Edward

Loar

Loar has been playing on the PGA TOUR in 2012 as a rookie, but was unable to gain entry into The Honda Classic after the re-shuffle. He made the best of his week away by shooting a 4-under-par 66-68-68-74=276 in windy conditions. Loar is in the field for the upcoming Puerto Rico Open, and will carry the momentum of this week’s victory with him. He made his first PGA TOUR cut of the year in his last start at the Mayakoba Golf Classic with a tie for 63rd.

While Loar’s three-day total of 1-under-par 75-70-70=215 leaves him well off the lead, he is beginning to play more consistent golf. Loar is not currently in the field for next week’s Transitions Championship, so it will be up to him to either Monday qualify or leave Puerto Rico with a top-10 finish.

The PGA TOUR rookie buried six birdies and swallowed four bogeys at the four-spotter, but he finished one stroke outside the playoff for the final tee time at Redstone on Thursday. Other notables that failed to qualify: 68 -- Billy Horschel, Willie Wood, Dick Mast, Jim Renner, Bubba Dickerson; 69 -- Will MacKenzie; 70 -- Tim Petrovic, Matt Weibring; 71 -- Stephen Gangluff, Matt McQuillan, Brenden Pappas, Brad Edler, Darron Stiles, Clark Dennis, Craig Kanada; 72 -- Russell Knox, Patrick Sheehan, Frank Lickliter II, Todd Demsey, Justin Hicks; 73 -- Scott Gutschewski, Adam Hadwin; 74 -- Alexandre Rocha, Tom Byrum, Mike Standly; 75 -- Kyle Thompson, Todd Hamilton; 76 -- Ted Purdy, Will Strickler, David Morland IV; 78 -- Guy Boros.

Loar rolls into Sedgefield having missed seven of his last eight cuts. Ironically, the Texan has earned more money on the Web.com Tour this year in four starts than he has in 18 PGA TOUR attempts.

The PGA TOUR rookie has only cashed in two (of eight) starts on the big stage, but did nab a win on the Nationwide Tour in Panama. He’s struggled with the irons this year, landing only 57.19 percent GIR.

The Q School grad has missed seven of his last eight cuts with the only payday coming in the form of a T73 (MDF) at Colonial. While he won on the Web.com Tour to start the 2012 season, his $46,107 in PGA TOUR earnings rank him 216th on the money list.

Loar is in the midst of a dismal 2012 on the PGA TOUR, coming in at just 209th on the money list in his rookie campaign. As he struggled to get starts early in the season, he jumped over to the Web.com Tour to play the Panama Claro Championship in early March, which he won. Ironically, Loar’s $114,901 in earnings on the Web.com Tour are greater than the $79,578 he’s amassed on the PGA TOUR. He will likely qualify for the Web.com Tour Championship by virtue of a top 60 finish on that money list, making it just as likely he could earn a 2013 card on the Web.com Tour as it is he retains his card with a top 125 finish on the PGA TOUR.

He had a chance to nab the lead by himself at the par-5 18th, but could not manage a birdie or better. In all, he circled five birdies to just two bogeys in his third lap around the Prince of Wales Country Club.

Loar’s 65 was his second in as many rounds, reaching the midpoint at 14-under 130. In the second round he started his day on the back nine, circling birdies on the 15th and 18th holes before making the turn. He then heated up to birdie five of the nine holes on the front, distancing himself from the pack of chasers in the process. He’s no stranger to success on the Web.com Tour’s travels outside of the United States, picking off a win at the Panama Claro Championship last season.

The lefty circled six birdies and gave back four bogeys in his final lap around Le Triomphe Country Club in Broussard, La., finishing the week at 17-under 68-66-64-69=267. This puts a stamp on a recent strong run that includes a runner-up finish at the Chile Classic. With $164,684 in earnings, he wrestles the No. 1 position on the Web.com Tour money list away from Patrick Cantlay. Loar is assured of a berth in the Web.com Tour Finals and has the inside track toward a spot inside the top 25 that guarantees a 2013-14 PGA TOUR card.