told "Scottishgolfview.com:"
"Jimmy is actually heading to the airport in California shortly, flying home to Dornoch for Christmas after stopping over in London to have his visa verified into his passport.  
"It's been a very exciting time but hectic too due to the visa issue."
 

WEB.COM TOUR QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
PGA West Stadium Course, La Quinta, California
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 432 (6x72)
Players from USA unless stated
401 Zack Fischer 75 67 66 65 64 64
403 Scott Pinckney 68 67 67 65 68 68
407 Tony Finau 69 67 68 68 67 68, Sung Joon Park (SKor) 72, 68,  69 65 66 67, Steve Saunders 67 65 67 70 71 67
409 Jimmy Gunn (Sco) 68 70 64 66 70 71, Max Hona 72 64 67 69 71 66, Bronson Burgoon 69 68 70 66 70 66

SELECTED TOTAL
428 David Skinns (Eng) 72 71 71 74 69 71 (T94).

SCROLL DOWN TO READ MORE ABOUT THE WEB.COM
TOUR QUALIFIERS

PAUL LAWRIE LADIES' TOUR PLAYS PART IN SUCCESS OF SCOTS GIRLS AT LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR FINAL Q SCHOOL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Take a bow, Paul! The introduction of the Paul Lawrie Scottish Ladies Open Tour almost certainly played a part in a significant upturn in the fortunes of Scotland's lady pro golfers at the 2013 Ladies European Tour Final Q School.

Twelve months ago only one Scot, Vikki Laing, made it through to the final day of the LET Qualifying School.
But this time round Sally Watson was the star with a birdie blitz over the Samanah course, Marrakech in Morocco to finish joint second in the Final Q School and thus earn Category 8 membership which will get her into all the events on the 2014 LET Schedule.
Heather MacRae (jt 34th), Kelsey MacDonald (jt 34th), Pamela Feggans (jt 47th) and Michele Thomson (61st) finished outside the top 31 who earned full membership but their Category 9b membership for final placings between 32nd and 61st will give them enough starts on the LET in 2014 to follow the example of Charley Hull who finished 36th at last year's Final Q School but did so well in her early starts that she gained Solheim Cup team selection and finished the season as LET Rookie of the Year with a tidy sum of earnings.
All five Scots who made it to the Final Day in Morocco had played on the inaugural Paul Lawrie Ladies Tour's schedule of 14 events from April to October.
Edinburgh-born Watson, 22, whose family home is now Elie, 12 miles south of St Andrews, was understandably excited that only six months after graduating from Tiger Wood's alma mater, Stanford University, California and turning pro, she had earned a place in Europe's "Big League."
Sally shot 73, 71, 74, 68 and 68 for a five-under-par total of 355, eight shots behind the "winner," Caroline Martens (Norway)
"I was in a really good frame of mind. I was really excited about today. I know in the past in pressurised situations I’ve been a little more on the apprehensive side, but I was definitely excited about the opportunity," said Watson.
"I actually got off to a bad start and bogeyed the first but in some respects I think that settled me down. It got me back into a good routine and reiterated for me to focus on the process and let the results take care of themselves."
Sally had six birdies over a purple patch of 12 holes from the second to the 13th in her closing 68.
"I’m so excited. It’s been a long year and I just graduated from Stanford University in June. I did not have a good spring at all which is not what you want as you turn professional. It’s been a lot of work since then to get my game in shape to really be able to compete for this. I feel like I got better every round."
"The owners of Castle Stuart golf course have been very good with financial support as I turned pro.
"I’ll definitely be looking for Rookie of the Year at the end of the 2014 season although I know that playing on the LET for the first year will be and a learning experience. I was in a couple of the Access Series events towards the end of the season which were a good experience to get used to the travelling in foreign countries, and the professional life. It’s definitely a difference from college golf where you’re travelling with five other girls in a team atmosphere."
Gleneagles staff pro Heather MacRae signed off with a four-birdie 73 and Nairn's Kelsey MacDonald a 74, in which she parred the last nine holes after two birdies and four bogeys on the outward half , as they tied for 34th place on 364, only a couple of shots over five rounds away from gaining Category 8 LET membership like Sally Watson.
Doone Valley, Ayrshire's Pamela Feggans, who birdied the ninth, 16th and 18th, had a double bogey 6 at the 15th in her 73 for 368 while Michele Thomson had a nightmare birdie-less 81 (41-40) for 376.
The former Scottish women's amateur champion and 2008 Curtis Cup player from Ellon had a triple bogey 7 at the 13th and a double bogey 5 at the short third.  

SWITCH OVER to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk, for a list of all the final totals

WHITE MAKES TOP TEN, HENRY TOP 20 AT ALPS TOUR FINAL Q SCHOOL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Expect James White to turn professional any day now after the Lundin Golf Club +3 amateur international exceeded possibly
his own expectations by finishing joint ninth in the Alps Tour Final Qualifying School at La Cala Resort on Spain's Costa del Sol.
White was chary about relinquishing his amateur status until he
had earned playing rights on a pro tour - and he has done that in fine style with rounds of 68, 69 and 73 for six-under-par 210, eight shots behind the "winner," Irishman Brian Casey (75-70-67 for 14-under 202) who turned pro three months ago.
John Henry (Clydebank and District) was not far behind White with rounds of 69, 69 and 74 for four-under 212 and a share of 16th place.
The only other Scot to survive the 36-hole cut, Duddingston's former Scottish amateur champion, John Gallagher, finished joint 38th on level par 216 with scores of 71, 69 and 76

ALPS TOUR FINAL QUALIFYING SCHOOL
La Cala Golf Resort, Costa del Sol, Spain
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
202 Brian Casey (Ire) 65 70 67
207 Romain Schneider (Fra) 68 71 68, Javier Gallegos (Spa) (am) 70 68 69.
208 Curtis Griffiths (Eng) 69 67 72.
209 Clement Batut (Fra) 72 70 67, Gabriel Canizares (Spa) 71 69 69, Josh White (Eng) 70 70 69, Matthieu Pavon (Fra) 70 68 71

SELECTED SCORES
210 James White (Sco) 68 69 73, Alexander Christie (Eng) 68 70 72 (T9)
212 John Henry (Sco) 69 69 74 (T16)
216 John Gallagher (Sco) 71 69 76 (T38).

YOU TOO COULD HAVE A SHORT GAME LIKE MASTER SCRAMBLER IAN POULTER

 Did you know that Ian Poulter, pictured below, was the "master scrambler" on the US PGA Tour over the 2013 season? He got up and down in two shots or fewer from 10 to 20yd range more often than any other 

Tour player.

Here Dave Myers, Staff Instructor, at the Tour Academy, TPC Sawgrass, tells you how you can go a long way towards developing a short game in Ian Poulter's class:

According to statistics from TOURCaddie (www.pgatourcaddie.com), the average golfer (10-to 19-handicapper) makes a par only 25 percent of the time. That number drops even farther for the high handicapper (20+ handicap), to 13 percent.
In most instances, poor strategy and a lack of execution in the short game is to blame for the low number of pars. When faced with a rather straightforward chip, the average golfer makes it more difficult on himself than it has to be, often reaching for the most-lofted club in his bag and attempting to fly the ball all the way to the hole. 
That requires a longer backswing and more feel and timing, which most recreational golfers struggle with.
What every golfer needs is a go-to shot around the green that they can execute with a variety of clubs and only ONE swing, utilising the different lofts to control the carry distance and how much the ball rolls out. 
That’s how you build more consistency in your short game and put up more pars on your scorecard. Stick to one swing motion and switch clubs, and it will become a whole lot easier to get the ball up-and-down from around the green.
SHORTEN YOUR SHORT GAME SWING
By far the No. 1 mistake I see with amateurs in the short game is that they take the club too far back. Because they have so much loft (i.e., a sand wedge) and are trying to fly the ball to the hole, they have to increase the length of their swing to produce the necessary height and distance.
The problem with taking so much swing so close to the hole is that it causes most golfers to apply the brakes on the downswing. They know that if they catch the ball solid they’re going to airmail the green, so they slow everything down and decelerate coming into impact. This leads to a variety of mis-hits and bad scores.
Here’s a high-percentage shot from 10 to 30 yards out that’s easy to execute and doesn’t require any guesswork on the backswing. There’s no hingeing or setting of the wrists. Best of all, you can mishit the shot just a little bit and still wind up with a fairly manageable putt at par.
It’s a great shot to use when you come up just short of the green in the fairway or moderate rough, and you don’t have a bunker or any other major obstacle to carry. Here’s how it works.
First, step off the yardage to the front of the green, or where you want to land the ball (1 to 2 paces on), and from the landing area to the hole. If it’s 4 yards to the landing area and then another 12 to the hole, a ratio of 1 part carry, 3 parts roll (1:3), then you want to choose a lower-lofted club, such as an 8-iron, which will produce a lot of roll. 
If you have to carry it farther with less roll—say, 8 yards on and only 4 to the hole (a 2:1 carry-to-roll ratio), then you want a more lofted club, such as your sand wedge. The farther you have to carry the ball, the more lofted club you use, and vice versa. 
The pitching wedge has a carry-to-roll ratio of 1:1, a 9-iron 1:2, an 8-iron 1:3, and so on. Always use this process to choose a club.
Once you’ve pulled out a club, stand with your heels relatively close together and set the clubface down perpendicular, or square, to your target line. 
Next, step in with your body, elevating the handle up 3 inches so that the clubhead is resting on its toe. This takes the sharpest part of the club, the heel, out of play so that you can be more aggressive with the turf and not have to worry about digging. Move the handle forward 3 inches to deloft the face some, and then stand to the handle so the butt end of the club points to the middle of your body. This will establish the correct ball position, off the back foot. 
Finally, to complete the set-up, grip down on the club 3 inches, which will put you more over the ball and encourage a shorter, more compact backswing. 
To summarise: Elevate the handle 3 inches; move the handle forward 3 inches; and grip down 3 inches—3 + 3 + 3.
As for the swing, it should be similar to that of a long putt, with no wrist hinge. The shorter the swing, the easier it is to make solid contact with the centre of the clubface, and control your distance. 
To create the clubhead speed and power necessary to carry the ball the required distance, turn your body through so that your eyes, shirt buttons, belt buckle, and club all face the target at the completion of your swing. 
There should be a little air under your right heel, which is a sign that your hips are turning toward the target. If you keep your feet flat on the ground, it restricts you from turning, and then your arms get disconnected from your body and you wind up pushing the ball weakly toward the hole. 
Don’t hit at the ball; rather, have the feeling that your body is turning to the target and the ball is just getting in the way of your swing. Your turn will create enough power to chip the ball the required distance.
Dave Myers is a Staff Instructor at TOURAcademy TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.  
For more game-improvement tips from the TOURAcademy instructors, on-the-spot club recommendations and 3D previews of each hole you play, download the TOURCaddie PRO app at www.pgatourcaddie.com.

JOHN PANTON AWARD MAKES IT A MEMORABLE DAY FOR WILLIE SKINNER

       Willie Skinner, now retired after many years as head professional at Royal Dornoch Golf Club,
       receives the John Panton Award from PGA Scotland chairman Alan White at today's PGA Awards
                                    lunch in Glasgow. Picture by courtesy of Andy Forman.         

FROM THE PGA WEBSITE

Meeting five-times Open champion Tom Watson and playing a round of golf with Prince Andrew have both just been topped in the eyes of Willie Skinner.
It follows the former Royal Dornoch professional receiving the John Panton Award, the PGA in Scotland's accolade for outstanding service to golf, in Glasgow today.
"This has to be it - receiving an award in honour of the legendary John Panton," said the 80-year-old in reply to being asked to pick out the highlight of his golfing career.
Skinner, who was presented with the award by chairman Alan White at the PGA in Scotland's Annual Lunch at the Hilton Hotel, worked as a dental technician before getting his teeth into golf.
He served as Royal Dornoch's PGA professional for 25 years (1975-98), welcoming both Watson and Ben Crenshaw through the door in that time as well as playing with Prince Andrew, a well-known golf fanatic.
Skinner handed over the reins to his son, Andrew, 15 years ago, marking a family connection at the Highland club that spans three generations.
His dad, also Willie, served as club secretary for ten years while his mother, Isabel, was ladies' champion on a couple of occasions.
The highlight of Willie's own career came as an amateur in 1958, when he won the prestigious Carnegie Shield. In its 100th playing in August, Skinner was the oldest surviving winner.
"When I took on the job, Royal Dornoch wasn't nearly as popular with visitors as it is today," he said. "It took all day to get up here and it wasn't until the three bridges - Kessock, Cromarty and Dornoch - were built that people really started to come.
"Ben Crenshaw was the first well-known American professional to visit during my time and he played with [IMG founder] Mark McCormack.
"But Tom Watson was my favourite visitor of all - and also the nicest of the lot."
One of the the reasons Royal Dornoch is so popular is its Donald Ross connection, the club's former professional having designed over 500 courses in the US after crossing the Atlantic.
"It's a big thing for Americans to come up here as Donald Ross had a big influence on the game in their country and they want to play the course where it all started for him," said Skinner.
Guests of honour at the event in Glasgow hosted by Dougie Donnelly were former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher OBE and top English football referee Howard Webb MBE.
Other award winners were Lord MacFarlane of Bearsden, who received a Lifetime Achievement accolade, and Adam McCabe, a protegee of Gordon Sherry, who picked up the Stewart Thom Salver as the PGA in Scotland Trainee of the Year.
Money raised will go towards supporting the PGA Benevolent Fund while in addition three defibrillators were raffled off as part of the Bernard Gallacher Defibrillator Campaign which the Scot has launched to try and ensure the life-saving devices are installed in every golf facility in the UK.

         Lord MacFarlane of Bearsden receives the PGA's Lifetime Achievement Award from Alan 
                                                                 White. Picture by Andy Forman.

         Adam McCabe (Gordon Sherry Golf) with the Stewart Thom Salver as Scotland's Trainee Golfer of the Year. Also in the picture, Adam's girlfriend Hannah Martin

  Picture by Andy Forman

JIMMY GUNN FINISHES jt SIXTH TO GAIN WEB.COM TOUR PLACE FOR 2014

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

By Sean Martin, PGATOUR.COM

The Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament concluded Tuesday at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif., where Zack Fischer won medalist honors with a stirring 8-under 64 during the sixth and final round. 
Dornoch exile Jimmy Gunn, the only Scot in the field, finished jt sixth on 23-under-par 409 with scores of 68, 70, 64, 66, 70 and 71.
He is guaranteed at least 12 starts on the Web.com Tour and his cheque for $15,000 is the biggest since he turned pro at 27 and 
went to America to play on mini-tours.
Here's a look at where each player finished and what status was earned:
No. 1: exempt for the 2014 season and from periodic re-order.
1. Zack Fischer: 31-under 401 (75-67-66-65-64-64)
Zack Fischer was just trying to get back to even par after his first-round 75 at the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament. He was tied for 130th in the 152-man field after the first of six rounds.
He didn’t just claw back into contention. He won the tournament, shooting 34 under par in his next five rounds. He had just three bogeys over the final 90 holes, compared to 33 birdies and two eagles. By winning Q-School, Fischer is fully exempt throughout the 2014 season.
“Negative. Very negative,” Fischer said when asked to describe his emotions after the first round. He birdied his final two holes of the tournament, making a 25-footer on the final hole to clinch a two-shot victory over Scott Pinckney. Fischer stood to the side of the green as his playing partners putted out, his hat off and head down, overwhelmed by the emotions of a long week. He closed with two consecutive bogey-free 64s.
“I was just saying a prayer and thanking the Lord for giving me the chance to be here,” Fischer said. "It’s still really surreal."
Fischer, 24, played collegiate golf at Texas-Arlington. He Monday qualified for three PGA TOUR events in 2013 – missing two cuts and finishing 68th at the HP Byron Nelson Championship -- and also made the U.S. Open (MC) by beating three-time PGA TOUR winner Ryan Palmer in a 12-hole playoff in sectional qualifying.
Nos. 2-11: Exempt until the third reshuffle of the 2014 season, which occurs after 12th event.
2. Scott Pinckney (age 24, born Orem, Utah, college Arizona State)
Former Arizona State All-American was childhood friends with Rory McIlroy. Turned pro in 2011 and spent 2012 on European and Challenge tours before returning to Web.com Tour in 2013.
T3. Tony Finau (24, Salt Lake City, none)
Turned pro out of high school with brother Gipper and became known for long-driving ability. Beat PGA TOUR player Daniel Summerhays in 2006 Utah Amateur final. Earned Web.com Tour status for the first time.
T3. Sung Joon Park (27, South Korea, Myongji)
Is No. 96 in the Official World Golf Ranking after finishing fifth on Japan Tour Order of Merit in 2013. Had one win and four runners-up this year.
T3. Steve Saunders (26, Albuquerque, N.M., New Mexico)
Comes from golf family. Father and two uncles played college golf. Father, Dave, owns golf store in Albuquerque. Steve was a 2009 All-American at New Mexico.
T6. Max Homa (23, Burbank, Calif., Cal)
The 2013 NCAA individual champion turned pro in September after Walker Cup. Finished T-9 in pro debut at Frys.com Open, then T-30 at Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Will likely receive handful of PGA TOUR exemptions in 2014, as well.
T6. Bronson Burgoon (26, The Woodlands, Texas, Texas A and M)
Finished seventh on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica money list after finishing eighth or better in final four starts, including three top-threes. Was hero of Texas A&M’s 2009 NCAA title, hitting wedge to inches on final hole to clinch victory.
T6. Jimmy Gunn (33, Scotland, no US university)
409 (23 under par) 68 70 64 66 70 71
Was caddie at famed Royal Dornoch in Scotland until turning pro at 27 and moving to United States to play mini-tours. Will be first season on Web.com Tour.
9. Chris Epperson (31, Savannah, Ga., Armstrong Atlantic)
Finished eighth on PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit after finishing in top 10 in six of nine starts. Held four-shot lead after Q-School’s first two rounds, but fell down leaderboard after shooting 3 over in next three rounds. Final-round 63 got him in all-important top 10.
10. Carlos Sainz Jr. (28, Chicago, Mississippi State)
Bogey-free 63 – including birdies on Nos. 11-15 -- in final round got him into solo 10th place, guaranteeing himself four additional starts at start of year. Finished ninth on PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit this year, including win at The Players Cup.
Nos. 11-45: Exempt until the second reshuffle of the 2014 season, which occurs after eighth event.

Name	Age	Birthplace	College
T11. Sam Saunders	26	Orlando, Fla.	Clemson
T11. Nick Taylor	25	Canada	Washington
T11. Andy Pope	29	Glen Ellyn, Ill.	Xavier
14. Brad Schneider	25	Brandon, Fla.	Central Florida
T15. Jared Wolfe	25	Louisville, Ky.	Murray State
T15. Roger Sloan	26	Canada	Texas-El Paso
T15. Mark Hubbard	24	Denver	San Jose State
T15. Steve Allan	40	Australia	None
T15. Jeff Gove	42	Seattle	Pepperdine
T15. Albin Choi	21	Canada	North Carolina State
T15. Carlos Ortiz	22	Mexico	North Texas
T22. Matt Hendrix	32	Aiken, S.C.	Clemson
T22. Blayne Barber	23	Tallahassee, Fla.	Auburn
T22. Si Woo Kim	18	South Korea	None
T22. Cam Burke	26	Canada	Eastern Michigan
T26. Roger Tambellini	38	San Luis Obispo, Calif.	Southern California
T26. Jonathan Fricke	31	Stone Mountain, Ga.	Georgia State
T26. Sebastian Vazquez	23	Mexico	Anahuac
T26. Ryan Armour	37	Akron, Ohio	Ohio State
T26. Josh Broadaway	35	Albany, Ga.	Troy State
T26. Brett Lederer	29	Long Beach, Calif.	Long Beach State
T26. Zach Fullerton	26	Gallup, N.M.	New Mexico State
T32. Jonathan Randolph	25	Brandon, Miss.	Mississippi
T32. Chase Wright	24	Muncie, Ind.	Indiana
T32. Harold Varner III	23	Akron, Ohio	East Carolina
T32. Daniel Berger	20	Jupiter, Fla.	Florida State
T32. Justin Thomas	20	Louisville, Ky.	Alabama
T38. Nathan Tyler	31	Freeport, Texas	Arizona
T38. Colt Knost	28	Garrettsville, Ohio	Southern Methodist
T38. Kyle Stough	25	Laurel, Md.	Virginia
T38. Darron Stiles	40	St. Petersburg, Fla.	Florida Southern
T42. Chris Baker	27	Seymour, Ind.	Iowa State
T42. Tyler Weworski	23	Oceanside, Calif.	Texas Tech
T42. Jon Curran	26	Hopkinton, Mass.	Vanderbilt
T42. Matt Fast	27	Baton Rouge, La.	Mississippi State
T42. Jake Younan	26	Australia	Texas Tech
T42. Vince India	24	Deerfield, Ill.	Iowa
T42. Travis Bertoni	29	San Luis Obispo, Calif.	Cal Poly
T42. Zack Sucher	27	Atlanta	Alabama-Birmingham

NOTES: Those who finished beyond T42nd will follow the above groups and be slotted according to their Qualifying Tournament finish, with their first re-ranking taking place after the fourth tournament of the year.
-- The 152 participants who competed at the Qualifying Tournament over the last six days will join the approximately 90 other players who already secured Web.com Tour status via 2013 performance.
-- The 2014 Web.com Tour season gets underway Feb. 6-9 at the Panama Claro Championship in Panama City, Panama.

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