1971 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates

After three 72-hole regional qualifiers, there were 75 players in the 108-hole final qualifying tournament.[2][3]

Bob Zender was the medalist as 23 players earned their tour cards.[3][4] Overall, according to the Orlando Sentinel's Jim Warters, "The PGA tour qualifying school came and went just about the way the experts predicted." Elite, "nationally-known" amateurs such as Lanny Wadkins, Steve Melnyk, Allen Miller, and John Mahaffey "graduated to the tour with little difficulty." In addition, Bruce Fleisher and David Graham, "a couple of relatively new pros who should have earned their diplomas earlier," also finished in the top ten.[2] In addition, the graduating class is considered to be one of the greatest in PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament history. Wadkins, Mahaffey, Graham, and another graduate, Tom Watson, went on to win major championships.[5]

Sam Adams was considered to be the big surprise of the tournament. He opened with a 69, one of few sub-70 scores in the first round. He then shot rounds of 74 and 76 to fall behind. However, he closed with rounds of 70-70-69, seven-under-par over the course of those three rounds, to earn playing privileges. "I really didn't expect to do this well," Adams said after the tournament.[2]

David Glenz had the best "comeback" of the tournament. He opened with rounds of 75, 74, and 80. He came back with consecutive rounds of 72, however, to put him in a tie for 28th place, just outside the cut-off figure. He opened the final round "shakily" with three pars. He then hit a poor drive and approach shot to the 4th hole. However, he holed his chip shot for a birdie. He made two birdies thereafter for a bogey-free 69 (−3). Glenz earned his card by multiple shots.[2]

Mac O'Grady made his first of many Q-school appearances at this school. He did not successfully graduate.[6] Calvin Peete also made his first appearance at the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. He did not successfully graduate either.[7] Greg Powers attempted to make the tour for the second straight year. He was successful this time.[1]

Place	Player	Notes
1	Bob Zender
T2	Sam Adams
	Lanny Wadkins	Winner of 1970 U.S. Amateur
4	Steve Melnyk	Winner of 1969 U.S. Amateur
5	Tom Watson
6	Allen Miller	Winner of 1970 Canadian Amateur
7	John Mahaffey	Winner of 1970 NCAA Championship
8	Bruce Fleisher	Winner of 1968 U.S. Amateur
9	Jim Barber
10	David Graham	Winner of 1970 French Open
T11	Forrest Fezler	Winner of 1969 California State Amateur
	Gary Groh
T13	David Glenz
	Leonard Thompson	Winner of 1969 Sunnehanna Amateur
T15	Mike Spang
	Bill Ziobro
T17	Ray Arinno
	John Gentile
	Rogelio Gonzalez
	Dave Haberle
	Wayne Peddy
	Greg Powers
	George Thorpe

Sources:[4][8]