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Luke Donald earns PGA
Tour card
England's Luke Donald, who was one of the key players during Britain's Walker
Cup triumph over the United States earlier this year, has achieved his goal of
becoming a US Tour member after just 16 weeks as a pro.
Donald finished joint 23rd in the National Qualifying Tournament at Bear Lakes
Country Club on Monday after a flawless closing 69 gave him an 18-under-par 414.
"It feels great," the 23-year-old said. "It's what I've wanted
my whole life.
"All the hard work I have put in over the years and I've finally made
it. I'm really looking forward to next season."
American Pat Perez won the qualifying tournament with a 27-under-par total
of 405 after the six rounds, with the top 35 players and ties in the 166-strong
field earning 2002 U.S. Tour cards.
Donald secured his card just four days before his 24th birthday and will now
aim to impose himself on the paid ranks in the same way that he shone as an amateur
in U.S. collegiate golf.
The Englishman was rated the best amateur in the world over the last couple
of years, having won the US championship for college players, the Chicago Open
against the area's best professionals and a total of 13 college tournaments in
all.
He was chosen as an All-American for three years in a row from 1999 and was
golfer of the year in the Big Ten Conference from 1999-2001.
Donald was a key figure as Britain's and Ireland's amateurs beat the United
States 15-9 in Georgia in mid-August for their first successful Walker Cup defence
on American soil in the competition's 79-year history.
The 1999 NCAA champion from Northwestern University finished his own Walker
Cup career with a distinguished record of seven wins and just one loss in two
matches against the US
He turned pro soon after the Walker Cup, signing a management contract with
international sports management firm IMG.
His debut tournament outing came at the Reno-Tahoe Open in late August, when
he failed to make the cut after opening rounds of 75 and 69.
But he gave a stronger indication of his playing potential when he tied for
18th in the Canadian Open in early September and was in contention for the Michelob
Championship in October before scores of 73 and 72 over the weekend pushed him
back down the leaderboard.
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