Columnist Victoria Sun: Former Rebel Anderson goes back to school

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2000 | 9:54 a.m.

Victoria Sun's golf column appears Wednesday. Reach her at 259-4078 or victoria@lasvegassun.com

Former UNLV golfer Jeremy Anderson was back in the classroom Tuesday.

But if sitting through mundane seminars was what it took to earn his PGA Tour card, Anderson probably would've signed up for the whole year.

Fortunately, two days are all that is required.

The day after the NCAA All-American finished in the top 35 of the PGA Tour's Qualifying School to earn his tour card for next year, he was told to report, along with other rookies, to the two-day PGA Tour orientation session in La Quinta, Calif., that started Tuesday.

"They tell you about everything you could possibly need to know about the tour," Anderson said. "Policies, how the tour works, how it's run. But it's a good cause."

Anderson's six-day total of 22-under-par 410 put him in a three-way tie for 11th place. Henderson resident Craig Barlow retained his tour card by tying for 21st.

The final stage of Q-School is aptly termed "Hell Week" and though Anderson got through it unscathed for the most part, he did have some scary moments.

"It was nice for four days and 12 holes," he said. "Then it was an absolute miserable nightmare for the last six holes of my fifth round."

Anderson pocketed $25,000 for his performance and the money will go straight to his travel fund for next year.

Stunned by the fact that he had finally made it, Anderson completely forgot that he actually won some money along with his coveted tour card.

It took him almost as long to register that he had accomplished his dream even though he cruised his final round.

"I didn't think about it at all," Anderson said. "I didn't think about what the round, the consequences were.

"I just tried to play that round as if it were any other round of golf. I kept making false references to my caddie about it.

"Finally at the last hole, I was standing 180 yards from the pin, I hit a 7-iron about straight up the middle about 20 feet to the right of the hole and the pin was tucked to the left part of the green over the water. Finally, when I got my ball over the water, looked at my caddie and said 'I'm on the PGA Tour.' It was a good feeling."

Anderson is certain that Q-School is something he doesn't want to go through again.

"It was very, very draining," Anderson said. "(It) adds up to an exhausting week.

"It's 10 straight days of grinding. Now that it's over, I certainly have a bit of an emotional spiral. I'm just physically and mentally exhausted."