Matt Richardson makes a tee shot during the final round of the 2008 PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament on December 8, 2008 at the PGA West Golf Club in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)Robert Laberge/Getty Images
Matthew Richardson has advanced to the final stage of PGA Tour Q-School following a final round 68 at the Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville, Florida on Saturday.
Richardson, who was born in Worcester, England but moved to Woodbridge, Ontario after meeing his fiancee, started the day in a tie for 29th. Six birdies and two bogeys later, he had elevated himself into a tie for 13th, which put him within the top 19 and ties to advance to next month's final stage in Florida.
Richardson, who won the 2005 Walker Cup as an amateur, has played on the European, Nationwide and Canadian Tours, posting a season best sixth place finish at the Clublink Jane Rogers Championship in 2010.
Richardson was the only one of three Canadians to advance from the Florida qualifier. Bryan DeCorso of Guelph, Ont., shot a final round 72 to finish in a tie for 30th.
Two-time Canadian Men's Amateur champion Cam Burke of New Hamburg, Ont., found it tough sledding in his first Q-School outing. He struggled on Saturday with 10 bogeys, a double-bogey and just two birdies for a disastrous 82 and a 67th place finish.
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At the Hombre Golf Club at Panama City, Fla., Ted Brown of Peterborough, Ont., birdied the final hole which was just enough to get him into the top 19 and ties and advance to the final Q-school tournament next monthl. Back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 14 and 15 had put Brown precariously close to the cut line and missing out on his chance to play for a PGA Tour card.
At the Bayonet Course at Seaside, Calif., Chris Baryla of Vernon, B.C., carded a 69 which included three birdies and an eagle over his final seven holes to climb into a tie for 13th. Baryla is coming back from surgery to repair a torn labrum back in April, having competed in a pair of Nationwide events prior to returning to Q-School.
Brennan Webb of Bracebridge, Ont., finished tied for 40th while Canadian Tour rookie Adam Hadwin finished tied for 55th after a final round 74. Winnipeg's Adam Speirs, tied for 66th, and Regina's Kent Eger, 70th place, also failed to make the cut.
At the TPC Craig Ranch at McKinney, Texas, James Love of Calgary and Peter Laws of Mississauga both finished in a tie for 40th after shooting 72 and 71 respectively. Only the top 20 and ties advanced to the final.
Over at the Bear Creek Golf Club at Murrieta, California, Richard Lee of Vancouver, Matt McQuillan of Kingston, Ont., and David McKenzie of Victoria, B.C., all advance to the final stage. McQuillan shot a final round 70 to finish tied for third, Lee shot a 72 to finish 5th and McKenzie posted his worst round of the week, a 75, but it was still good enough to get him into a tie for 12th.
Only the top 20 and ties advanced to the final stage.
Ryan Yip of Calgary shot a final round 74 to finish 58th. Mitch Gillis of Williams Lake, B.C., withdrew after his third round 77 on Friday. He will, however, go on to the next stage of European Tour Q-School after making it through the first stage last month in France.
Final Canadian results through second stage of PGA Q-School
At Humble, Texas
Yohann Benson, Montreal, QC (T30 - did not advance) Danny Sahl, Sherwood Park, AB (T38 - did not advance)
At Brooksville, Fla.
Matt Richardson, Woodbridge, ON (T13 - advanced) Bryan DeCorso, Guelph, ON (T30 - did not advance) Cam Burke, New Hamburg, ON (67th - did not advance)
At Panama City Beach, Fla.
Ted Brown, Peterborough, ON (T18 - advanced)
At McKinney, Texas
Peter Laws, Mississauga, ON (T40 - did not advance) James Love, Calgary, AB (T40 - did not advance)
At Seaside, Calif.
Chris Baryla, Vernon, BC (T13 - advanced) Brennan Webb, Bracebridge, ON (T40 - did not advance) Adam Hadwin, Abbotsford, BC (T55 - did not advance) Adam Speirs, Winnipeg, MB (T66 - did not advance) Kent Eger, Regina, SK (70th - did not advance)
At Murrieta, Calif.
Richard T. Lee, Vancouver, BC (5th - advanced) Matt McQuillan, Kingston, ON (T3 - advanced) David McKenzie, Victoria, BC (T12 - advanced) Ryan Yip, Calgary, AB (58th - did not advance) Mitch Gillis, Williams Lake, BC (WD - did not advance)