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Six days of agony and ecstasy ended Monday at the final stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School, and when the dust settled, a familiar face found himself in an enviable position. Duffy Waldorf, a four-time PGA Tour winner, combined to shoot 11-under par in his last two rounds to finish inside the top 25 and gain his card for 2008. The 45-year-old Los Angeles native struggled during his first four rounds at Orange County National in Winter Garden, Fla., but found his form over the last 36 holes to end in a tie for 14th place at 16-under par. Todd Demsey, who competed at Del Mar's Torrey Pines High School, also surged inside the cut line with a final-round 64. Demsey's career has taken many twists and turns — after starring at Arizona State with Phil Mickelson and initially qualifying for the PGA Tour in 1997, he was beset by a brain tumor in 2002. The 35-year-old got another scare this year when he discovered the tumor had returned, but doctors believe it is benign and should not hinder his ability to start his 2008 campaign at full strength. Long Beach native John Merrick, who barely missed keeping his PGA Tour card this season by finishing 129th on the money list, regained full-time status with a birdie on his final hole to finish on the number at 14-under par. Merrick's friend and fellow Long Beach native, Peter Tomasulo, was not as fortunate. Though Tomasulo finished only one stroke behind Merrick at 13-under par, his total was not enough to break the top 25. Tomasulo will return to the Nationwide Tour in 2008. Also finishing at 13-under par was Lynwood native Bob May, who thrilled fans when he nearly defeated Tiger Woods at the 2000 PGA Championship. Former Ryder Cup players Steve Pate (Westlake Village) and Chris Riley (San Diego) could not generate any momentum throughout the week and failed to qualify. Neither player broke 70 in any of his six rounds. PGA Tour veteran Frank Lickliter opened the event with a pair of 10-under 62s and cruised to a wire-to-wire victory, concluding at 29-under par. |
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