(BY KEVIN PRISE) –NORTH PLAINS, Ore. – Throughout the week at the WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by Kraft Heinz, Harold Varner III talked about the need to play his best while also accepting the fact that his fate might ultimately end up out of his hands.
Varner entered the week No. 25 on the Web.com Tour money list, squarely on the bubble in his attempt to earn his PGA TOUR card for the first time. He played his first seven holes Thursday in 4 over, yet battled back to make the cut. When he finished his final round Sunday just as the leaders were teeing off, 2-under total for the week at Pumpkin Ridge GC (Witch Hollow), he knew that anything could still happen.
“I think I can go into the (Web.com Tour) Finals and make some hay,” said Varner upon the conclusion of his final round, well aware that he could be knocked outside the top 25 by afternoon’s end. “I played 21 events, and this round isn’t what it’s going to come down to in my eyes. That’s just how it is, and I’m going to have to accept that.
“Whatever happens, I’m going to get better from it. It’s not going to be easy, but I gave myself a chance. That’s what we want.”
Four hours before his fate would be determined, Varner spoke as a man well aware that he could lose his place in the top 25 quite easily. The most clear-cut scenario fell with the final group of Dicky Pride and Tim Herron: If Herron won and Pride finished solo second, Varner would be surpassed by both on the money list and subsequently lose his top-25 spot.
In between various off-course obligations – and responding to the dozens of text messages and calls that flooded his phone – Varner stationed himself in the Witch Hollow clubhouse, watching the telecast alongside fellow Web.com Tour pros. As the afternoon progressed, it became clear that the tournament would come down to Pride and Herron.
Varner, not a Southeastern Conference fan, even uttered a couple of “Roll Tides” along the way, in reference to Pride’s alma mater. Hardcore fist pumps were in order when Pride rolled in a mid-range par putt midway through the back nine. Dawie van der Walt sat nearby, offering his take on the scenarios, along with fellow Web.com Tour graduates Patton Kizzire, Kelly Kraft and Andrew Landry.
Read more at PGA Tour.com
Harold Varner Becomes First African American To Earn PGA Tour Card Through Web.com
