[PHOTO: Getty Images]
Beginning the final round with a two-stroke lead at 16-under 197, Victorian Cameron Percy followed five-under 67s in rounds two and three with a four-under 67 in the final round to earn medallist honours at the qualifying school for the PGA Tour Champions by a convincing five shots at 20-under 264.
Percy made his way to this week’s final stage by virtue of last month’s runner-up in the first stage of Q-School at Soboba Springs.
“When we got to 15, I asked my caddie how we were doing, because I thought we were getting lapped,” Percy said of the final round. “After he told me we were four ahead, I chipped it in. From then on, I knew I just needed to keep it in front of us coming in.”
At the urging of other players with whom he holds in high regard, Percy experienced a change of heart before this week got underway.
“I wasn’t going to come [here], I was exhausted,” Percy said. “I was actually going to get ready for the PGA Tour’s Q-School next week. I was told to go to Q-School here and get my card. It’s so much better than having to Monday qualify. So, I did… and, it has all paid off.”
Though the T-59 finish wasn’t reflective of his four quality rounds of par-or-better, at last month’s World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico, Percy reeled off eight birdies and an eagle to take the first-round lead by two strokes at 10-under 62. A week later at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, he went from outside the cut easily back in on the strength of a second-round seven-under 64.
“The PGA Tour is the toughest, most challenging golf in the world to compete with,” Percy noted after the third round. “So, I like the confidence I’m hanging on to, knowing I’ve been playing well out there.”
When Percy turns 50 on May 5, 2024, he will bring that confidence to PGA Tour Champions.
Percy’s career-best finish on the PGA Tour in 220 starts was the result of a playoff loss at the 2010 Shriners Children’s Open, which Jonathan Byrd memorably won with a hole-in-one in the playoff. Percy’s best of four top-25 finishes in 23 tour starts this past season was a T-12 at the Honda Classic. Of 12 total top-10 finishes on tour, three came in the 2021-2022 campaign, his career-most for a single-season.
After his eight-under 63 in round three, fellow Aussie Michael Wright stood on the tee of the 72nd hole four-under on the day and 14-under overall. Seemingly, he was a lock for a top-five spot.
“I hit what was my worst drive all week at No.18 today, down into the desert,” Wright said. “I had a terrible lie on the rocks, leaving me with no option to try and hack a 5-iron. It went, maybe, 30 yards, but stayed on the dirt on the desert.”
But, then, from 122 yards, Wright was right on target, holing his third shot for a highly unlikely birdie to cap off a round of five-under 66. As such, the 49-year-old secured outright second at 15-under 269.
Wright looks to join full-time once he hits turns 50 on February 21, 2024.
The four Aussies to make it through PGA Tour Champions qualifying school, Michael Wright, Steve Allan, Cameron Percy and David Bransdon. [Photo courtesy of Cameron Percy]
Less than two months after turning 50, another Aussie, Steve Allan, followed rounds of 68-66-65 (-14) with a final-round even-par 71 to lock up the fourth spot among the top-five who received fully exempt status.
Yet to make a start on PGA Tour Champions, Allan brings with him a solid past which spans a variety of Tours worldwide. In addition to two international titles, including the 2002 Australian Open on home turf, Allan’s best of nine PGA Tour top-10 finishes, both runner-up showings, came in 2003 and 2004. At the 2004 Barracuda Championship, he – along with Hunter Mahan and PGA Tour Champions member Scott McCarron – lost to Vaughn Taylor in sudden death. In 164 Korn Ferry Tour starts from 2003-17, Allan’s best finish, a T-2, came in 2015 in Colombia.
Allan made his way to final stage this week by virtue of a T-13 finish in first stage at Soboba Springs.
The fifth and final spot among the top five this week went the way of yet another Australian, David Bransdon. The 50-year-old Melburnian’s only previous experience on PGA Tour-sanctioned was highlighted by one top-25 showing in nine Korn Ferry Tour starts between 1996 and 2006.
Bransdon posted scores of 69-70-65-67 to claim the fifth spot at 13-under 271.
The top-5 finishers (no ties) become fully exempt into all open, full-field events for PGA Tour Champions in the 2024 season. In addition, Nos.6-30 are eligible to apply for PGA Tour Champions Associate Membership for the 2024 season, affording them the opportunity to enter 2024 PGA Tour Champions weekly event qualifiers.
This year’s field marked one of the strongest in event history, as 20 players have combined for 46 combined titles between the PGA Tour (34) and PGA Tour Champions (12).
