LV’s Gamez blows up on final day, falls one shot short

Victoria Sun

Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2001 | 10 a.m.

For five straight days, Robert Gamez cruised through the final stage of the PGA Tour's qualifying school at Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., as if he were playing miniature golf.

The Las Vegan seemingly mastered the Lakes and Links courses shooting scores that ranged from 7-under par to 1-under.

He entered Monday's final round in sole possession of 14th place and in perfect position to earn his PGA Tour card for next year. That privilege is extended to the top 35 finishers and ties in the 160-man field.

Then the unthinkable happened.

Gamez carded a final-round 2-over-par 74 on the Lakes course, dropping him into a tie for 37th. He finished the six rounds at 18-under par -- one shot too many.

Gamez's stumble was particularly heartbreaking considering he had shot an opening-round 69 and a scorching 6-under-par 66 in the fourth round on the same course.

But on the day it mattered most, things were different.

He was 4-over after the first nine holes with bogeys on the par-3 No. 2 hole, the par-4 fifth, the par-3 eighth and a double-bogey on the par-4 ninth. He also managed a birdie on the par-5 sixth hole to make the turn at 40.

It looked like he would get things going on the back nine when he turned in consecutive birdies on Nos. 10 and 11, but bogeys on the 13th and 14th holes brought him back to 4-over.

Birdies on the par-4 16th and par-4 No. 18 were not enough to salvage the round.

He parred the 17th hole, a par 5 he birdied the other two days.

Gamez's 37th-place finish did, however, earn him a spot on the Buy.com tour for next season.

Meanhile, Bishop Gorman graduate Tommy Armour III, a veteran with one PGA Tour victory, secured his card Monday by shooting 1-under-par 71 in the final round for a total 409 and a share of 8th place.

Las Vegan John Riegger earned his tour card for next year as well with a six-day total of 414. Riegger was 4-under in the final round.