More Greenbrier Classic coverage and live updates here
DANIELS, W.Va. - Former Shepherd University golfer David Bradshaw wiped away six years of frustration in 23 holes on Monday at the Resort at Glade Springs.
The 32-year-old member of PGA Tour Canada had a bogey on the fifth playoff hole in the Greenbrier Classic Open Qualifier on the par 71, 6,987-yard track to secure the final spot for this week's Classic at the Old White TPC in White Sulphur Springs. The four-round tournament begins Thursday and concludes Sunday.
Bradshaw joins medalist Garland Green of Tazewell, Va. (7-under 65), Patrick Newcomb of Benton, Ky. (6-under 65) and Garrett Osborn of Birmingham, Ala. (5-under 66) - the first one to advance through the playoff with a birdie on the fourth playoff hole.
"Finally," said Bradshaw, who played in all but one of the Classic's open qualifiers, missing last year because the dates overlapped with the big-money Frank B. Fuhrer Invitational in Pittsburgh. "I know I have a lot of local support here. A lot of people wanted me in this golf tournament, so I'm fired up. And, it's official."
In the first Classic Open Qualifier in 2010, Bradshaw made a playoff but was eliminated on the first hole (No. 10). In 2011, he lost in a playoff, despite being 5-under when rain suspended play in regulation. In 2013, he shot a 69, four strokes away from even securing a spot in a playoff.
Bradshaw was in the fourth group to begin Monday and his 66 was the low round when he signed his scorecard. By the time the 66-player field had completed 18 holes, there were two qualifiers and three players - Bradshaw, Osborn, and Milwaukee's Mike Van Sickle, who has a blog titled "Diary of a Monday Qualifier" - competing for two spots.
In the first five Monday qualifiers, only three times did a player shoot higher than 66 to earn one of the four positions: Alex Hamilton (68) and David Morland (69) in 2010 and Andre Stolz (67) in 2011.
Bradshaw immediately squandered an opportunity to get his much-desired spot in the Classic, but missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the par 4 No. 10 - the first playoff hole.
"I made a good putt, I just expected it to break right and it didn't," he said. "I hit a good putt, it didn't go right, and that was that. Oh well, on to the next one."
He had to scramble on the third playoff hole (No. 18), he hit his second shot into a bunker. Needing to get over a second bunker to reach the green, he didn't quite make it. Bradshaw got up and down to save par.
Van Sickle then missed a 4-foot putt that would have made him the 155th player 156-player Classic field.
"I got so hosed in that first bunker ... my ball was against a rock," Bradshaw said. "I had no shot. I didn't hit a very good bunker shot after that, because I was a little fired up. Made the putt."
On to the fourth playoff hole where Osborn hit his second shot 3 feet short of the hole and tapped for birdie. As Osborn left the course to prepare for the Greenbrier Classic, Bradshaw and Van Sickle continued toward No. 17 for the third time on Monday.
"I knew he was going to make it, so I just thought, OK, now it's two (players) for one (spot)," Bradshaw said. "Then, I had to beat Mike. I felt bad for him. That putt on 18 ... he should've made that."
Van Sickle overshot the green and left his ball in the fringe 40 feet from the hole, while Bradshaw used a 7-iron to come within 6 feet. Van Sickle hit twice and was staring at a putt for bogey. Realizing a two-putt for par was all he needed, Bradshaw lagged his first to within 5 inches and tapped in his second.
In claiming the last spot on Monday, Bradshaw is the 24th competitor from Glade Springs' Monday qualifier to reach the Greenbrier Classic. There have been no players repeat the feat on the Cobb Course.
This will be the fifth time Bradshaw has played in a PGA Tour event. He missed the cut at the Honda Classic and Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2011, the Tampa Bay Championship in 2013 and again at the Zurich Classic in 2014.
"I've been hitting the ball good all year, my putter's just been really rough," Bradshaw said. "(Monday), it saved me."
Charleston's Swanson Smith shot a 67, missing the playoff by one stroke; Also from Charleston, Christian Brand, who plays on the Web.com Tour, shot a 69; former Marshall University player Nathan Kerns shot a 71; Parkersburg's Ken Hess shot a 74; and Kermit's Davey Jude shot a 77.
Contact Assistant Sports Editor Rich Stevens at richstevens@dailymailwv.com or 304-348-4837. Follow him on Twitter @richdailymail.