TOUR set to return to Bear Lakes CC for 2009 q-school

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The PGA TOUR announced today that the 2009 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament will be held at Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach, Fla. The annual six-round tournament (108 holes) will be held Dec. 2-7 and will feature approximately 160 players vying for a PGA TOUR card for the 2010 season.

Bear Lakes Country Club was designed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Jack Nicklaus. The 36-hole facility -- featuring the par-72 Lakes Course (7,439 yards) and Links Course (7,392 yards) -- has hosted the Qualifying Tournament on two previous occasions. Carl Paulson captured medalist honors in 1995, with Pat Perez taking top billing in 2001.

Both courses have received modifications by Nicklaus in the last five years.

"These courses represent two very different playing experiences and styles of golf, so they should test every facet of the players' games," said Nicklaus. "The Lakes Course is a good conventional test of golf and a bit stronger (after the redesign). The Links Course is more of a true links course than it was before. It is interesting golf, the type of course that takes a bit of learning and some patience. I think the players will have fun with it."

The top 25 players and ties at Bear Lakes will earn their PGA TOUR card for 2010, with the next 50 (approximate) players earning fully-exempt status on the Nationwide Tour. Each player who advances to the final stage of the Qualifying Tournament will earn at least conditional status on the Nationwide Tour. A year ago, Harrison Frazar cruised to an eight-stroke win at the event and led a group of 28 players onto the PGA TOUR.