No card for highcard
A pair of area golfers leave the PGA's Q-School without a tour player's card after rough rounds.
By KELLIE DIXON, Times Staff Writer
Published November 21, 2007
Think about it.
Instead of punching a clock, you're lining up putts.
Instead of toiling under fluorescent bulbs, you're basking in the sunshine.
And instead of jawing at the water cooler, you're sharing a laugh at the first tee.
You're getting paid to play golf. And for many, especially those competing at Q-School last weekend, it is the ultimate dream come true.
Last weekend at Lake Jovita Golf Club, golfers battled through the second stage of Q-School. Only the top 20 (plus ties) advanced to the final round for a chance to earn their PGA Tour card. Local golfers Garrett Willis and Robbie Schulz were among those competing. But both will have to wait for next year. Willis finished tied for 21st and Schulz finished 65th.
Garrett Willis
For Willis, Lake Jovita is home. It has been since 1999 when he moved into a villa near the 18th hole. Recently he and his wife moved into their new house.
Willis, who won the 2001 Touchstone Energy Tucson Open, lost his tour card a few years back, but earned his way into 13 tournaments this year largely through sponsors exemptions and Monday qualifiers. With so few events to play in, Willis was unable to finish among the top 125 money winners on the tour, who automatically earn their cards for next year. That made Q-school success crucial.
Willis, who turns 34 today, has played in 13 PGA Tour events and 16 Nationwide Tour events this year.
Willis had a small gallery of fellow club members keeping track of him during the tournament. He made the occasional conversation with course members, which helped pass the time and helped Willis keep focus during the slower pace of play Wednesday.
He hasn't changed his approach much. He still drives the ball well and struggles with his short game.
"He's a whole lot more accurate than he was in college," said David Willard, who went to college with Willis.
Willard has caddied for the East Tennessee State graduate on and off since 1996 when Willis turned pro. The two keep each other sane on the course, Willis said.
"We know each other," Willis said. "We have a lot of life experiences we can talk about."
Robbie Schulz
Robbie Schulz pestered his dad nonstop. Can we play golf, the five-year-old would ask. His dad couldn't figure it out. He didn't really play, and young Robbie never saw it on television. But sure, his dad said. Let's do it.
So Sam Schulz went to a shop and had the pro cut down a ladies 5-iron. That evening, he and Robbie went to a local park.
"He shocked me, just shocked me," Sam Schulz said. "He was just nailing golf balls and he was five years old."
By that weekend, Robbie Schulz was taking professional lessons. He never stopped.
And 22 years later, the 27-year-old former state amateur champion is working on his tour card.
Last weekend marked the third qualifying attempt for Schulz, who missed making the final round by one stroke last year. The 2006 second round was also held at Lake Jovita.
But Schulz, who says he has improved his short game during the years, wasn't haunted by that.
"The thing is you never know what will happen," Schulz said. "All you can do is the best you can."
That's what Schulz did. But a handful of double bogeys and seven bogeys hurt him. He finished the tournament at 7-over-par.
Nowadays Schulz, whose parents live in Dade City, lives in Naples. He works constantly with Jay Cooper, who has coached him since he was young.
Growing up, Schulz, his dad and sister Samantha would hit the links each Saturday. Samantha Schulz said her family wasn't surprised to see her big brother make it this far. She knows he'll make it one day.
"We've always known that Robbie would end up on the tour one day," Samantha Schulz said.