Golf: Kiwis advance to Q-school finale

Danny Lee is one of four Kiwi golfers that wil head to the final stage of qualifying next month. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand golfers Michael Hendry, Steven Alker, Tim Wilkinson and Danny Lee have made next month's final round of the United States' PGA Tour's qualifying school after clearing the second stage today.

But there was heartache for Tauranga professional Brad Iles and celebrated kiwi golfers, Phil Tataurangi and Grant Waite.

Waite, playing at Southern Hills Plantation Club, withdrew before the final round, too far off the pace to continue with any chance of making it.

The successful four head to the final stage qualifying at Orange County National in Florida from December 1-6.

This involves a gruelling six-round contest for around 150 players from second stage, the next 25 players after the cut mark of 125 on the 2010 PGA Tour moneylist, the players ranked 26-40 from the second tier Nationwide Tour and other exemptions.

Between 25 and 30 will progress to full playing rights on next year's PGA Tour and the next 50 to the Nationwide Tour.

Hendry had some anxious moments in his final round but finished safely in a tie for seventh at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta near San Diego.

The North Harbour player, who has won three times in Asia Pacific tournaments this year, finished on four-under 284 to move comfortably through to the final stage for the first time.

In the early stages it appeared that Danny Lee's one-under 71 also at Bear Creek today might not be enough but he eventually finished in a share for 12th after later finishers dropped by the wayside.

Wilkinson, looking to regain his PGA tour card, finished in a share of eighth place with a three-over 281 at Hombre Golf Club in Florida.

Alker is also in with a chance to return to the top after finishing in a tie for ninth at Bayonet Golf Club near Monterey, California.

Tataurangi who was well out of contention at Bear Creek, finishing 65th and Waite have been left with decisions to make on their futures.

Hendry was three over after 10 holes today before making a birdie and despite another bogey, his 73 was still comfortably good enough to progress. A late bogey in his round which left him 28th among the early finishers gave Lee some anxious moments with only 20 to progress.

However several dropped away under pressure to give the former US Amateur Champion a chance to gain his playing rights on the PGA Tour to go with his card on the European Tour.

It's been a season of near misses for Iles this year, going close at one stage to qualifying directly to the PGA Tour from the Nationwide and then eventually falling US$8000 short of direct entry to the final Q-School.

In the top-10 overnight, Iles made a telling start to be three-under through nine holes and seemingly on his way before he succumbed to the pressure, dropping six shots in his final six holes to finish two shots outside the mark to progress.

He has retained his card for the Nationwide Tour for 2011.

New Zealand results:

Hombre GC, Florida, par 71:

281 Tim Wilkinson 74 67 71 69 (T8)

Bear Creek GC, California, par 72:

284 Michael Hendry 67 73 69 75 (7)

288 Danny Lee 73 74 70 71 (T12 )

316 Phil Tataurangi 76 77 77 86 (65)

TPC Craig Ranch, Texas, par 72:

284 Bradley Iles 67 74 67 76 (T28)

Bayonet GC, California, par 72:

279 Steve Alker 68 68 70 73 (T9)

- NZPA