McNeill leads Q School through five rounds
LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Back in form after a short stint as a club pro, George McNeill shot a 5-under 67 on Sunday at PGA West to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the PGA Tour's final qualifying tournament.
McNeill, from Fort Myers, Fla., had a bogey-free round on the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course for an 18-under 342 total. He has had four straight rounds in the 60s on the Nicklaus and Stadium courses.
"I'm out here to win," McNeill said. "I'm not really here to just breeze by, which has kind of been the case the last few years."
Rich Barcelo was second after a 70 on the Nicklaus course.
The top 30 players and ties Monday will earn PGA Tour cards for next year, with approximately the next 50 players earning full exemptions to the Nationwide Tour. The remaining players will be conditionally exempt on the Nationwide Tour.
McNeill lasted only six months as a club professional at a private club in Florida.
"I never want to do that again," said McNeill, a member of the Nationwide Tour in 2003. "I'm not going to get too excited about it until anything until it is all said and done. Through four rounds last time I was inside the number and the last two days I didn't play very well."
While McNeill seemed destined for the PGA Tour, some well-known players were outside the cut line for cards. Four-time tour winner Duffy Waldorf was tied for 39th at 6 under after a 69, and two-time U.S. Open winner Lee Janzen was tied for 97th at 3 over after a 73.
John Merrick (67), Cameron Beckman (69) and Michael Boyd (71) were tied for third at 15 under, Paul Gow (68), Robert Garrigus (70) and Darron Stiles (69) were 14 under. Tour winner Jonathan Kaye (68) was tied for 34th at 7 under.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
