Gamez in good spot

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Clinging by his fingernails to the top 125 on the PGA Tour money list, Robert Gamez experienced the gamut of emotions after his third-place finish at the Disney Classic vaulted him to the top 90 in earnings and secured his tour card for next year.

Strangely, though, relief was not one of them.

Although he was perilously close to losing his full exemption to play on the tour next season, Gamez said that never crossed his mind during his charge to third place Sunday in Orlando, Fla.

"Losing my card was the last thing on my mind," said Gamez, who pocketed $81,600 to push his season earnings to $249,227. "I really wasn't too concerned about it because I knew that even if I lost my card, I would still be able to play in 20 to 25 events next year (on sponsor's exemptions), so I felt pretty comfortable."

Gamez also took comfort -- literally -- in the fact that a nagging finger injury that has plagued him much of the year finally is starting to heal.

"My finger is about 85 to 90 percent (healthy) right now," the native Las Vegan said. "It really hasn't hurt the last couple of weeks. I felt a twinge of pain on a couple of swings (during the Disney), but for the most part I finally feel healthy."

Gamez credited his strong showing in the final full-field event of the season to his ability to work on his game the past two weeks.

"I'm finally able to practice and hit some balls without pain and it showed in my game last week," said Gamez, who posted rounds of 66, 66, 70 and 67 for a 19-under-par 269 total. "That's what's so nice: When I'm healthy, I'm able to practice and when I practice, I usually play better."

After missing the cut in the Las Vegas Invitational at the beginning of the month, Gamez tied for 18th place at the Texas Open preceding his third-place finish in Orlando.

Following the LVI, Gamez stood 129th on the money list -- two spots away from keeping his full playing privileges for 1997. (Because there were two non-PGA Tour members in the top 125, the magic number for a player retaining his card was 127.)

He earned $16,200 at the Texas Open and moved up to 124th in earnings, but still needed a solid finish at the Disney to keep his card. The $81,600 payday in Orlando moved him up to 89th place on the money list -- exactly where he finished last year (with $206,588) -- and pushed his career earnings above $2 million.

But more importantly, Gamez said, his play the past two weeks showed him what he is capable of doing when healthy.

"I played well the first three months of the season," Gamez said. "I had high expectations for this year after the first three months, but then I hurt my hand.

"It's nice to finish on a high note. Now it's time to rest and hopefully I'll be 100 percent for next year. Now that it's over, I'm really looking forward to next year more than anything, now that I'm healthy."