Just add this one to the great collection of John Harbottle III-designed golf courses

Palouse Ridge, the new 18-hole championship facility at Washington State University that opened in late August, has been named the ninth-best new venue in the world in 2008 by "Travel and Leisure Golf" magazine.

The links-style layout, which the magazine depicts has having "top shelf greens and whisker-edged bunkers," was one of six new West Coast courses selected. The Castle Course in Scotland is No. 1.

Palouse Ridge is slated to host the Washington State Men’s Amateur in 2009, the Pacific-10 Conference women's championships in 2012 and the Pac-10 men's tournament in 2014.

Last month, the course was ranked 15th among the "50 Best New Courses" for 2007 and 2008 by Golf Week magazine.

For rates, course design and more information on Palouse Ridge Golf Club, visit www.palouseridge.com .

Tacoma's Michael Putnam is past the penultimate, out-of-sight stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School, placing tied for third at the four-round event Saturday at Deerwood Golf Club in Kingwood, Texas.

Putnam finished at 9-under 279, and will get an opportunity to rejoin the PGA Tour by playing the six-round, final stage Dec. 3-8 at PGA West Nicklaus and Stadium Courses in California.

The top 25 from that tournament earn their PGA Tour card.

Needless to say, Putnam is anxious and excited. He failed to reach this point last season after finishing outside the top 125 on the PGA Tour's money list, and had to try and qualify again.

"Everything feels great. I played well at the end of the year," Putnam said. "The swing feels good. I am in maintain mode right now."

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Tacoma's Michael Putnam has one more opportunity for a late-season rally.

Putnam finished 52nd on the Nationwide Tour's earnings list for 2008 – the top 25 earned their PGA Tour cards – and now has to go through PGA Tour qualifying school.

That starts today for the Life Christian Academy graduate, and Pepperdine All-American. He, along with Bremerton's Corey Prugh, will participate in one of the second-stage qualifying sites at Deerwood Golf Club in Kingwood, Texas.

Others include:

• Yakima's Brock Mackenzie and Kent's Jess Daley are at South Hills Plantations Club in Brooksville, Fla.

• Seattle's Jeff Gove is at Hombre Golf Club in Panama City, Fla.

• On Nov. 19-22, Richland's Zach Bixler and Spokane's Alex Prugh, both University of Washington products, will play the second stage at Lantana Golf Club in Texas.

If any of the locals advance, they will partake in the grueling six-round final stage of PGA Tour Q-School from Dec. 3-8 at PGA West (Nicklaus GC) in California.

This week: PGA Tour's Children's Miracle Network Classic, Thursday through Sunday, Magnolia and Palm Golf Courses, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Second-round score: 1-over-par 73 on Magnolia Course.

Position: Moore (2-over 146) missed the cut by four strokes. Scott Verplank (128) holds a three-stroke lead over Steve Marino and Troy Matteson.

Recap: This is certainly not the way the Puyallup product wanted to end his 2008 season, especially after his newfound confidence had been bubbling after a significant layoff late in the summer. At one point, Moore was 2-under on his round after three birdies in a row from Nos. 7-9, but made a pair of bogeys (No. 14, 16) and a double bogey on the finishing hole.

Next: Will play PGA Tour in 2009.

This week: Nationwide Tour Championship, Thursday through Sunday, TPC Craig Ranch, McKinney, Texas.

Second-round score: 1-over-par 72.

Position: Putnam (1-over 143) is tied for 45th, 12 strokes behind co-leaders Garrett Osborn and Darron Stiles (131).

Recap: The Tacoma native will need a mini-miracle to get back in contention for the top two spots, and earn his PGA Tour card next season. On Friday, he did not come close to matching the effort of fellow in-state product Alex Prugh (67), with whom he was grouped.

Tee time Saturday: 6:19 a.m.. PST off the first tee with Garth Mulroy and Webb Simpson.

This week: PGA Tour's Children's Miracle Network Classic, Thursday through Sunday, Magnolia and Palm Golf Courses, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

First-round score: 1-over-par 73 on Palm Course.

Position: Moore is tied for 109th, 10 strokes behind leader Troy Matteson (63 on Palm Course).

Recap: What a bumpy front-nine for the Puyallup native, who had double bogeys on the second and fourth holes, but eagled the 532-yard, par-5 seventh and eventually got to even-par for his round at the turn. After that, he just couldn't get anything going – on the Palm Course where many of the leaders played their opening round. Thirty-three putts (tied for 119th) is uncharacteristic for Moore.

Tee time Friday: 8:35 a.m. PST off Magnolia's 10th tee.

This week: Nationwide Tour Championship, Thursday through Sunday, TPC Craig Ranch, McKinney, Texas.

First-round score: Even-par 71.

Position: Putnam is tied for 32nd, seven strokes behind leader Darron Stiles (64).

Recap: A real average start (two birdies, two bogeys), combining good ball-striking (hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation) with 32 total putts on the greens.

Tee time Friday: 7:24 a.m. PST off the first tee with Chad Ginn and Alex Prugh.

This week: PGA Tour's Children's Miracle Network Classic, Thursday through Sunday, Magnolia and Palm Golf Courses, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

World ranking: 128th.

2008 earnings: $1,214,900 (84th on PGA Tour).

Last tournament: The Puyallup native has an outside chance to eclipse his career-best earnings of $1,554,901 with a strong finish this week, and has made the cut at this tournament in two of three tries, including a tied-for-13th in 2005. Moore last played at the Frys.com Open in late October, missing the cut (1-over-par 141), but before that had posted back-to-back top-25 finishes.

Tee time Thursday: 4:35 a.m. PDT off the first tee of Palm GC with Bob Estes and Bob Heintz.

This week: Nationwide Tour Championship, Thursday through Sunday, TPC Craig Ranch, McKinney, Texas.

World ranking: 571st.

2008 earnings: $127,506 (49th on Nationwide Tour).

Last tournament: The Tacoma native's run of six consecutive made cuts ended at last month's Miccosukee Championship (3-over 145), falling one spot on the money list. For Putnam to climb into the top 25 and earn his PGA Tour card for 2009, his goal this week is simple: Win or finish second in the 59-player to bring his total to near $210,000.

Tee time Thursday: 6:33 a.m. PDT off the first tee with Gavin Coles.

PGA TOUR's Children’s Miracle Network Classic

Site: Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.

Courses: Walt Disney Resort, Magnolia Course (7,516 yards, par 72) and Palm Course (7,010 yards, par 72).

Purse: $4.6 million. Winner’s share: $828,000.

Television (all times PST: Golf Channel (Thursday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 4-7 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 3-5 a.m., 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 4-7 p.m.; Monday, 3-5 a.m.).

Last year: Stephen Ames won his third career PGA Tour title, finishing with a 4-under 68 for a one-stroke victory over Tim Clark.

Last week: Ryan Palmer won the Ginn sur Mer Classic, overcoming a penalty and a double bogey in the final round for a one-stroke victory over George McNeill, Nicholas Thompson, Vaughn Taylor, Ken Duke and Michael Letzig. Palmer earned $828,000 for his second career victory to jump from 143rd to 73rd on the money list.

Notes: The tournament completes the seven-event Fall Series. The top 125 on the money list will earn full 2009 exemptions. The next 25 will receive conditional status. Michael Allen is 123rd with $847,863, followed by Shane Bertsch ($841,248), Jeff Overton ($840,809), Martin Laird ($803,072), Charles Warren ($800,694), David Toms ($799,114) and Patrick Sheehan ($795,329). … Erik Compton, returning from a second heart transplant, accepted a sponsor exemption to make his first PGA Tour start in three years. The 28-year-old Compton recently advanced to the second stage of qualifying school, five months after surgery. … Boo Weekley is making his first start since the Ryder Cup. U.S. Ryder Cup teammates Stewart Cink, J.B. Holmes and Justin Leonard also are in the field. … Puyallup's Ryan Moore is scheduled to make his final appearance in 2008. This is the tournament he officially clinched enough money to earn his PGA Tour card after graduating from UNLV in 2005. … Tiger Woods won the 1996 and 1999 tournaments. … The final two rounds will be played on the Magnolia Course.

On the Net: http://www.pgatour.com

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