The University of Mississippi Athletics
Thornberry Co-Medals at Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament
12/15/2019 | Men's Golf
Pro Rebel Earns Fully Exempt Status For 2020 Season
WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – Former Ole Miss men's golf standout Braden Thornberry took home co-medalist honors at the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament on Sunday, earning fully exempt status for the upcoming 2020 season.
Thornberry went 21-under over the four days of competition at Orange County National, including a 7-under 65 on Sunday that featured a string of six straight birdies on the front nine.
"I made a bogey on No. 11, but I really just didn't make the putts," Thornberry said. "It's hard to complain when you made that many on the front though. Golf usually evens out. I wish I could have had one more, but I'm happy with where I am at."
For the second year in a row, Thornberry had a share of the lead after the first round thanks to an opening 7-under 65 on the Crooked Cat course Thursday. Playing his second round on the Panther Lake course, the pro Rebel shot a 1-under 70 before the weekend.
A 6-under 65 on moving day (Saturday) got him into a tie for second leading up to the all-important final 18, where Thornberry shared co-medalist's honors with Curtis Thompson after the two finished at 21-under. Thornberry made the turn at 7-under, firing a 29 that included birdies on holes 4-9. An important birdie at No. 17 gave him a one-shot lead before Thompson birdied the 18th. Thornberry settled for par on the last hole, as the two finished tied atop the leaderboard.
"Being fully exempt, if you saw where I was last year having to do Monday qualifiers, it's very much a relief to know I can pick my schedule and play wherever I want," Thornberry said.
The Olive Branch, Mississippi, native appeared in 14 Korn Ferry Tour events in 2019, making the cut six times. He put together two top-10s in his first season on the tour, first coming at the Lincoln Land Championship, where he tied for fifth. His second top-10 came at the TPC Colorado Championship, finishing tied for seventh.
With the win, Thornberry can compete in any of the 28 events in the upcoming 2020 Korn Ferry Tour season.
"It'll be nice now to plan my schedule out, maybe play three or four in a row, then take a breather," Thornberry said. "I think it'll be a lot better for my golf game."
The 28 total events are the most since 2010 and will include $18,850,000 in official prize money, the largest figure on the Korn Ferry Tour in over a decade. The top 25 on the money list at the end of the year will earn their PGA Tour card.
The new season kicks off at The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic, Jan. 12-15, in Great Exuma, Bahamas.
To keep up to date with the play of Thornberry during his second year as a professional, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissMGolf.
Thornberry went 21-under over the four days of competition at Orange County National, including a 7-under 65 on Sunday that featured a string of six straight birdies on the front nine.
"I made a bogey on No. 11, but I really just didn't make the putts," Thornberry said. "It's hard to complain when you made that many on the front though. Golf usually evens out. I wish I could have had one more, but I'm happy with where I am at."
For the second year in a row, Thornberry had a share of the lead after the first round thanks to an opening 7-under 65 on the Crooked Cat course Thursday. Playing his second round on the Panther Lake course, the pro Rebel shot a 1-under 70 before the weekend.
A 6-under 65 on moving day (Saturday) got him into a tie for second leading up to the all-important final 18, where Thornberry shared co-medalist's honors with Curtis Thompson after the two finished at 21-under. Thornberry made the turn at 7-under, firing a 29 that included birdies on holes 4-9. An important birdie at No. 17 gave him a one-shot lead before Thompson birdied the 18th. Thornberry settled for par on the last hole, as the two finished tied atop the leaderboard.
"Being fully exempt, if you saw where I was last year having to do Monday qualifiers, it's very much a relief to know I can pick my schedule and play wherever I want," Thornberry said.
The Olive Branch, Mississippi, native appeared in 14 Korn Ferry Tour events in 2019, making the cut six times. He put together two top-10s in his first season on the tour, first coming at the Lincoln Land Championship, where he tied for fifth. His second top-10 came at the TPC Colorado Championship, finishing tied for seventh.
With the win, Thornberry can compete in any of the 28 events in the upcoming 2020 Korn Ferry Tour season.
"It'll be nice now to plan my schedule out, maybe play three or four in a row, then take a breather," Thornberry said. "I think it'll be a lot better for my golf game."
The 28 total events are the most since 2010 and will include $18,850,000 in official prize money, the largest figure on the Korn Ferry Tour in over a decade. The top 25 on the money list at the end of the year will earn their PGA Tour card.
The new season kicks off at The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic, Jan. 12-15, in Great Exuma, Bahamas.
To keep up to date with the play of Thornberry during his second year as a professional, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissMGolf.
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/ Men's Golf
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