Golf: Kiwi pair close to gaining Tour card

New Zealand golfers Craig Perks and Frank Nobilo are each one solid round away from guaranteeing their presence on the lucrative United States PGA Tour next year.

They both ended the fifth and penultimate round of the tour's qualifying school in California yesterday comfortably inside the top 35 (plus ties), the cut-off mark for those hoping to earn their 2001 tour cards.

Perks, who qualified for the tour from the school for the first time 12 months ago, was in a share of seventh place with a total of 22-under-par 338.

He signed for a two-under 70 yesterday to drop one place and sit eight shots behind the leader, Canadian David Morland.

Nobilo, a full tour regular since 1997, also slipped back marginally yesterday with an identical score to Perks, to sit in a tie for 15th on 343.

The prospects did not look so bright for two other New Zealanders seeking entry to the tour.

Philip Tataurangi, whose year has been ruined by injury, advanced from a share of 90th to a share for 59th by posting a five-under 67, his best of the marathon event to date, to be on 10-under 350.

He needs a similar round or better today to have a chance of forcing his way into the top 35.

Michael Long faces an even stiffer challenge. He goes into the final round three strokes behind Tataurangi after a 74 yesterday had him slip 19 places to a share of 83rd, in the 168-strong field.

- NZPA