Beljan says he'll try to play on Saturday

• By Rex Hoggard
• Nov 9, 2012 6:15 PM ET

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – In an exclusive interview with Golf Channel from his hospital room Friday night, Charlie Beljan said he was feeling better and is optimistic about playing the third round of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic on Saturday.

"I'm feeling much better," Beljan said. "Much better than I was on that back nine today."

Moments after signing for a second-round 64 that left him in the lead in the PGA Tour's season finale, Beljan was put on a stretcher and taken to Florida Hospital Celebration.

Video: Hear Beljan's exclusive interview

Beljan told caddie he thought he was dying

According to his manager Andy Dawson, who was in the ambulance with Beljan on the way to the hospital, he was suffering from chest pains and was light-headed throughout his round.

"When I got done with number 15 I really made a turn for the worst," Beljan said in a phone interview with Golf Channel. "It was definitely in my mind to withdraw and get out of there. But I knew if I could just hang on there was a medical staff nearby.

"Hopefully we'll be out there tomorrow to try to finish this deal off.

"As long as they tell me that I'm not going to fall over and die, I'm going to be there."

"If there's nothing I can hurt, or nothing too serious, I can't wait till 10:55 (his scheduled tee time) tomorrow."

Beljan said he believes he might have suffered a panic attack. He and his wife have a young baby and have dealt with panic attacks before.

Beljan, 28, appeared fatigued throughout his second round on the Palm Course and Edward Loar, who was paired with Beljan on Friday, told Cleveland Golf’s Mike Dunphy that Beljan told him he felt like he was going to faint.

The Tour rookie is fresh off his second-best finish of the season, a tie for 10th at The McGladrey Classic, and at 139th on the money list he needed a good week at Disney to avoid another trip to the final stage of Q-School.

Jay Coffin contributed to this article.