Knost flirts with, avoids 18th-hole disaster

LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Former U.S. Amateur and U.S. Amateur Public Links champion Colt Knost went from an emotional high to an emotional low and finally just relief that the Q School ordeal was over.

Knost, who finished 174th on the PGA Tour money list necessitating a return to the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, was 10-under par through 17 holes on Monday and safely inside the top 25 when he hit his tee shot on 18 at the Nicklaus Tournament Course into the water. It led to a double-bogey.

"I thought I was done," Knost said. "I thought I had no chance."

When he got to the scoring trailer, he discovered that eight-under par was the number and that he had retained his PGA Tour card. Rather than celebrating, he was more relieved.

"I really thought I was fine, all day," he said. "I thought I had a shot or two to play with on 18. I hit a tee shot I didn't really expect to hit. That was kind of the pressure, I guess. I didn't really know where I stood. I kind of had an idea. If I'd known I had a couple to play with I probably would have blown it way left. I'd been hitting it pretty good all day. That shot came out of nowhere. I made my worst swing of the day at the wrong time. I tried to hit a little cut there and totally whiffed it.

"A tough finish, but it looks like I'm going to make it through."

-- John Strege