University of Minnesota Athletics
Former Gopher Golfers Advancing in Qualifiers
11/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Former University of Minnesota golfers James McLean, Clayton Rask and Niall Turner are finding success in the early rounds of the European PGA Tour Qualifying tournament and the PGA Tour Qualifying School, respectively. McLean has qualified for the second stage of the European PGA Tour Qualifying tournament while Rask and Turner have advanced to the second stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying School. Each tournament has three stages.
McLean, the 1998 NCAA Individual Champion, finished the first stage in ninth place after carding rounds of 71-69-66-69 for a 72-hole score of 13-under par 275. The event was played at the Chart Hills Golf Club in England.
McLean played in seven tournaments during the 2001 European Tour, with his best finish coming at the Novotel Perrier Open de France where he tied for 10th at 6-under par 274. McLean is currently on day two of the second stage which is being played at the Montenmedio Golf and Country Club in Spain. The stage is scheduled to end on Nov. 8.
Rask, a four-time letterwinner at the University of Minnesota and a 2008 First Team All-Big Ten recipient, finished in a tie for fourth place after the first stage with rounds of 66-69-65-72 for a score of 16-under par 272. The stage was played a t the Dayton Valley Country Club in Dayton Nevada.
Rask has competed in nine Canadian Tour events this season and has managed two top-10 finishes. His highest finish came at the Saskatchewan Open where he posted a 72-hole score of 274, good for a tie for fourth place finish. The second stage will take place at Lantana Country Club in Lantana, Texas on Nov. 19-22.
Turner played his opening stage of qualifying at the San Juan Oaks Golf Club in Hollister, Calif. He carded rounds of 69-70-70-71 for an 8-under par 280 to finish in a six-way tie for 19th. Turner was named an All-American following the 2006-07 season and finished his senior season with a scoring average of 72.95, which ranks in the top-20 all-time in the Gopher record books. The second stage is scheduled for Nov. 12-15 at Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville, Fla.
Four other former Gophers, Justin Smith, David Morgan, Bronson La’Cassie and Josh Persons also competed in the first round of PGA Tour Qualifying School but did not make the cut.
Players Mentioned
