Indiana University Athletics
Former Hoosier Wheatcroft Earns PGA Tour Card
12/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Dec. 5, 2006
LA QUINTA, Calif. - Closing with a 5-under-par 67 in the sixth and final round of the final stage of Qualifying School on Dec. 4, former Indiana men's golfer Steve Wheatcroft finished in seventh place to earn his PGA Tour card for the 2007 season. Wheatcroft finished the final stage with a 14-under-par total of 418 (73-75-71-65-67-67) and will join other former Hoosier standouts Shaun Micheel and Jeff Overton on Tour.
"I am thrilled, but not surprised, that Steve made it through Q-school and has qualified for the PGA Tour for 2007," IU head coach Mike Mayer said. "Steve was a non-recruited walk-on when he came to Indiana and left here with a full scholarship and as an All-Big Ten athlete. I said when Steve graduated that if he continued to work as hard on his game as he did here at Indiana that he would be very successful playing professional golf. He has been very successful on the mini-tours and now this is his opportunity to shine. I'm extremely happy for Steve and his entire family. This is a well-deserved honor and I guarantee you that he will make the most of it."
Wheatcroft, who played in 21 events on the Nationwide Tour during the 2006 season, making 12 cuts and earning one top-10 and four top-25 finishes, was one of just seven players to advance through all three rounds of qualifying and earn his card. Playing at the first-round site of Martin Downs Country Club - Osprey in Palm City, Fla., Wheatcroft advanced to the second round by sharing co-medalist honors after firing a 10-under-par total of 274 (65-70-72-67). In the second stage of qualifying, he tied for 10th place at Lake Jovita Country Club in Dade City, Fla., this time with a total of 276 (70-66-71-69), a 12-under total that punched his ticket to the finals.
The PGA Tour's National Qualifying Tournament's final stage consists of six rounds, which were contested this year on the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course and the Stadium Course at PGA West. Only the low 30 scores and ties at the end of the tournament earn Tour cards, while the next number of players nearest to 50 will have fully exempt status on the Nationwide Tour. The remaining players who made it to the final stage of Q-school will have conditionally exempt status on the Nationwide Tour.
Also competiting in the finals was Overton, who finished 136th on the PGA Tour money list in 2006. A two-time Big Ten Player of the Year, Overton wrapped up the event in a tie for 64th posititon and has earned exempt status on the Nationwide Tour for 2007. However, the Evansville, Ind., native also earned conditional PGA Tour status due to his placement on the money list in 2006 and will split time between the two tours in 2007.
"Jeff had an outstanding year on the PGA Tour this past season, winning over $577,000.00 and finishing 136th on the money list," Mayer said. "Unfortunately he didn't putt the ball very well at Q-school and couldn't improve his status for next year. His conditional status will allow him to play in about 15 PGA Tour events in 2007 and he will have full Nationwide status, as well. I expect Jeff to bounce back in a big way in 2007 and be a force on both the PGA and Nationwide tours."
Along with Micheel, the 2004 PGA Champion, Wheatcroft and Overton bring the total of former IU players on the PGA Tour to three in 2007.
"Indiana University will have three alumni on the PGA Tour next year and that is really exciting," Mayer said. "Having these three Hoosiers out on the PGA Tour is an incredible statement for this golf program. It simply says that if you come to Indiana University to play golf you will be prepared to play at the next level."
