LA QUINTA, Calif. – Brendon Todd shot a final-round 4-under 68 on the Jack Nicklaus Stadium Course to win the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament by one stroke on Monday, earning his Tour card for 2012.
Todd, who has missed the cut in 27 of his last 37 tournaments on the Nationwide Tour the last two years, had a six-day total of 17-under 415 and earned $50,000 for the win.
"I think I just really stuck to my game plan," said Todd, a former University of Georgia star. "I was hitting it well coming into the week."
Todd broke par every round and believes the two windy days of the event, with winds of more than 30 mph hitting PGA West's Stadium and Nicklaus Tournament courses, helped him because he plays well in the wind.
Stephen Gangluff, another Nationwide Tour player in 2011, shot a 70 and finished second, one shot behind Todd to earn at $40,000.
The two led a group of 29 players who earned PGA Tour cards for next year. Todd played on the Tour in 2009 but struggled and lost his exemption.
Of the 27 PGA Tour cards handed out Monday — in addition to the two players who already had exemptions for next year — 12 players will be rookies on the tour next year. Also, 52 players earned full status for the 2012 Nationwide tour.
Among the notable names in the event that did not earn PGA Tour cards were David Duval, Lee Janzen, Rich Beem and Shaun Micheel. Also missing out on status on either tour were Sam Saunders, grandson of Arnold Palmer, and Travis Wadkins, son of Lanny Wadkins.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.