PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Former Austin Peay State University golfer Grant Leaver has qualified for the final stage of the 2009 PGA Tour National Qualifying Tournament.

Leaver advanced to the final stage of PGA Tour qualifying school with a 12^th-place finish in the second stage, held at the Hombre Golf Club in Panama City, Fla. Playing 18 holes Wednesday-Saturday, Leaver shot a four-under 280 with rounds of 72-70-67-71 to qualify for that next step.

The final stage will be held at Bear Lakes Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., Dec. 2-7. The Top 20 from Bear Lakes will qualify for the 2010 PGA Tour while the next 20 will qualify for the 2010 Nationwide Tour.

"This is obviously the biggest accomplishment I ever had from a former player," APSU coach Kirk Kayden said. "Grant has been able to beat many former and current PGA Tour Players in his quest to make the 'Big Show.' This a great day for Grant and for Austin Peay athletics. Something like this does not happen every year. We are very proud of Grant."

Leaver advanced to the second stage after finishing 13^th in the initial stage, shooting a combined three-under par 285 (72-72-70-71), October 21-24, in play held at the Auburn University Golf Club.

This past golf season Leaver played on both the Hooters Tour and Carolina Series of the Hooters Tour. In Fall 2008, in his professional tourney debut, he won a Hooters Tour event.

Leaver, who qualified as an individual for the 2008 NCAA Regional in Spring 2008 in Chattanooga, was the 2007-08 Joy Award recipient as Austin Peay's most valuable senior athlete.  The 6-6 Centerville native (Hickman County HS) native left Austin Peay as its all-time leader in tourney championships won (five) and was a two-time first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection.

-AP-