A level par 72 on Friday was enough for Welshman Mark Mouland to secure one of five US PGA Champions Tour cards for the 2013 season at the National Qualifying Tournament at TPC Eagle Trace in Florida.
Mouland, who won his first European Senior Tour event at the Belas Clube de Campo Senior Open de Portugal last year, was in second place heading into the final round after a flawless best-of-the-day 66 on Thursday propelled him into the qualification spots, as American Gene Jones opened up a four shot lead at the top thanks to a four under par 68.
It was a lead that Jones would not relinquish as he rubber-stamped his first place finish with a two under par 70 in the final round.
Currently in 14th place in the Senior Tour Order of Merit with the MCB Tour Championship to come, Mouland has played in 11 Champions Tour events over the past two seasons but has never been fully exempt in America. He has earned conditional-exempt status in the last two Q-School finals but went one better this week, eventually finishing in third behind Jones and America’s Jeff Brehautm six shots back on seven under par.
Anders Forsbrand, who claimed a maiden Senior Tour triumph at this year’s SSE Scottish Senior Open, will also feature more prominently on the US PGA Champions Tour in 2013 after his tied eighth finish on five under par handed him conditional exemption for next season. The Swede shot a two under par 70 on Friday to secure the lucrative spot.
Australian Peter Fowler, winner of the 2011 John Jacobs Trophy, finished on four under par for the tournament, with last season’s Senior Tour Number Two England’s Barry Lane a further shot back after both men shot level par 72s in the final round.
But with the top 30 finishers and ties eligible to compete for spots in Open Qualifiers at all co-sponsored events on the Champions Tour in 2013, both men will take something away from their week in Coral Springs.
