Finale brings total elation, or complete heartbreak

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Tommy Biershenk missed his card by a shot in 2010. At PGA West, he got his card with six shots to spare.

LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Tommy Biershenk is the epitome of q-school.

You can change the name and the details, but the story is the same. That doesn't make it any less compelling, of course.

Q-SCHOOL

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In the case of Biershenk, his story is in the details. He's 38, has been coming to various stages of q-school every year since 1997, failing to reach the PGA TOUR every single time -- until now.

Almost a year ago to the day, Biershenk finished one stroke shy of getting a PGA TOUR card. On Monday, it wasn't nearly that close, as he shot a 4-under 68 to finish the week 14 under and in a tie for fifth.

"The longer it goes, the harder you try," Biershenk said. "It's been a grind."

That was evident by the reaction of Colt Knost. He double-bogeyed his final hole after finding the water off the tee.

"I thought I was done," an emotional Knost said afterward.

Except he wasn't. He finished right on the number at 8 under and tied for 27th. Still, Knost had to fight back tears of exhaustion -- mental and physical.

"I'm just glad it's over," he said.

For others, like Scott Parel, it was the dream that was over.

The 46-year-old who grew up in Augusta, Ga., playing money matches with the likes of Frank Chirkinian, had never made it to the TOUR, either.

Through the first five rounds he was in good position at 9 under. Then he shot a final-round 74 to finish in a tie for 30th and two shots outside the number.

The finish was made particularly painful by the fact that Parel twice left putts on the edge of the hole Monday.

Meet the grads

Meet the grads

Brendon Todd was medalist, but 26 others earned PGA TOUR cards on Monday. Take a closer look at the graduates. Player profiles

"It's hard to swallow," said Parel, who went to the University of Georgia a few decades ago but didn't play on the team and didn't even turn pro until 31. "The worst part is I have to wait a another year."

Brendon Todd knows a similar pain.

A year ago, Todd, who helped the Bulldogs to a national championship in 2005 and grew up playing with Dustin Johnson and Webb Simpson, completely lost his golf game. He missed the cut in every one of his 13 starts on the Nationwide Tour.

"It got pretty bad," Todd said. "I couldn't keep the ball on the course."

After a winter of hard work and a couple of top-10s on the Nationwide Tour in 2011, Todd went out Monday and earned medalist honors at q-school, where he finished at 17 under.

Todd was one of four former Bulldogs to get a TOUR card for next year with Brian Harman (T8), Kevin Kisner (T11) and Harris English (T13).

That was more than any other school.

Others weren't so fortunate, including David Duval, Boo Weekley and Ty Tryon.

Duval made a final-day run at the top 25 by playing his first nine holes in 4 under, but he shot even par for the day to tie for 72nd.

Weekley closed with a 69 but tied for 54th at 4 under.

Still, those two should get plenty of starts on TOUR in 2012 given their name recognition.

Tryon's road will be much tougher after advancing to the final stage for a second straight year. He finished 158th at 22 over and will be relegated to a few Nationwide Tour starts at best.

Likewise Bob May.

The 2000 PGA Championship runner-up has battled a bad back for years. Finally healthy, he fell into a tie for 93rd after shooting 78-73 his final two rounds.

Therein lies the beauty -- and the curse -- of q-school. Two bad rounds, or in the case of Parel, two putts that came up short were the difference.

Despite the heartbreak, the dream is never dissuaded, though.

Said Parel: "I'm not going to give up."