SAN JACINTO, Calif. ââ'¬" Oakland men's golf alumnus Evan Bowser qualified for the Mackenzie Tour (PGA Tour Canada) ââ'¬â€¹after shooting an even-par score of 284 at the Mackenzie Tour ââ'¬" PGA Tour Canada's USA West #2 Q-School at the Country Club at Scoboba Springsââ'¬â€¹.ââ'¬â€¹

The 2016 Oakland University graduate finished tied for 16th, and won a four-person playoff with birdies on the first two playoff holes. Bowser hit his approach shot to one foot on the first playoff hole, and then made an 8-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to earn status on PGA Tour Canada.

"Many consider this tour to be the first step towards the PGA ââ'¬â€¹Tour," Bowser said. "I am very excited to have an opportunity to play against some great golfers in great tournaments."

Bowser ended his career with the Golden Grizzlies as the program's career leader in stroke average and number of rounds under-par. The Dearborn, Mich. native became the first player since 2005 to win ââ'¬â€¹an individual leagueââ'¬â€¹ championship, also in a playoff, in addition to becoming the first student-athlete to win a tournament as a freshman and garner all-league accolades in all four seasons.

ââ'¬â€¹"ââ'¬â€¹During the playoff I relied on previous playoff experience like the horizon league championship ââ'¬â€¹in ââ'¬â€¹2015 and two Uââ'¬â€¹.ââ'¬â€¹Sââ'¬â€¹.ââ'¬â€¹ ââ'¬â€¹Amateur qualifier playoffsââ'¬â€¹," said Bowserââ'¬â€¹. ââ'¬â€¹"ââ'¬â€¹The four guaranteed starts ensure me plenty of opportunity to play well and gain higher status on the tour and hopefully get into the rest of the remaining events.ââ'¬â€¹"ââ'¬â€¹

During his time for the ââ'¬â€¹Golden Grizzlies, Bowser tied the single-season school record with a low round of 65. His scoring average of 73.58 is a program-best, ââ'¬â€¹surââ'¬â€¹passing current PGA Tour player Brian Stuard's 73.82 (2001-05), ââ'¬â€¹while also ââ'¬â€¹breaking Stuard's record ââ'¬â€¹with 29 rounds under par.

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