Four Canadians, including a pair of British Columbians, earned exempt status Tuesday as the grueling 108-hole final stage of the Web.com Tour qualifying school ended at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif.
Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor led the way, finishing in a tie for 11th spot. The University of Washington graduate closed with a five-under 67 to finish at 19-under par.
Taylor, formerly the world’s top-ranked amateur player, missed the top 10 by a single shot. A top-10 finish would have made him exempt through the first three reshuffles on the 2014 Web.com Tour.
The tour reshuffles its exempt list based on money-winnings after every four events. Taylor and everyone else finishing 11th through 45th and ties earn exempt status through the first two reshuffles. That guarantees them entry into the first eight events.
Merritt’s Roger Sloan made a huge move Tuesday, shooting a bogey-free nine-under 63 to move into a tie for 15th spot. Sloan began the day outside the top 45.
Two other Canadians, Ontario residents Cam Burke and Albin Choi, also finished inside the top 45. Choi finished tied for 15th after shooting a 70 on Tuesday. Burke tied for 22nd after closing with a 72.
Maple Ridge resident Justin Shin, who led after opening the tournament with an eight-under 64, narrolwy missed finishing inside the top 45. Shin shot a 70 Tuesday and finished tied for 56th at 10-under and two shots out of the top 45. Surrey’s Devin Carrey matched Shin’s score with a three-under 69 Tuesday. Both earned conditional status that may be good enough to get them into some early events.
Eugene Wong of North Vancouver closed strong with a four-under 68 but finished tied for 117th place at even-par and his conditional status probably won’t be good enough to allow him to draw into any events. Wong will likely have to try and Monday qualify his way into tournaments.
Riley Wheeldon of Comox finished 140th after closing with a 76 on Tuesday, but Wheeldon is exempt through the first four events of the Web.com Tour season by virtue of finishing second on the PGA Tour Canada money list in 2013.
Abbotsford’s Adam Hadwin is fully exempt for 2014 after finishing inside the top 75 on the 2013 Web.com Tour money list. So is Ontario resident Mackenzie Hughes, who earned his exemption by winning the PGA Tour Canada Order of Merit this year.
CHIP SHOTS: Surrey’s Phil Jonas finished the year 39th on the European Senior Tour money list. And while that was outside the top 30 who remained fully exempt for 2014, Jonas should be able to draw into most events next year as there is a separate category for those finishing 31st to 40th on the money list. The European Senior Tour wrapped up its season this past weekend with its Tour Championship on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. Jonas finished tied for 43rd. Victoria native Rick Gibson, who tied for 23rd in Mauritius, finished 34th on the money list.
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