Oct. 28, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern graduate Fran Quinn secured his spot on the 2010 PGA TOUR in the last event of the season, finishing tied for 46th in the Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island in Charleston, S.C. Quinn secured the final spot in the top-25 money-makers list after a solid Nationwide Tour season that included seven top-25 finishes.
Quinn established himself in the hunt for the top-25 one month ago after taking the championship at the Albertsons' Boise Open. The win boosted Quinn from 94th to 18th on the Tour with five events remaining, also making the NU alum the 13th person to eclipse the $1 million earning mark in the Nationwide Tour history. It was the third victory for Quinn on the Nationwide Tour but his first since 2000, a span of 236 starts.
Quinn has played in 47 PGA TOUR events throughout his career, with his career-best finish a tie for ninth at the 1994 New England Classic. He has spent only one previous year with a full PGA TOUR card, that coming in 1992. Finishing the 2009 season in the top-25 didn't come easy for the Worcester, Mass., native though, as sickness threatened to sideline Quinn during last weekend's Tour Championship event.
"I went on IV, antibiotics along with a straight IV for just getting hydrated. I had a urinary tract infection. It was just brutal, absolutely brutal. Worst pain I've ever been in," said Quinn after the event. "I didn't know if I could play this morning when I woke up. I was going to play. There was no way I wasn't going to play. But realistically I didn't know if I could break 80 the way I felt. It was a grind. And it was pretty bad timing, to say the least."
Quinn turned pro in 1988 after completing his Northwestern career, during which he earned a tournament victory in the 1986-87 season at the Illinois State Invitational. Sunday's win was the third for Quinn on the Nationwide Tour but his first since 2000, a span of 236 starts.
For more on "The 25," link to PGATOUR.com.