Shane

Bertsch

Bertsch hit only 24 greens at TPC Summerlin this week but still needed 60 putts. Even a hole-out for eagle from 129 yards on the par-4 12th hole in his opening round couldn’t save a disappointing effort. This leaves him with four starts on his Major Medical Extension (reshuffle category) to earn $471,338 and get elevated to the MME category. He’ll try again at next week’s Frys.com Open where he’ll be making his debut at CordeValle Golf Club.

Bertsch finished three strokes out of the playoff at 14-under 270. He had a mammoth day with his putter, requiring only 25 strokes while hitting 14 greens in regulation. His eagle from 24'3" at the 15th hole followed eight birdies, including conversions of 19'4", 29'2", 14'2" and 20'10" at the second, third, ninth and 13th holes, respectively. He’ll compete at The McGladrey Classic with three starts remaining on his Major Medical Extension (reshuffle category) to earn $251,338 and get elevated to the MME category.

Bertsch hit only 24 greens and still needed 62 putts. Those totals just won’t get the job done at the season finale. This leaves him with one start on his Major Medical Extension (reshuffle category) to earn $241,285 and get elevated to the MME category. While the medical will carry over into 2012, he’ll likely secure conditional status at worst as he entered this week ranked 140th on the money list. Overall, the journeyman went 11-for-20 with two top 10s.

Bertsch has conditional status on the PGA TOUR so this is a mildly boggling decision especially since he’s not scheduled to compete on the Nationwide Tour either. He’s 1-for-3 this year with a T61 at Pebble Beach.

If he doesn’t withdraw prior to his tee time, Bertsch will be making his final start on a Major Medical Extension in the reshuffle category. To meet its terms of $241,285 and earn a promotion to the MME category, he will need no worse than a two-way T4 worth $242,000. (A solo fifth would pay $220K of the $5.5 million purse.) Short of that and he’ll fall into the conditional status category for the remainder of the year. He finished 143rd in earnings in 2011.

Bertsch hit only 20 greens over 36 holes and still needed 57 putts. He offset seven birdies with eight bogeys. This was his last start on a medical extension in the reshuffle category. Therefore, since he finished 143rd on the money list in 2011, he’ll tumble into the conditional status category for the remainder of this year. For the record, he fell short of meeting the terms of his medical by $241,285.

Bertsch was the eighth alternate at the start of the week. He gained entry when Scott Stallings withdrew this morning and Garrett Willis wasn’t on site as first alternate. Bertsch started his round on the 10th tee at 7:56 a.m. ET. He’s a mere 3-for-7 on conditional status this year with no top 45s.

Bertsch has found starts hard to come by, as he’s playing with conditional status. His only made cut came at Pebble Beach. If there is a highlight to be found, he’s split 64.03 percent of his fairways.

Bertsch was the sixth alternate at the start of the week. He gained entry when four golfers withdrew this morning. He’s coming off a T31 at the True South Classic, his best finish among four paydays in 11 starts this year. He’s 213th in the FedExCup standings.

Bertsch circled just six birdies against only two bogeys to survive the test north of Washington, D.C. Michael Thompson was the runner-up at 2-under 74-68=142. Five golfers shared third place at 1-under 141, filling fill out the remaining exemptions: Nicholas Thompson (71-72); Darron Stiles (72-71); Paul Claxton (75-68); Jeff Curl (69-74); and Cole Howard (73-70). Notables that failed to advance from this site include: 145--Fred Funk; Adam Hadwin ... 146--Doug LaBelle II ... 148--Gary Christian; Aron Price ... 149--Sam Cyr ... 150--Kent Jones; Andrew McLardy ... WD--Cliff Kresge; Brent Delahoussaye; Drew Weaver.