PGA Tour Champions Q-School Final Stage: Cameron Percy wins medalist honors
08 Dec 2023
by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com
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Cameron Percy (PGA Tour Photo)
Five tickets have officially been punched to the 2024 PGA Tour Champions Tour. And four of the qualifiers hail from Australia.
Cameron Percy led the way, shooting 20-under and winning by four shots to claim the medalist honors of the 2024 PGA Tour Champions Qualifying Tournament Final stage at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Percy shot a final round 4-under 67 to close the door on the field. He was a model of consistency, shooting rounds of 65-66-66-67 to earn his Champions Tour card.
Michael Wright finished in solo second place at 16-under after holing out from the dirt on the par-4 No. 18 to finish with a birdie. It was a risky shot for Wright, as he was just three shots out of the playoff, and there was water hugging the left of the green. One mishit and four rounds of great golf could have been in danger. However, he stepped up and hit his best shot of the tournament right when he needed it.
Wright started slow, shooting rounds of 68-72 in the first two rounds, but catapulted up the leaderboard after a third round 8-under 63. He shot a final round 5-under 66
Shane Bertsch and Steve Allan finished T3 at 14-under and earned the third and fourth qualifying spots. The American Bertsch was the only non-Australian to finish in the top five and qualify. Bertsch shot rounds of 65-66-70-69, while Allan shot rounds of 68-66-65-71.
Bransdon earned the coveted fifth spot on the first playoff hole, the par-5 No. 10, after he finished at 13-under alongside Wes Short, Jr., and Raphael Jacquelin.
All five Q-School graduates will receive exempt status on the 2024 PGA TOUR Champions once they turn 50. Wright and Percy turn 50 early next year. Allan turned 50 on Oct. 18, and Bransdon turned 50 on Oct. 28.
The lone amateur in the field, Bryan Hoops, shot a final round 5-under 66 to finish T8 at 12-under, just one shot out of the playoff for the final spot. He birdied Holes No. 17 and 18 coming in, but his bogey on No. 16 was the deciding factor.
Notables
The golfers who finished sixth through 30th will be eligible to apply for PGA Tour Champions Associate Membership for 2024, which would then get them into qualifiers.
PGA Tour winners Greg Chalmers and Daniel Chopra finished in between the sixth and 30th spots, finishing T8 and just one shot outside of the playoff. Chalmers was in a good position to make the playoff, but a bogey on No. 18 took him out of it.
PGA Tour winners Notah Begay III, Ted Purdy, and Boo Weekley did not make either cut.
Former Atlanta Braves and Hall of Fame pitcher John Smotz played in the Final Stage, hoping to secure a spot on the Champions Tour for next season. However, he shot rounds of 80-76-76-74 to finish 22-under and in solo 73rd place.