UCLA's Gregor Main Makes Buick cut
- photo taken at Silicon Valley Amateur, Jan. 18
LA JOLLA, Calif. (Feb. 6, 2009) -- The Buick Invitational is the only event on the PGA Tour that offers at least one amateur a chance to play, via an "amateur-only" qualifier on the South Course. That spot went to 2007 California State Am Champ Josh Anderson, who bogeyed No. 18 on the North Course today to miss the cut by one at 3-over-par.
Gregor Main, of Danville (and UCLA) is an amateur who made the field the old fashioned (and also very difficult) way, by qualifying in the Open Qualifier at El Camino Country Club in Oceanside on February 3rd. (he shot 67 and gained the last spot in a 3-way sudden-death playoff, adding to the excitement)
On Thursday, he fired a 2-under 70 and followed with a 75 on Friday to make the cut with a shot to spare. His third shot into 18 on Friday showed no signs of nerves and even though he missed the birdie attempt he got the opportunity to experience of playing the weekend. He struggled a bit in the final round with an 80, finishing the tournament in 70th place (which would've been good for more than $10 thousand dollars.
“I've dreamed of playing on the PGA Tour my entire life,” Main told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “It's just unbelievable. It's so much fun. I want to do this for a living someday.I'm going go out there and have fun tomorrow. I have nothing to lose.”
He carded an even-par round on Saturday to sit at 1-over-par, tied for 35th.
In January, Main finished tied for first in the amateurgolf.com Silicon Valley Amateur, where the tournament was declared a tie when three playoff holes were played before darkness set in.
To view Main's Thursday-Friday scorecards, click here>