Dec. 6, 2004

LA QUINTA, Calif. - Former University of California standout Charlie Wi has earned his PGA card after qualifying during the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, Dec. 1-6 in La Quinta, Calif. Wi is one of 35 players who earned his PGA card for the 2005 season after finishing Monday's round with a 68, and a total six round score of 425 (7-under). In a field of 170 players, Wi finished tied for 26th overall in the tournament and had the fourth lowest score in today's final round.

The PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, or the Q-school, is a three stage tournament with a grueling six-day affair in the final stage. Starting with 1,000 entrants, Q-school allows only the top 30 and ties advance to the PGA Tour. In the first stage held Oct. 19-22, 2004, Wi shot 70-76-68-69 = 283 (5-under) at the Greg Norman Course in La Quinta, Calif., to earn medalist honors. Wi continued his good play in the second stage on Nov. 17-20, 2004, shooting 68-69-68-69 = 274 (15-under) to finish fourth at the Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont, Calif. In the final stage, Wi alternated courses between the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course and the PGA West Stadium Course. Wi shot a 68 on Dec. 1, a 72 on Dec. 2, a 73 on Dec. 3, a 70 on Dec. 4, a 74 on Dec. 5, and finally a 68 on Dec. 6 at the PGA West Stadium Course.

"This is a happy day for Golden Bear golf," said Cal coach Steve Desimone, who coached Wi during the 1994-95 season. "Besides the team winning the NCAA golf title last spring, this is as good as it gets."

One of the all-time outstanding golfers at Cal, Wi was a first-team All-American for the Bears during the 1994- 1995 season, as well being the 1995 Pac-10 Champion.

Complete results are at http://www.pgatour.com/story/7970911