October 26—June, July, August and September have come and gone.

Unfortunately, so have the 2006 golf campaigns of Pittsfield’s Matt Donovan and Lee’s Jim Salinetti.

October often looms large for most mini-tour professionals, who eye a career jump via PGA TOUR Qualifying School. But without a single top ten to their name on the New England Pro Golf Tour this summer, the $4,250 entrance fee became a financial impossibility for Donovan and Salinetti.

“I had full intentions of going,” said Donovan. “If you don’t have that in mind, something’s wrong. But I need the money. It’s not by choice.”

Donovan was scheduled to resume his duties as a caddy at Seminole Golf Club in south Florida on October 28^th. Prior to leaving Pittsfield, he worked on the grounds crew at the Country Club of Pittsfield.

Following a slow spring in which Donovan earned $787.5 in five tournaments, he appeared to turn a corner after recording four top 12’s in June and July. But four missed cuts in six events to end the year cemented his decision to skip Q-School for the first time since 2003.

“It’s not what I want to do, but that’s the situation I’m in,” he said.

Salinetti also experienced a sudden slip in form to end the year, missing the cut in the final five New England Tour events. His swoon was especially surprising considering he began the year with top six finishes in the Cape Cod, Massachusetts and Providence Opens.

“I didn’t make as much money as I’d planned on making,” said Salinetti, who has earned $160 since August 17^th.

Salinetti will join Donovan in their West Palm Beach apartment for the winter. They will compete primarily on the south Florida-based Minor League Golf Tour.

Last fall, Donovan bogeyed the final hole of the first stage of qualifying school to miss advancing by one shot. Salinetti shot 65 in the first round of first stage then closed with rounds of 78-71-74 to tie for 54^th.