North Carolina State University Athletics
TIM PEELER: Sweet Dream For Pettersson
10/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Oct. 31, 2005
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH - Anyone who has ever learned to use a set of golf clubs knows about the dream: what it must feel like to win a PGA Tour event, major or minor or somewhere in between.
Sometimes, it's making a long putt for birdie. Sometimes, it's crushing a perfect drive to get in position for a last-hole rally. Sometimes, it's chipping the ball in from the fairway or a sand trap.
Rarely does it ever include making par on the final four holes, then watching as someone tries to charge ahead of you.
But that's what happened to former NC State All-America Carl Pettersson on Sunday, as he recorded the first victory of his PGA Tour career, holding off Chad Campbell for a one-stroke win at the Chrysler Championship in Tampa, Fla.
"It was a little easier in the dreams," said the former Wolfpack All-America, who shot an even-par 71 on the final day of the tournament. "(But) it feels fantastic. It hasn't quite sunk in yet. Unbelievable. Just a real special day. I'm thrilled."
Pettersson, 28, wasn't the only one thrilled after he held off a late-charging Campbell, who was 4-under on Sunday. He was joined on the victory stand by his wife DeAnna and 1-year-old daughter, Carlie. His parents, Lars and Elizabeth Pettersson, were visiting from their home in Sweden, so the whole family was there to savor the victory.
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And back in Raleigh, long-time Wolfpack golf coach Richard Sykes watched the whole thing unfold on his home television.
"I was sitting there wearing an NC State golf T-shirt and you could see the letters jumping up and down on my chest, my heart was beating so fast," Sykes said. "He played great. He kept his composure."
Pettersson became the first NC State golfer to win a PGA Tour-sanctioned event in nearly a quarter century, going back to 1981 when Vance Heafner teamed with Mike Holland teamed to win the Walt Disney World National Team Championship in Orlando, the last year of that two-player event that has now become the stroke-play Funai Classic.
The native of Sweden, who went to high school in Greensboro and now lives in Wake Forest, won $954,000 for the victory, which propels him to No. 43 on the official PGA Tour money list with $1,729,851, with one tournament remaining in the season. If Pettersson has a strong outing this week at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic in Madison, Miss., where he tied for 10th last year, Pettersson could move up into the Top 40, which will get him an automatic invitation to next year's Masters.
He needs about $40,000 in winnings this week to get close to that mark, depending on who else plays in this week's tournament.
Tim Clark, Pettersson's one-time roommate and another former All-America at NC State, has already qualified for the Masters. He is ranked 19th on the money list with total PGA Tour earnings of $2,191,737. He also has two victories overseas this year, in the South African Open and the Scottish Open.
Sykes also reports that six other former NC State golfers - Chris Mundorf, Jason Moon, David Sanchez, Garth Mulroy, Hank Kim and Andrew Svoboda (who began his collegiate career at NC State but finished elsewhere) - are preparing to continue their pursuit of PGA Tour cards. All six made it through the first round of PGA Tour qualifying school and will begin play in the second stage next week. The second stage takes place at six courses in Florida, Texas and California.
All golfers who make it through the second stage are assure of at least a spot on the Nationwide Tour next year and a spot in the grueling Qualifying School finals, which will be held from Nov. 30-Dec. 5 at Orange County National Golf Center in Winter Garden, Fla.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
