This is a list of the Fall 1977 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates.

The event was held at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. There were 144 players in the event.[1] The top 30 players would earn playing privileges for the PGA Tour.[2] The length of the tournament was reduced from 108 holes to 72 holes.[3] According to the Associated Press, recent two-time NCAA champion Scott Simpson and 1976 U.S. Amateur champion Bill Sander were considered the favorites.[1] In addition, former All-Americans from Oklahoma State University–Stillwater, Tom Jones and Jaime Gonzalez, were also "expected to succeed."[3]

Tournament summary

In the first round Rick Beck of Geneva, Alabama shot a 68 (−4) to take a one-stroke lead over a number of players.[1] After the first two rounds Ed Fiori and Len Mickles held the joint lead at 139.[4] Fiori's round of 66 was the tournament's best so far. It concluded five consecutive birdies.[5] In the third round, playing amidst "cold weather and chilling winds," Fiori and Mickles expanded their lead with rounds of 73 (+1). At 212 (−4), they held a two shot lead over Gary Jacobson.[2] Skeeter Heath was in fourth place at this point, three back, tied with Jeff Hewes and Parker Moore.[6] In the final round, Fiori shot a "steady" even-par 72 while Mickles "faltered" on the final hole ensuring that Fiori was medalist. Fiori finished at 284 (−4), the only player under par, and defeated Mickles by four.[7]

Sander failed to qualify. He was at the cut-off point after 16 holes of the final round. However, he shot five-over-par over the final two holes to miss qualifying by five strokes.[7] Simpson also failed to qualify.[8] He was especially hurt by a septuple-bogey 12 on the par-5 12th hole during the first round.[1] Among the players from Oklahoma State, Jones failed to earn playing privileges but Gonzalez was successful.[8]

List of graduates

# Player Notes
1 United States Ed Fiori
2 United States Len Mickles
3 United States Buddy Gardner Winner of 1974 and 1975 Alabama Amateur
United States Skeeter Heath
5 United States Gary Jacobson
6 United States Mike Shea
United States Bruce Robertson
United States Rick Beck
9 United States Dana Quigley Winner of 1973 Rhode Island Open
United States Parker Moore
11 United States Jeff Hewes
12 United States Perry Arthur
United States Dave Nevatt
United States Mitch Adcock
United States Gary Vanier
16 Canada Jim Nelford Winner of 1975 and 1976 Canadian Amateur Championship
United States Don Brigham
United States Lonnie Nielsen
United States Mike Booker
Brazil Jaime Gonzalez Four-time winner of Brazil Amateur Open Championship
21 United States Bob Howerter
United States Pat McGowan
United States Bob Clark
United States Ron Ashby
United States Bobby Stroble
26 United States Mac Hunter
United States Jim White
United States Dave Shipley
United States Jim Ulozas
United States Gary Ostrega
United States Bobby Baker
United States Skip Guss
Canada Dave Barr 4 Canadian Tour wins
United States Travis Hudson

Source: [8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Beck Has Qualifying Lead". The High Point Enterprise. 1977-11-10. p. 21. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  2. 1 2 "Fiori Maintains Share of Lead". The High Point Enterprise. 1977-11-12. p. 9. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  3. 1 2 "PGA School: Golf Horror Chamber". The Charlotte Observer. 1977-11-09. p. 30. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  4. ↑ "PGA qualifying". Austin American-Statesman. 1977-11-11. p. 72. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  5. ↑ "Fiori Shares PGA Lead". The High Point Enterprise. 1977-11-11. p. 15. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  6. ↑ "Heath Retains 4th In PGA, Finals Today". Daily Press. 1977-11-12. p. 21. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  7. 1 2 "Fiori Only Qualifier To Break Course Par". The High Point Enterprise. 1977-11-13. p. 42. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  8. 1 2 3 Gould, David (1999). Q-School Confidential: Inside Golf's Cruelest Tournament. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 259–60. ISBN 978-0312203559.
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