When Jacob Bridgeman finished his second round at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital championship he became a member of the PGA Tour.

By making the cut, Bridgeman, who started the second to last event on this year’s Korn-Ferry Tour season ranked 12th in the points race, earned enough points to lock him in the top-30.

The top-30 on the Korn-Ferry Tour automatically graduate to the PGA Tour for next year.

“My mom and dad made a lot of sacrifices for me when I was younger and I didn’t really know it at the time, and now I do ..it is definitely for them.,” said the newest member of the PGA Tour.

At the end of the second round Bridgeman still holds the lead and added a shot to it. His second round 2-under par 69 has him at 8-under par at the half way point with the lead.

No matter what happens in the next two days, Bridgeman knows were he will be playing next year and it is right where he wanted to be in his dreams.

“It’s a dream come true,” Bridgeman said of earning a PGA TOUR card. “I’ve loved sports my whole life and I love golf the most. To be able to do something that I love for work … it doesn’t really seem like work. I would do it for free,” said Bridgeman.

In just his second year on a professional Tour Bridgeman has posted 12 top 25 finishes and a pair of individual fourth place finishes and this week he could do even better if he can keep the lead .

The Clemson grad from Inman has made steady progress as a professional and credits his long time coach and friend, Tommy Biershenk, with contributing to his success.

“A lot of times people will say, ‘I’m going to go see my swing coach and work, work really hard,’ but for me it was like, ‘I’m going to go see Tommy and hang out with him,’” Bridgeman said. “We had a lot of fun growing up, and still do.”

Biershenk, also a Clemson grad from nearby Boiling Springs, played several years on the Korn-Ferry Tour and the 2012 season on the PGA Tour.

Bridgeman believes Biershenk taught him more than just how to swing the golf club.

“I see myself out there (on TOUR) for years to come,” Bridgeman said. “I wouldn’t say I’m surprised – I expected myself, as most competitors do, to make it (to the TOUR) at some point. It’s great that I had the opportunity to do it this year.

It is already a memorable week for Bridgeman and it could be even more memorable with two more good rounds on the course in Columbus this weekend.

Some material generated by the PGA Tour’s Adam Stanley.