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Dec. 3, 2006

La Quinta, CA – Former Virginia men’s golfer Stephen Marino (Fairfax, Va.) enters Monday’s final round of the PGA Tour’s National Qualifying Tournament, better known as Q-school, with the opportunity to earn his tour card. Marino is tied for 29th place after the tournament’s first five rounds of play at 8-under. The top 30 finishers and ties at the six-day event earn their tour card.

Marino posted rounds of 74, 73 and 72 during the tournament’s first three rounds at the PGA West Stadium and Jack Nicholas Tournament courses. Saturday he carded a 10-under 62 to vault to 19th overall. He shot even-par 72 during Sunday’s fifth round.

Marino’s fourth round score was not his lowest as a professional. Earlier this year he shot 13-under 59 in the third round of the Gateway Tour’s Sidney Frank Memorial Tour Championship to set a course record at Scottsdale’s Desert Mountain Outlaw Course. Marino earned All-ACC honors as a senior at Virginia in 2002.

Marino is one of two former Cavaliers who qualified for the final stage of this year’s Q-School. James Driscoll, who competed on the PGA Tour in 2005, is in 81st place at 1-over through five rounds. He has posted scores of 77, 73, 70, 69 and 72. A native of Boston, Mass., Driscoll has earned over $1.1 million as a professional since graduating from UVa in 2000.

Driscoll was a three-time All-American at Virginia from 1997-2000. He recorded 23 career top-10 finishes for the Cavaliers. Driscoll reached the final round of Q-school in 2003

After the top 30 players and ties earn their PGA Tour cards, the next 50 players will earn full exemptions to the Nationwide Tour. The remaining players will be conditionally exempt on the Nationwide Tour. Players on the PGA Tour must finish 125th or better on the money list to earn the privilege of keeping their tour card for the next season.

Results from Q-school are online at PGATour.com

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