Glen Day shoots 64 to move into contention at Q-school

Updated: December 5, 2008, 9:52 PM ET

Day shoots 64 to move into contention at Q-school

Comment Email Print Share

Associated Press

LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Glen Day, a former PGA Tour winner trying to make it through Q-school finals for the second time in three years, took a big step Friday with an 8-under 64 to share the lead with James Nitties at the halfway point.

When Green Is Good

Inexperience usually doesn't bode well, especially at Q-school. For some, like third-round leader James Nitties, he might not know what he should be scared of. Peter Yoon

Day and Nitties (69), both playing the TPC Stadium Course at PGA West, were at 15-under 201 through three rounds. The six-round tournament concludes Monday, with the top 25 and ties earning their cards for 2009.

Day, whose lone victory came at the MCI Heritage in 1999, ran off four birdies over the last six holes. Nitties made birdie on only one of the par 5s at the Stadium Course.

Geoffrey Sisk had a 69 on the Stadium Course and was two shots behind, while the group at 12-under 204 included Jay Williamson (69), Bryce Molder (69) and big-hitting Robert Garrigus (71).

Williamson made it through three rounds of the lucrative FedEx Cup playoffs this year, but failed to keep his card. The PGA Tour qualifying tournament more closely resembles playoff pressure, a six-round event where only about 15 percent of the field will have full status on tour next year.

In 12 years on tour, Williamson's best finish was losing in a playoff at the Travelers Championship last year.

PGA Tour Q-school

T-1. James Nitties -15
T-1. Glen Day -15
3. Geoffrey Sisk -13
T-4. Tyler Aldridge -12
T-4. Bryce Molder -12
T-4. Jay Williamson -12
T-4. Troy Kelly -12
T-4. James Oh -12
T-4. Robert Garrigus -12
T-4. Derek Fathauer -12
• Complete scores

Former PGA champion Mark Brooks had a 70 and was tied for 11th, although with four-time tour winner Joe Durant (65) and Y.E. Yang of South Korea, who beat Tiger Woods in the HSBC Champions in China two years ago.

John Huston, a seven-time PGA Tour winner who opened with a 74, had a 65 on Friday to move into a tie for 31st.

Among former tour winners desperate for low scores was Frank Lickliter, last year's medalist at Q-school who failed to break 70 for the third straight day and was tied for 119th.

There is no 72-hole cut at the qualifying tournament. Anyone finishing out of the top 25 will get either full or conditional status on the Nationwide Tour.