Brehaut Falters, then Rallies to Take Medal in 3M Qualifying

BLAINE -- Jeff Brehaut made a couple of U-Turns on the back nine at Victory LInks GC on Tuesday during the qualifying for the 3M Championship. But he ended up where he wanted to be -- in first place with a 6-under-par 65.

He claimed the first of the four spots that were available for this weekend's 3M Championship at the TPC Twin Cities. John Elliott finished one stroke behind Brehaut, with a 66. Gibby Gilbert III and Kevin Johnson tied for third with 68's, and then survived a 3-for-2 playoff. The odd man out in the playoff was Donnie Hammond, a two-time winner during a lengthy career on the PGA Tour.

Victory Links isn't all that easy, but the scores are always low in the 3M Qualifier. This year was no exception. So when Brehaut made the turn at 3 under par, he was essentially on pace to qualify, but he needed to keep making birdies.

When he did with a 3 at the 388-yard, par-4 10th. After that, however, he went South for a while, making bogeys at the 219-yard, par-3 11th and the 579-yard, par-5 12th. Suddenly, he was only 2 under, and out of position for a spot in this week's PGA Tour Champions event.

Brehaut, who played the PGA Tour off and on before turning 50 and earned $2.7 million, righted the ship with a birdie at the 478-yard, par-4 13th hole and followed that with a second straight birdie at the 344-yard, par-4 14th. He then secured his place in the 3M Championship with birdies at the 16th (560 yards, par 5) and daunting 17th (231, par 3).

Two Minnesotans were in the field Tuesday. Don Berry, the perennial Minnesota Section PGA Senior Player of the Year, shot 72, and Larry Norland of Zummerman signed for a 74.  


PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

3M Championship Qualifying

At Victory Links Golf Course

Par 71, 7,048 yards

Blaine

Final results (low four scores qualify for this weekend's 3M Championship at TPC Twin Cities)

1. Jeff Brehaut, Los Altos, Calif.                        65

2. John Elliott, Atlantis, Fla.                               66

T3. Gibby Gilbert III, Ooltewah, Tenn.               67

T3. Kevin Johnson, Palm Beach Garden, Fla.  67

Did not qualify

T3. Donnie Hammond, Lake Mary, Fla.            67

T6. Stuart Hendley, Midland, Texas                  68

T6. James Rutledge, Victoria, BC                     68

T8. Steve Schneiter, Sandy, Utah                     68

T8. Steve Pate, Westlake Village, Calif.            68

14. Don Berry, Brooklyn Park, Minn.              72

T19. Larry Norland, Zimmerman, Minn.         74