Comments on: Nationwide Tour Graduates Taste Early Success http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/nationwide_tour_graduates_taste_early_success Golf News, Reviews, and Commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:05:56 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: RX Phoenix http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/nationwide_tour_graduates_taste_early_success#comment-4245 RX Phoenix Sat, 03 Feb 2007 04:57:05 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/nationwide_tour_graduates_taste_early_success/#comment-4245 Cody, Thanks for opening my eyes to Jeff Quinney, you were way ahead of the curve in saying last year that he is going to have a great PGA career. I agree with that assessment. His progress curve has been accelerating dramatically. Reminds me somewhat of Tom Watson, putts lights out, is steady around the course, quietly confident, knows how to mount a serious charge up the leaderboard. My feeling is this is the real deal, we shall see . . . hope so, it's been a long time for a really good USA pro to emerge other than Tiger. Cody,

Thanks for opening my eyes to Jeff Quinney, you were way ahead of the curve in saying last year that he is going to have a great PGA career.

I agree with that assessment. His progress curve has been accelerating dramatically. Reminds me somewhat of Tom Watson, putts lights out, is steady around the course, quietly confident, knows how to mount a serious charge up the leaderboard.

My feeling is this is the real deal, we shall see . . . hope so, it's been a long time for a really good USA pro to emerge other than Tiger.

]]> By: jmlibertarian http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/nationwide_tour_graduates_taste_early_success#comment-4202 jmlibertarian Wed, 31 Jan 2007 13:04:04 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/nationwide_tour_graduates_taste_early_success/#comment-4202 I'm 100% behind Snedeker because I like his pace of play and his obvious enjoyment of the GAME. I, too, do not take several minutes to play a golf stroke, unlike just about all the other professionals, and I really enjoy seeing him smiling all the time. Hope to see him in contention often. I'm 100% behind Snedeker because I like his pace of play and his obvious enjoyment of the GAME. I, too, do not take several minutes to play a golf stroke, unlike just about all the other professionals, and I really enjoy seeing him smiling all the time. Hope to see him in contention often.

]]> By: RX Phoenix http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/nationwide_tour_graduates_taste_early_success#comment-4198 RX Phoenix Wed, 31 Jan 2007 02:21:37 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/nationwide_tour_graduates_taste_early_success/#comment-4198 Very informative article. I've been watching the Q-school grads and find that the Nationwide Grads are doing better. Here's a money list rundown on the Q-shoolers so far: 47: Charlie Wi 51: George McNeill (Q-school medalist) 58: Stephen Marino 70: Robert Garrigus (runner up at Q-school) 71: Tom Johnson 77: Cameron Beckman 91: Parker McLachlin 99: Paul Stankowski 104: Rich Barcelo 105: Steve Allan 107: Anders Hansen 109: Craig Lile 111: Paul Gow 112: Glen Day 118: D.J. Brigman 124: Darron Stiles 127: Anthony Kim 130: Ryan Armour 134: Michael Allen 138: John Merrick 138: Matt Hendrix 141: John Mallinger 147: Bob Heintz 150: Michael Bradley Here are the Nationwide Grads so far: 11: Jeff Quinney 13: Brandt Snedeker 17: Andrew Buckle 25: Craig Kanada 29: Doug LaBelle 30: Cliff Kresge 40: Johnson Wagner 56: Jason Duffner 62: Michael Putnam 85: Boo Weekley 86: Gavin Coles 87: Kevin Stadler 94: Tripp Isenhour 99: Matt Kucher 115: Ken Duke It would seem that getting in the top 20 of the Nationwide is a better recipe for success out on Tour. Wonder how many of the Q-schoolers will be in the top 125 at the end of the year . . . maybe one, or none? I say McNeill will make it he's been steady so far, missed the cut at the Buick by 1. I'll be watching the Nationwide guys too, especially Quinney, Buckle, and Snedeker and whoever else makes a splash. It seems that Quinney is quite a putter, Buckle is very confident, and Snedeker can get hot, . . . exciting stuff to watch, what a great start for them to challenge Tiger! Now just settle down and avoid those Dbl Bgy's down the stretch! Very informative article. I've been watching the Q-school grads and find that the Nationwide Grads are doing better.

Here's a money list rundown on the Q-shoolers so far:

47: Charlie Wi
51: George McNeill (Q-school medalist)
58: Stephen Marino
70: Robert Garrigus (runner up at Q-school)
71: Tom Johnson
77: Cameron Beckman
91: Parker McLachlin
99: Paul Stankowski
104: Rich Barcelo
105: Steve Allan
107: Anders Hansen
109: Craig Lile
111: Paul Gow
112: Glen Day
118: D.J. Brigman
124: Darron Stiles
127: Anthony Kim
130: Ryan Armour
134: Michael Allen
138: John Merrick
138: Matt Hendrix
141: John Mallinger
147: Bob Heintz
150: Michael Bradley

Here are the Nationwide Grads so far:

11: Jeff Quinney
13: Brandt Snedeker
17: Andrew Buckle
25: Craig Kanada
29: Doug LaBelle
30: Cliff Kresge
40: Johnson Wagner
56: Jason Duffner
62: Michael Putnam
85: Boo Weekley
86: Gavin Coles
87: Kevin Stadler
94: Tripp Isenhour
99: Matt Kucher
115: Ken Duke

It would seem that getting in the top 20 of the Nationwide is a better recipe for success out on Tour. Wonder how many of the Q-schoolers will be in the top 125 at the end of the year . . . maybe one, or none? I say McNeill will make it he's been steady so far, missed the cut at the Buick by 1.

I'll be watching the Nationwide guys too, especially Quinney, Buckle, and Snedeker and whoever else makes a splash. It seems that Quinney is quite a putter, Buckle is very confident, and Snedeker can get hot, . . . exciting stuff to watch, what a great start for them to challenge Tiger! Now just settle down and avoid those Dbl Bgy's down the stretch!

]]> By: David http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/nationwide_tour_graduates_taste_early_success#comment-4195 David Tue, 30 Jan 2007 22:08:05 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/nationwide_tour_graduates_taste_early_success/#comment-4195 It's refreshing to see some of the "young" guys doing well this early in the season. I hope all goes well for them this year and in the future. But for every one, or two, or three young guys cutting their teeth on the PGA Tour and looking good now, there are dozens more that have flamed out. Can you say Ty Tryon or David Gossett. Sure, Tryon was the youngest to gain his card via Q-School and won a Nationwide event but where is he now? As for Gossett, he came along about the same time as CHIII and was supposed to be the heir-apparent to Woods. Granted, he won a tourney in his rookie season, which I'm sure there are hundreds of players that wish they could claim the same. However, in 2006, Gossett entered 7 PGA events and finished in the money only once. On the 2006 Nationwide Tour, he entered 10 events and was in the money twice. I guess I'm just saying I hope these guys understand how difficult it is even when you're having some success. Good luck guys! It's refreshing to see some of the "young" guys doing well this early in the season. I hope all goes well for them this year and in the future. But for every one, or two, or three young guys cutting their teeth on the PGA Tour and looking good now, there are dozens more that have flamed out. Can you say Ty Tryon or David Gossett. Sure, Tryon was the youngest to gain his card via Q-School and won a Nationwide event but where is he now? As for Gossett, he came along about the same time as CHIII and was supposed to be the heir-apparent to Woods. Granted, he won a tourney in his rookie season, which I'm sure there are hundreds of players that wish they could claim the same. However, in 2006, Gossett entered 7 PGA events and finished in the money only once. On the 2006 Nationwide Tour, he entered 10 events and was in the money twice. I guess I'm just saying I hope these guys understand how difficult it is even when you're having some success. Good luck guys!

]]> By: Marty Strumpf http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/nationwide_tour_graduates_taste_early_success#comment-4194 Marty Strumpf Tue, 30 Jan 2007 21:48:32 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/nationwide_tour_graduates_taste_early_success/#comment-4194 Yes, it is exciting to see so many young "up and comers". They all have tremendous skills as evidenced by the fact that they survived the Nationwide Tour grind. The Nationwide Tour is filled with players of regular tour caliber making it a great accomplishment to earn a tour card that way. I think they start strong because they just recently came off this very competitive tour. No coasting to the finish line. The biggest difference at Torrey Pines was how the top 6 finishers played the South Course. Only Howell III did NOT play the South for his 2nd round. All the other leaders played the South the last 3 days. Eagles Birds Bogey Dbl Bgy 1st Tiger Woods 1 11 4 0 2nd Charles Howell III 0 12 7 0 3rd Brandt Snedeker 0 13 12 0 T4th Bubba Watson 0 16 8 1 T4th Andrew Buckle 0 15 8 1 T4th Mark Calcavecchia 0 15 6 2 It seems clear by this chart that the winner was the player who made the fewest mistakes on the very difficult South Course. Seems like a good formula to win major championships doesn't it?:lol: The modern day tour is filled with birdie machines. The question is whether anyone can learn the biggest discipline it takes to win the biggest events: patience. Can your "Nationwide Studs" learn this? It'll be fun to watch, that's for sure. Yes, it is exciting to see so many young "up and comers". They all have tremendous skills as evidenced by the fact that they survived the Nationwide Tour grind. The Nationwide Tour is filled with players of regular tour caliber making it a great accomplishment to earn a tour card that way. I think they start strong because they just recently came off this very competitive tour. No coasting to the finish line.

The biggest difference at Torrey Pines was how the top 6 finishers played the South Course. Only Howell III did NOT play the South for his 2nd round. All the other leaders played the South the last 3 days.
Eagles Birds Bogey Dbl Bgy
1st Tiger Woods 1 11 4 0
2nd Charles Howell III 0 12 7 0
3rd Brandt Snedeker 0 13 12 0
T4th Bubba Watson 0 16 8 1
T4th Andrew Buckle 0 15 8 1
T4th Mark Calcavecchia 0 15 6 2

It seems clear by this chart that the winner was the player who made the fewest mistakes on the very difficult South Course. Seems like a good formula to win major championships doesn't it?:lol:

The modern day tour is filled with birdie machines. The question is whether anyone can learn the biggest discipline it takes to win the biggest events: patience. Can your "Nationwide Studs" learn this? It'll be fun to watch, that's for sure.

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