OU alumnus Brian Stuard earns place in 2010 PGA Tour

OU alumni Brian Stuard earned a place in the 2010 PGA Tour.

Alumni and former Oakland University men’s golf standout Brian Stuard (2001-05) earned his PGA Tour qualifying card in high fashion this December, finishing with back-to-back birdies and shooting an overall score of 10-under-par, finishing in a tie for 19th place.

The top 25 players at Q-School earned their playing status on the PGA Tour for 2010 on Monday, Dec. 7, at the Bear Lakes Country Club.

“I am so happy for Brian,” said OU coach Brian Costello. “After all of the near misses, I knew it was just a matter of time before he realized every golfer’s dream of making it to the PGA Tour. Brian is not only a great player, but he is also a great person and he has shown the entire world that you don’t need to go to a BCS school to make it as a professional golfer.”

Stuard, a native of Jackson, MI, came to the 17th hole needing to make a major play to have a chance at making the final cut. With the right combination of focus and determination, he was able to do just that.

“It was a nice way to finish after bogeys on 14 and 15,” said Stuard. “I told myself to get over it and get back going again.”

The 2005 Mid-Con Player of the Year then almost holed his approach shot on 18 and sunk a 5-foot putt to get himself off the bubble and get to 10-under-par. Stuard shot an even-par score of 72 on the final day.

“It all comes down to heart and mental toughness,” Costello continued. “Brian showed that he has a lot of both. To finish the way he did demonstrates that he does belong out there and should have a great career on the PGA Tour. All of us in the Oakland University golf family will be pulling for Brian next year and excited to see him compete against the best golfers in the world.”

Stuard still holds the university record for a season stroke average of 72.25 in the 2004-04 academic year and a career stroke average of 73.82. He finished 26th on the Nationwide Tour money list, one spot from earning his card.

Stuard put together a tremendous performance to reach inside the top 25. He finished his career at OU as a three-time all-league honoree, winning the 2005 Mid-Con Tournament.

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