Round 2: Frys.com Open

By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM

SAN MARTIN, Calif. — Bud Cauley has a chance to be the first player since Ryan Moore in 2005 to go from college straight to the PGA TOUR. He also has a chance to win the Frys.com Open after a 66 Friday that has him just one shot off the lead entering the weekend.

Cauley, who left Alabama a year early, has made five of six cuts on the PGA TOUR this year and even though he is exempt through to the second stage of q-school by making the cut at the U.S. Open, he hopes he can skip the six-day event altogether. A strong finish here, and next week, could certainly give him the earnings needed to do that.

As for leaving early, he has no regrets and it’s easy to understand why given how Cauley has played — in addition to being one back here, he tied for fourth at the Viking Classic and 13th at the RBC Canadian Open/

”I think playing out here has sharpened my learning curve,” Cauley said. “By leaving a year early I thought best thing for my game would be to play against best competition. I wouldn’t have left if I didn’t think I could come out here and compete.”

He’s certainly doing that this week with two rounds in the 60s after a six-birdie effort on Friday.

But with no status on TOUR, Cauley, who turned pro in June, will have to play his way into other starts by finishing at least in the top 10. His only other scheduled event this year is the Nationwide Tour’s Winn- Dixie Jacksonville Open, which is opposite the Children’s Miracle Network Classic and potentially his last chance before q-school to lock up a card.

As for what he’s learned in his pursuit of a professional career?

”Off the course I get as much rest as I can,” he said. “On the course, just course management stuff. You think you have to shoot low scores, but you don’t have to birdie every hole.”

A few more certainly wouldn’t hurt.