GLADE SPRINGS — Wedged into a four-man playoff for the final three Greenbrier qualifying spots, former Marshall golfer Logan Lagodich found himself feeling “pretty nervous” Monday.
His anxiety diminished considerably once an opponent’s tee shot found the trees on No. 18.
Lagodich parred the first playoff hole to secure his spot in this week’s PGA event, which has been renamed A Military Tribute at the Greenbrier.
“You work for it your whole life and I finally got my first one,” he said. “Hopefully, I can make something of it.”
Former University of Florida player T.J. Vogel led the field with a 6-under 65, reinforcing the nickname “Mr. Monday” after an unfathomable seventh Monday qualifying performance this season. During all of 2017, no golfer qualified more than three times.
“I wish every day was Monday,” Vogel joked. “It’s been pretty crazy.”
Lagodich was among four players who finished a shot back of Vogel at 5-under. That forced a playoff in which Wes Homan and East Carolina University amateur Blake Taylor also survived. The odd man out was Mark Silvers.
Familiar with the Glade Springs Cobb Course from his days at Marshall, Lagodich also played collegiate events for three years running on the Greenbrier’s Old White TPC. Now comes a big-time opportunity for the Canton, Ohio, native to square off against some of the world’s top golfers.
“I’ve never been in this situation, so I’ll think it through and try to get a game plan together,” he said.
Qualifiers faced typically long odds Monday — only four advanced from a field of 70 — and they’ll be huge underdogs in Thursday’s opening round. But they need only look back to last year for some mild inspiration, calling that qualifier Daniel Obremski made the Greenbrier cut and earned $14,981 by tying for 64th.
Taylor said there won’t be any money for him, considering he has two more years of college eligibility remaining at ECU.
“I’ll just try to use it as a big learning experience,” he said. “A lot of experimenting I’m sure.”
Nine-time West Virginia Open champion David Bradshaw skipped the qualifying tension thanks to a late Greenbrier exemption. Other golfers with in-state ties weren’t in the running.
Wyoming County native Colin Bowles, who’s bound for Ohio State, finished even at 71.
Former Wheeling Park standout Thad Obecny, just weeks into his pro career, shot 73.
“I made some dumb bogeys on the front, and you know you have to shoot 5- or 6-under, so I just really had no chance,” Obecny said.
Princeton native Tyler Hillyer, a senior at Morehead State, languished at 76.
“The course was great but it wasn’t my day and I got off to a real cold start,” he said. “Maybe my problem was I was trying to shoot 66 on the first tee.”
