LA QUINTA, Calif., Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Casey Martin's hopes of regaining his PGA Tour card colapsed Monday.
Martin, whose debilitating leg ailment has made him a sympathetic figure in the world of golf, carded a 5-over-par 77 in the final round of the National Qualifying Tournament.
A member of the PGA Tour in 2000, Martin concluded the grueling six-round event tied for 57th at 5-under 427. A total of 38 players - the top 35, plus ties - earned unconditional playing privileges for 2003.
At the beginning of the day, Martin was tied for 21st at 10-under and in prime position to get back his card. The cut came at 8-under, meaning Martin only needed to shoot 74 to make it.
Jeff Brehaut of Mountain View, Calif., making his fourth straight appearance at Q-School, carded a 1-under 71 to capture medalist honors with a 108-hole total of 16-under 416. He finished one stroke ahead of Australian James McLean, Chris Anderson and Alex Cejka of the Czech Republic. PGA Tour member Donnie Hammond and John Maginnes tied for fifth.
Brehaut finished 32nd in last year's qualifying tournament but had to return to Q-School after finishing 161st on the PGA Tour money list this year.
Among the notables who earned their cards were Brenden Pappas (eighth) and Paul Goydos (17th). Dave Stockton Jr tied for 21st, while Woody Austin, Ken Green, Brett Quigley and Andy Miller were among those tied for 26th. Andy Miller is the son of former golf great and current analyst Johnny Miller.
Those who failed to earn their cards included Brandel Chamblee (39th), Deane Pappas (39th), Tom Scherrer (49th), Russ Cochran (49th), Robin Freeman (87th) and Bill Glasson (106th).
Martin, a teammate of Tiger Woods at Stanford in the 1990s, was a rookie on the PGA Tour in 2000, when he made only 14 cuts in 29 starts and never finished better than 17th.
Martin made news throughout the year by winning a fight with the PGA Tour in Federal Court, which said the birth defect in his right leg - known as Klippel-Trenaunay-Webber Syndrome - should not preclude him from using an electric cart on the course.
No other player has been allowed to use a cart in PGA Tour competition.
The qualifying tournament, which included 165 players following five withdrawals, was played at three courses in La Quinta - PGA West, the TPC Stadium Course and the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course.
