Ace Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh moved into position to become the first ever Indian professional to qualify for the top-grade US PGA Tour when he shot his second successive three-under 69.
According to information from the Stadium course in La Quinta, Caifornia, the Hero Honda-sponsored Jeev was tied for the ninth place with a 36-hole tally of six-under 138. He was four shots off the leader and his good friend, Dean Wilson. The American, who plays regularly on the Japanese Tour along with Jeev, added a seven-under 65 to his overnight three-under 69 for a ten-under 134.
Jeev started with seven straight pars before making his first birdie on the par-5 eighth hole. However, a bogey on the very next hole saw him make the turn at level-par. On the back nine, the Chandigarh-based pro made birdies on the 10th, 12th, 14th and 15th (all par-4s) and a solitary bogey on the par-5 11th hole.
American Jeff Brehaut submitted the day's best card of eight-under 64 which catapulted him from tied-53rd place after first day to joint second at nine-under 135 along with Anthony Painter. Donnie Hammond, Bobby Gage, Barry Cheesman, Matthew Goggin and Mike Grob were tied for the fourth place at seven-under 137.
Among other well-known names to Indian fans, 1997 Hero Honda Masters winner Ted Purdy was tied 12th along with Bob May at five-under 139. May hit limelight when he finished runner-up to Tiger Woods in the PGA Championship last year. Asian PGA Tour regular Fran Quinn was tied 23rd at four-under 140, while 1996 Indian Open champion Edward Fryatt was 119th at two-over 146.
The final stage of the PGA Tour Q-School, considered one of the most gruelling events in golf, is being played TPC Stadium course and the Jack Nicklaus Tournament course. More than 4,000 hopefuls start the three-stage tournament, with just 170 players making it to the final stage. The top-35 in the Q-School will secure playing privilege on the lucrative PGA Tour and the rest 135 will have some kind of status in the Nationwide Tour, the second grade US PGA Tour.
Scores (36 holes): 134 _ Dean Wilson (69,65); 135 _ Jeff Brehaut (71,64), Anthony Painter (67,68), 137 _ Donnie Hammond (70,67), Bobby Gage (69,68), Barry Cheesman (68,69), Matthew Goggin (68,69), Mike Grob (67,70); 138 _ Jeev Milkha Singh (69,69), Andy Miller (70,68), Mark Hensby (69,69).
Yesterday's report