After a disappointing finish to his 2012 Web.com Tour season, North Shore native Rob Oppenheim regained top form last week at the Second Stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School, capturing medalist honors at The Plantation Reserve in Florida by four strokes.
Rob, Salem-born and Andover (Indian Ridge CC)-bred, blew away an impressive field with scores of 63-67-66-67 for 263, 21 under par.
He had had a strong first-half season on the Web.com and had placed himself comfortably among the top 25 money winners. If he had maintained that pace for the remainder of the season he would havde earned a spot on the 2013 PGA Tour. But he stumbled the second half and finished 42nd with $132,000 in earnings, when it took $182,000 to finish No. 25.
Rob now moves on to the 108-hole final Q-School event starting next Monday (Nov. 26) and finishing December 1. More than 200 hopefuls will be vying for the coveted 25 qualifying slots.
Mike Welch of Quincy, former winner of the New England Amateur at Salem CC, also advanced by placing sixth at the Brooksville, Fla., qualifier, shooting 275 and placing sixth. Lakeville’s Jim Renner missed with a 288 aggregate. Kevin Johnson, son of the late Ken (of Peabody) and Anne (of Salem) Johnson, placed 45th at the same qualifier, shooting 287.
Former Salem CC golf director Kirk Hanefeld was not as fortunate at the Champion’s Q-School final tournament at TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Fla. Hanefeld, 56, the current director of the Golf Academy at Renaissance in Haverhill, shot 291, three over par, good for a tie for 44th place. The medalist was Gene Jones at 275, 13 under. There was a 4-for-2 playoff for the last two qualifying slots for the 2013 Champions Tour (Nos. 4 and 5) at 282, six under.
Eddie Kirby of Alpine in Rhode Island, winner of the 2012 NEPGA at Kernwood and Salem in August, shot 300.
Hanefeld was hoping for one more run at the over-50 tour after experiencing some outstanding tournaments the last six years. He has won $736,765 in career earnings and had several top 10 finishes. He played in three events in 2011 and won $17,000 and change, one event in 2012 and won $1120.