ORANGE COUNTY GOLF NOTEBOOK / MARTIN BECK : Tidland’s Best Shot Falls Shy of PGA Tour

Qualifying for a PGA Tour card is arguably the most difficult task in competitive golf. If it wasn’t time spent on a golf course, one might be tempted to call it an ordeal.

First-time tour wanna-bes must make it through two four-day qualifying tournaments. The survivors and some who have early-round exemptions--this year there were 190--play four rounds to cut the field roughly in half. Two more rounds follow to decide those who will play for the big money in 1996. At least 40 receive their tour cards.

Placentia’s Chris Tidland, fresh from helping Oklahoma State capture the NCAA Division I title, jumped into this process for the first time this year and performed well. He advanced comfortably through the first two rounds and didn’t wilt at the final qualifying tournament, which started Wednesday in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Tidland, who shot three-under par for four rounds, fell one stroke short of making the cut for the final two rounds, played Sunday and today.

However, his finish--tied for 101st--makes him fully exempt for the 1996 Nike Tour.

“I didn’t come here with any goals about where I wanted to finish,” Tidland said by telephone from Florida Thursday night. “I just wanted to learn more about professional golf, absorb it all and do the best I can.”

Tidland was talking after his second consecutive round of 71. That day he had been cruising along at one-under on the Lakes course at Bear Lakes Country Club before taking bogeys on Nos. 13 and 14. Then on the par-5 15th, he hit the flagstick with his second shot and made a short putt for eagle. “That kind of saved my round,” Tidland said.

Tidland said he didn’t feel any extra pressure. “I’m trying to enjoy myself and treat it like just another tournament,” Tidland said. “It’s tough to do, but I think it’s possible.

“You’re going to have some bad shots and you’re going to have to roll with the punches and let your game come to you instead of forcing it. I’m so young and I’m thinking there’s no hurry to get where I’m going. But I’m trying to enjoy the process on the way.”

Friday, Tidland shot 72 and Saturday he was two-under after nine holes, but finished one-over on his back nine.

Perry Parker, a former UC Irvine and Foothill High player who turned pro in 1987, also missed the cut, finishing six-over. He will have a provisional exemption to the Nike Tour next year.

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Jimmy Adams of Newport Beach made the final Senior PGA Tour qualifying tournament, but failed to make the cut after two rounds, shooting 74-73 last week on the Pete Dye course at the Mission Hills Resort in Rancho Mirage. Adams missed the cut by one.

Several other Orange County players competed in a regional qualifying tournament last month at the Vineyard Golf Club in Escondido, but none advanced. Fullerton’s Jay Hyon was closest, shooting 11-over 291, missing the cut by five strokes.

Michael Uptegraff of Irvine shot 302, Jack Smith of Fountain Valley 309 and Terry Langohr of Dana Point 313.

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Tiger reruns: Anyone who missed the television coverage of Tiger Woods’ second consecutive U.S. Amateur victory or wants to see some of it again has that opportunity. The USGA is selling a video of highlights from the 1995 Amateur at Newport Country Club called “Tiger’s Twin Win.”

The video, available for $7.50 ($5 for USGA members), includes footage from the final three days of competition, including, of course, Woods’ 140-yard eight-iron shot that stopped about 16 inches from the cup and essentially beat Buddy Marucci on the 36th hole of the final.

The USGA also has a video from the 1994 Amateur, “Tiger’s Tale, The Comeback” that chronicle’s Woods’ rally from six holes down to beat Trip Kuehne in the final.

For information call the USGA at (800) 336-4446.

The Orange County Golf Notebook runs monthly.