AYUMI NAKANISHI / ANAKANISHI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Steve Stull, who never qualified for a PGA Tour event, is tied with Jim Albus and R.W. Eaks for the Turtle Bay Championship lead. He's never finished higher than 16th on the senior circuit.
Steve Stull is one of those seniors still chasing a young man's dream. Stull still hanging on
By Paul Arnett
parnett@starbulletin.comNot exactly a household name, even among his fellow Senior PGA Tour competitors, Stull's career is best known among his family and friends. The Richland, Wash., native would like to change that, but needs a remarkable finish at this week's Turtle Bay Championship to avoid going back to qualifying school next month at Rolling Oaks in Florida.
He took a big step in that direction yesterday at the Palmer Course with an opening-round 68. The 4-under effort was good enough for a tie for first with Jim Albus and R.W. Eaks, who also needs to win this weekend to avoid going back to Q-school.
Stull never made it on the PGA Tour. He qualified for four events on what is now the Buy.com Tour in the 1990s, but failed to make the cut in any. Many golfers might have put the bag away, but Stull refused to yield to those pressures.
The 51-year-old played in several Senior Tour events in 2001. His best finish was a tie for 16th at the Las Vegas Senior Classic. In six senior tournaments last year, he pocketed $52,232, but it wasn't enough to earn him a full exemption.
"So I went to the European Seniors Tour this year, which was a lot of fun," Stull said after yesterday's opening round. "It was a good experience for me. My family knows how important this career choice is for me. It's been difficult at times.
"Over there, the courses are excellent, but you never know what the conditions are going to be. Europe definitely helped me play over here. I had never had the opportunity to play in 18 or 19 events in a row. I didn't get into any rhythm."
Stull did well enough overseas this year to finish fifth on the European Senior Tour's Order of Merit. He won the Tobago Plantations Senior Classic in conditions similar to here, something he said helped during yesterday's relatively calm round. The trades never made a real appearance. That's expected to change over the weekend, which could help Stull in his quest for his first American victory.
This is Stull's fourth Senior PGA Tour event in 2002. In February, he tied for 44th at the Audi Senior Classic in Mexico City, his best finish this year.
"After returning from Europe, I had about 20 hours at home before I headed to Utah (to play in the Uniting Fore Care Classic in August)," Stull said. "I was really looking forward to that event. I opened with a good first round like I did today and felt good about my chances."
But the fates conspired against him when he and his son came down with a bad stomach virus. He played the second round, but faded down the stretch in the modified Stableford scoring system. He hopes that's not a problem this weekend.
"I started out just wanting to hit fairways and greens," Stull said. "I was fortunate to open with two birdies. I've been driving the ball well all year."
Stull went as low as 6-under, but bogeyed the final two holes. On the par-5 18th, he pulled his 3-wood off the tee, which led to his second shot going into the bunker. The blast was short, the birdie putt was long and the 5-footer for par broke 6 inches at the hole.
"But I wasn't disappointed with the bogey-bogey finish," Stull said. "I'm just happy to be in the position that I'm in. It's a good feeling to be in the lead."
