HOLLISTER -- Losing sleep. Losing your lunch. Losing your mind.
It's the PGA Tour's Qualifying Tournament, also known as Q-School, and it comes with enough horror stories that make its Halloween timing almost frighteningly appropriate.
Considered one of the most grueling events in all of sports, Q-School is a three-stage event that takes approximately 965 of the world's golfers -- all with a dream of becoming a household name, or at the very least, a member of the PGA Tour -- and trims them down to a fit 35 who will earn their Tour card and become eligible to enter PGA Tour events in 2008.
The San Juan Oaks Golf Club in Hollister, which has served as a first-stage site since 2001, is hosting the event this week. Although the horror stories were nearly non-existent -- golfers were frequently seen sleeping in their cars -- it was only day one of stage one.
The stress is sure to increase.
"It's pretty easy so far," said Mark Baldwin, 25, on Wednesday. Baldwin made the trip out from New Hampshire to compete in his very first Q-School, and shot a 1-under 71 (36-35) on Wednesday and an even 72 (33-39) Thursday.
"California living, it's not too difficult," Baldwin added. "I'm sure as the Q-School progresses it'll be a completely different story."
Baldwin said he hasn't experienced any of the stress signals that are usually associated with Q-School, although he did note the increase in expletives.
Then again, in the game of golf, those are sometimes par for the course.
Baldwin pre-qualified for Q-School in Atlanta, despite putting himself on the bubble, he said, after a couple of mediocre rounds.
"As with any round that you're trying to grind out and do well on, it's gonna be difficult and challenging and pressure-packed," Baldwin said. "When you're putting up five grand and it's a year of work on the line to realize your ultimate dream, I suppose the pressure has a tendency to mount.
"I haven't lost my breakfast or lunch yet and I don't think I will. Apparently, some guys do have issues with that."
Baldwin's caddy, Keegan Rice, who resides out of Bend, Ore., says he was certainly feeling the pressure, perhaps more than his golfing counterpart.
"I get pretty stressed. I'm probably more stressed out than he is," Rice said. "I want to see him do well. He's my buddy. I don't get a paycheck unless he does.
"The life of a caddy doesn't get so dreamy until you've got Tiger Woods. But you've got to grind it out, too. If he makes a bogey, you feel like you made a bogey as well."
As golfers streamed into the San Juan Oaks clubhouse Wednesday, eyeing the rather low scores -- Brian Smock of San Diego shot a 9-under 63 (32-31) in round one -- everyone sized up their numbers with the competition.
There are 84 golfers competing in Hollister, and only the top 24 (plus ties) advance to stage two. Competitors will have today and Saturday to figure their way into the cut.
The third and final stage of Q-School will be held Dec. 3-8 at the PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course and the TPC Stadium Course in La Quinta, Calif.
Up-and-comer Tony Finau, 19, of Lehi, Utah, is hoping to find his way down to La Quinta. Already competing in his second Q-School, Finau is reportedly already driving the ball in the 350-yard range off the tee.
He qualified to the second stage last year, and he shot a 1-under 71 (33-38) on Wednesday.
Finau carded a 78 (40-38) on Thursday.
"It's so hard to take one shot at a time when you're thinking about four days later, and where you'll beat at three days later," Finau said Wednesday. "It gets tougher. The competition gets better.
"It's a lot easier for me because I know what to expect, even though it was only one year of experience. It definitely helps."
Finau missed qualifying for the third stage by just two strokes last year, and after experiencing those four rounds, four rounds where he said he struggled sleeping at night, stage one this year has been much better to him -- with the exception of some first-tee jitters.
"I gave myself a chance," Finau said of last year. "I feel like I'm a lot more experienced and a lot better player all around this year. Hopefully that'll give me those two stokes that I need to get through to the final round.
"But I've got to get through this first stage."
Andrew Matheson Got a question or a comment? Send us an email.
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