A well-known Alameda golfer has fulfilled a lifetime ambition by advancing to the final stage of qualifying for the PGA Tour. But it was not easy.

Dong Yi sank a tricky 5-foot putt on the final hole at Deerwood GC in Texas to qualify, on the number, for next week's final stage of Q-School at PGA West in Palm Springs. Yi shot 74-70-67-73 for a 4-under-par total of 284 in Stage 2 qualifying at the Texas site to be among the 20 golfers, and ties, who advanced.

The PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, known as Q-School, has three stages. But anyone who knows Q-School understands that Stage 2 is the most important. Those who make it past Stage 2 are guaranteed playing privileges on the Nationwide Tour, with the top 25 scores in the final tournament advancing to the PGA Tour. But those who do not survive Stage 2 are truly out, with no status anywhere in the PGA Tour hierarchy.

"I knew I was close teeing off that last hole," Yi said. "Talk about Q-School pressure, that's it."

Yi hit his tee shot into a fairway bunker on the 460-yard par-4 hole. He was 160 yards to the pin, but had to hit a 9-iron to clear the lip of the bunker. His ball ended up in the right rough, short of the green, 25 feet from the hole. He chipped to five feet.

And there he was, staring at a five-footer for his life, a five-footer that meant the difference between another year on the mini-tours, or finally qualifying for at least the Nationwide Tour. When the putt dropped into the hole, he felt a life-long effort exhale in relief.

"Now at least I know I will play somewhere in the PGA Tour hierarchy next year," Yi said. "But I'm gunning for the top 25." Yi first emerged as a prominent golfer by winning the 1995 Alameda Commuters Champion-ship, while still in high school and a member of the Alameda Junior Golf Club. That victory earned him a scholarship to Cal, where he earned All-Pac10 honors.

He turned pro with the encouragement of former Cal teammate Charlie Wi, who briefly led the PGA Championship in the final round this year. "Dong has persevered, just like I did," said Wi, who finished 61st on the PGA Tour money list this year with over $1.5 million. "He never gave up, neither did I. Now he should finally be on his way."

There were times in the past eight years when friends advised Yi to give up his dream and take a real job. "Instead, Dong just kept improving," said his teaching pro, Woody Woodard of the Chuck Corica Golf Complex.

An old friend of many Alameda golfers, Tal Smith, summarized the life of a golf pro this way: "The only time you don't have a chance is when you don't enter."

Well done, Dong. Good luck at PGA West.

Ron Salsig made it to Stage 2 twice, but never advanced to the finals. He can be reached at