Q School: Jones and Lutterus get dream gig

December 8| No trophies were handed out after the 6th and final round of the 2009 PGA Tour Qualifying School. Aussies Matt Jones and David Lutterus didn’t care. They had both received the prize millions around the world can only dream of getting: a gig on the PGA Tour in 2010.

Lutterus and Jones were amongst the 25 players who graduated through the final stage of qualifying in Florida.

Jones, who hails from NSW, played college golf in the US before making it onto the PGA Tour via the Nationwide Tour in 2007. He finished 134 on the PGA Tour money list in 2009 which would have given him conditional status for 2010. However, he will now enjoy full status after a strong showing at Q School, finishing in 3rd position after 108 holes.

Lutterus has also had prior experience on the PGA Tour. He played there in 2008 before losing status, and has had to pay his dues playing mini tour events and a few Nationwide Tour events in 2009. Lutterus made a spectacular charge up the leaderboard in the final round of Q School, shooting a 64 to jump from 28th to 8th. Look for the talented South Australian to have a much better showing second time around on the PGA Tour.

Queenslanders Bronson La Cassie and Andrew Buckle both came close but missed out on their cards for next season. La Cassie came up short of the top 25 by just one shot, while Buckle lost a good opportunity with a final round 75, dropping outside the top 25 from an 18th position overnight. However, both players will at least have the consolation of having full status on the Nationwide Tour next year.

Other Aussies who failed to make it included David McKenzie (48th), Mark Hensby (64th), (Phil Tataurangi 89th), Jamie Arnold and Won Joon Lee (104th), Ray Beaufils (108th) and Bradley Iles (116th).

Troy Merritt was the medalist, beating PGA Tour veteran Jeff Maggert by one shot and Jones by two.