Former Husker Gutschewski Earns PGA Tour Card

Former <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska golfer Scott Gutschewski was one of 20 Nationwide Tour players to secure their PGA Tour playing privileges for the 2005 season over the weekend.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Gutschewski finished in a tie for 28th place at last weekend’s Nationwide Tour Championship in Prattville, Ala. His finish earned him a check for just more than $4,500 and pushed his season earnings on the 2004 Nationwide Tour to $206,308, good for 17th place on the tour’s final money list. The top 20 finishers on the tour earn their PGA Tour card for the upcoming season.

 

A native of Ralston, Neb., Gutschewski is the latest former Husker to play on the PGA Tour. Most recently, Jeff Klein spent the 2003 season on the PGA Tour, but did not retain his card for the 2004 season.

 

Gutschewski’s 2004 season was highlighted by a tie for second place at the Mark Christopher Charity Classic in early October. That finish earned Gutschewski $39,600 and put him in position to capture his PGA Tour card. Gutschewski solidified his position with a strong finish in the second to last tournament of the Nationwide Tour schedule, finishing in a tie for fifth place at the Miccosukee Championship for a check of $17,562.

 

Gutschewski finished the season with seven top-10 finishes, including four in a seven-tournament stretch this fall. He also made his PGA Tour debut last winter, playing in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am where he made the cut and tied for 69th place.

 

Gutschewski finished 14th on the Nationwide Tour in scoring average for the season and led the tour in total eagles (17). He also finished in the top 20 on tour in driving distance, holes per eagle, total driving, birdie average, total birdies, all-around ranking and par breakers. Gutschewski narrowly missed earning his PGA Tour card for the 2004 season. A year ago, Gutschewski finished 28th on the Nationwide Tour despite playing in only 12 events late in the season. He captured his only win on the Nationwide Tour in 2003, winning the Monterey Peninsula Classic which qualified him for the Pebble Beach event on the 2004 PGA Tour.

 

Gutschewski was part of the most successful Husker team in school history. A three-year letterman for Coach Larry Romjue from 1997 to 1999, and was a member of the 1999 Nebraska team that finished second at the Big 12 Championships and placed a school-best 14th at the NCAA Championships.

 

The 2005 PGA Tour schedule will begin for Gutschewski at the Sony Open in Hawaii on January 13-16. Huskers.com will follow Gutschewski’s debut season on Tour in 2005.