Dec. 6, 2004

LA QUINTA, Calif. - Furman alumnus Matt Davidson ('04) fired a final round one-under 71 on Monday to earn a PGA Tour Card in his first qualifying school attempt, recording a six-round 10-under total to finish tied for 11th overall.

Davidson, who was a two-time All-Southern Conference selection and the 2002 SoCon Player of the Year, graduated last year ranked second behind Brad Faxon on Furman's all-time career stroke averages list with a 73.40. In addition, he won three collegiate tournaments, including the 2004 Southern Conference Championship, and was a Golf Coaches Association of Amercia All-America Scholar in 2002 and 2004.

At the La Quinta, Calif. resort's PGA West Stadium and Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course, Davidson posted five rounds out of six at par or better, shooting a one-over 73 in his first day of competition. Davidson followed that up with a one-under 71 in round two, a seven-under 65 in round three, a two-under 70 in round four, an even-par 72 in round five, and a one-under 71 in Monday's final round.

Davidson got off to a shaky start in Monday's final round, making the turn at three-over following a double-bogey on the par four seventh, and bogeys on holes one, six, and nine. He regained form on the back nine, however, posting four consecutive birdies on holes 10 through 13, before giving one back with a bogey on the par four 14th. He sealed his one-under total with a final birdie - his seventh of the day, on the par three 17th

Of the 35 Q-school graduates that earned their PGA card for 2005, Davidson was one of 12 taking part in Q-school for the first time.

A 1999 graduate of West Windsor High School in West Windsor, N.J., Davidson, the son of Fran and Don Davidson, graduated Furman in 2004 with a degree in political science, and joins Furman alumnus Brad Faxon as Furman's second PGA Tour member.