Stanford alum McNealy earns PGA Tour card for 201920
Maverick McNealy is headed to the PGA Tour.
McNealy, who grew up in Portola Valley and earned AllAmerica honors at Stanford, officially wrapped up his PGA Tour card Sunday outside Portland, Ore. McNealy finished 23rd on the KornFerry Tour season points list, cementing one of the 25 available spots on the “big tour” for the 201920 season.
He had planted himself in prime position the previous weekend in Hayward, where he finished third in the Ellie Mae Classic. That vaulted McNealy to No. 20 on the points list entering the final regularseason event.
Sunday’s tie for 48th at the tournament near Portland dropped McNealy to No. 23 for the season — still good enough to land one of those coveted cards. The PGA Tour’s wraparound schedule begins Sept. 12 in West Virginia and includes the Safeway Open in Napa (Sept. 2629).
Also earning his PGA Tour card was San Jose State alum Mark Hubbard. The 30yearold from Denver — who turned pro in 2012 — finished ninth this season on the KornFerry Tour.
McNealy graduated from Stanford in 2017 and spent two years on the Web.com Tour (now Korn Ferry), restlessly chasing a promotion.
“I think people put huge expectations on me and I put big expectations on myself, too,” he said. “This year, I got off to a really great start but struggled in the middle of the year. It got to the point where I just said I’m going to play here and work as hard as I can. It will take as long as it takes to get to that next level. I made some tough decisions and worked really hard at the back end of the year . ...
“It’s been a long two years and I’ve learned a lot as a player, I think. But, honestly, when I turned pro, I wasn’t playing my best. But I feel I have hit my stride, have figured things out and can’t wait to see what’s next.”