Strong Finish at Q-School Earns Marino Tour Card

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Dec. 4, 2006

La Quinta, CA – Thanks to a strong showing in the second half of the PGA Tour’s six-round National Qualifying Tournament, former UVa standout Stephen Marino earned his 2007 tour card. Marino, who played at Virginia from 1998 to 2002, finished eighth overall at 13-under par 419.

A total of 40 players received their tour cards. The annual event is designed to award tour cards to the top 30 finishers and ties. This year 12 players managed to tie for 29th at 8-under and advance to the PGA Tour next season.

After playing the first three days at 3-over, Marino, from Fairfax, Va., caught fire in the fourth round. He posted a 10-under 62 on the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course, which proved to be the single lowest round of any of the 163 competitors during the grueling six-round tournament. Marino shot 1-under 71 on Sunday and finished with a 5-under 67 during Monday’s final round. During the final three rounds his combined score was 16-under. Marino entered Monday’s final round tied with three other golfers for 29th.

Former Cavalier standout James Driscoll was 81st overall at even par 432. After opening with a 77 and 73, Driscoll shot 6-under over the final four rounds of the tournament. 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. He competed on the PGA Tour in 2005 after a top-10 finish on the Nationwide Tour. Driscoll’s finish earns him a full exemption to the 2007 Nationwide Tour.

This year marked the first time two former Cavaliers managed to reach the final stage of Q-school.

Complete results from Q-school are online at PGATour.com.