Florence, S.C.—Thirty-one players from Florence Country Club moved onto the second stage of PGA TOUR Qualifying yesterday.

Pittsfield's Matt Donovan wasn't one of them.

Six shots back of the last qualifying spot entering yesterday's final round, Donovan rallied with birdies on four of his first 11 holes. But he made three bogeys coming in to fall three shots short.

"I knew what I had to shoot," said Donovan, who correctly figured on Friday night that he needed to shoot 64 to move on. "I couldn't have played much better. The opportunity presented itself. I'm absolutely appalled."

Donovan began his round on the back nine and made the turn in 2-under 34. Following birdies on Nos. 1 and 2, his troubles began on No. 3, where he pulled his approach right of the green and made bogey. He responded with birdies on Nos. 5 and 7, but gave both shots back with pulled tee shots on Nos. 6 and 8.

Donovan made par on his final hole to shoot 3-under par 67 and finish even par for the tournament, three shots back of a seven-way tie for the final spot.

"There's no reason I shouldn't be in second stage in a few weeks," Donovan said while driving back to West Palm, Florida where he will resume his duties as caddy at Seminole Golf Club today. "I just made too many bogeys."

Statistics support that claim. Although he did make 17 birdies and an eagle, he also made 17 bogeys and a crucial double bogey on a par five in the first round where he had an iron into the green on his second shot. He also had six three-putts for the week. Ultimately, his opening round 75 left him facing a huge deficit. Of the 31 players that qualifiied, none shot higher than 73, and 26 broke par in the first round.

Despite the sour end to his season, 2007 was admittedly Donovan's best year in seven years as a professional.

"I'm glad I played well this summer, but I'd give it all up to get through TOUR school," he said. "It's going to be a long winter. I'm going to try and move and pick up the pieces. I've been too close to pack it up."